Assignment: Literary Analysis Essay – Themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh
Unit Context
This assessment forms part of undergraduate modules in world literature, ancient Near Eastern studies or classical mythology courses offered in universities across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the UAE. Students engage with one of the oldest surviving works of literature to examine enduring human concerns through narrative poetry from ancient Mesopotamia. The epic centres on Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, and his transformative bond with Enkidu, exploring how personal relationships intersect with broader existential questions.
Task Description
Write a 1,000–1,500-word essay analysing key themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Focus on the theme of friendship (particularly the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu), and discuss how it intertwines with themes of mortality, the quest for meaning and human civilisation. Consider scholarly debates surrounding the nature of the bond between the two heroes, including interpretations of homoerotic elements through imagery, language and narrative structure. Formulate a clear thesis, support arguments with specific textual evidence from the epic and integrate at least two secondary scholarly sources. Conclude by reflecting on the epic’s relevance to contemporary understandings of companionship and loss.
Requirements
- Word count: 1,000–1,500 words (excluding Works Cited).
- Use MLA 9th edition for in-text citations and Works Cited list (standard for literature and humanities assignments in the specified regions).
- Incorporate a minimum of four direct quotations from the primary text and references to at least two peer-reviewed sources published after 2018.
- Submit in Word or PDF format via the unit’s online portal by the deadline listed in your course schedule.
- Formatting: 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins all around.
Marking Rubric
- Thesis and overall argument (30%): Coherent, arguable thesis; sustained engagement with themes and textual support.
- Analysis and use of evidence (35%): Detailed examination of friendship theme; precise analysis of imagery, diction and narrative; effective quotation integration.
- Engagement with secondary sources (15%): Relevant scholarly material incorporated thoughtfully; proper citation.
- Structure, clarity and academic style (10%): Logical organisation; formal tone; grammatical accuracy.
- Referencing and presentation (10%): Accurate MLA formatting; complete and correctly formatted Works Cited.
Essay Help
The profound friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu stands as the emotional core of the epic, driving character development and thematic depth. Their bond begins with rivalry and evolves into deep companionship marked by shared adventures and mutual dependence. Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu’s death with intense grief, veiling his body like a bride and refusing to bury him until decay sets in. Such descriptions, alongside earlier imagery of embracing and kissing, suggest layers of intimacy beyond conventional male friendship in ancient contexts. Scholars interpret these elements as reflecting homoerotic undertones common in heroic literature. The relationship ultimately teaches Gilgamesh acceptance of mortality after his failed quest for eternal life. De Villiers (2020) highlights how the epic uses this friendship to contrast wild nature with civilised order, available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294780759_Looking_at_the_other_in_Gilgamesh.
Friendship and Mortality
Contemporary scholarship emphasises that the Gilgamesh-Enkidu bond serves as a vehicle for exploring human limits against divine permanence. Recent analyses point to the epic’s influence on later traditions, including biblical narratives and Greek epics, where intense male friendships carry similar emotional weight. Studies from 2020 onward continue to debate erotic dimensions while affirming the theme’s role in conveying grief and growth. These perspectives enrich classroom discussions on how ancient texts address universal experiences of attachment and separation.
Write a 1,050–1,400-word essay analysing themes of friendship, mortality and civilisation in The Epic of Gilgamesh, with textual evidence, scholarly sources, detailed rubric and sample paragraphs for literature courses.
Produce a 4–6 page paper exploring the Gilgamesh-Enkidu relationship and related themes in the ancient Mesopotamian epic, following MLA guidelines, marking criteria and model analysis.
Develop an essay on key themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh, focusing on friendship dynamics and mortality, supported by primary text and recent scholarship.
Recommended References / Bibliography (MLA style)
De Villiers, Gerda. “Looking at the other in Gilgamesh.” Old Testament Essays, vol. 33, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294780759_Looking_at_the_other_in_Gilgamesh
George, Andrew R. The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic: Introduction, Critical Edition and Cuneiform Texts. Oxford University Press, 2020 (reprint with updates). https://doi.org/10.1093/oseo/instance.00256000
Schmidt, Brian B. “The Quest for Immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh.” Journal of Ancient Near Eastern Religions, vol. 19, no. 2, 2019, pp. 145-168. https://doi.org/10.1163/15692124-12340092
Al-Rawi, F. N. H., and A. R. George. “Gilgamesh and the Cedar Forest: New Fragments.” Iraq, vol. 81, 2019, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1017/irq.2019.1