Cultural Differences Of Human Themes In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
'The Epic of Gilgamesh' is an enthralling tale that has incorporates violence, sex, companionship, and the uncertainty of death into an epic poem, which alludes to cultural normalities of Ancient Mesopotamia. The use and approval of sex and prostitutes rather than its condemnation in our society is one such cultural normality. Though the cultural differences between our society and the Ancient Mesopotamian society are quite obvious, there are similarities shown throughout the epic and the author 's style of writing that reflect similarities between the ancient society and modern day. Among those similarities, are the purposes authors have for creating literature. To answer the question of why the ancient author decided to write this epic, can be answered with the question; why has anything in the history of literature been written? …show more content…
The Epic of Gilgamesh's purpose should be no different. That purpose, that need we as a people have to write, could very much be considered a human characteristic. The 'Epic of Gilgamesh" being the oldest written text, does not change the fact that people of the day were humans, people just like us, and we are very similar, if not identical, at our core. However, this author's has a supplementary motivation for writing Gilgamesh, as there are several different themes portrayed; physical and internal journeys being the motivating factor for change, as well as love.
The Epic of Gilgamesh could be considered a coming of age story for the main characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The structure of the epic depicts the physical and emotional journeys that both Gilgamesh and Enkidu experience, and the journeys that they experience separately. Enkidu's journey is what starts off with his 'birth' into the world as a wild man, as he is described to be living with comfortably among animals, "With the gazelles he grazes on grasses, joining the throng
Social Criticism In Oscar Wilde's Aestheticism
Wilde's notoriety as an Aesthetic writer buries this critical aspect of his work, but when looking at his poetry one can see the deeper meanings employed in his Aesthetic images. A social criticism can especially be seen in his use of feminine symbols as critiques of gender roles in English society. Wilde uses symbolic characters to represent the continually unequal gender politics associated…
Edgar Allan Poe And Hawthorne
Poe's plots show much of human nature for what it is; in Prospero's case we can see that Death cannot be cheated and will come for its debt, and for Minister D and Dupin that wrongs committed against another will result in negative feelings and grudges. Hawthorne, although, presents stories that are leave the reader wondering of the motives of others and the overall goodness and values of society. While Poe is obviously more pessimistic and arguably realistic, Hawthorne is by contrast significantly more blurred on the life and tragedy, giving a, not quite optimistic but, acceptable outlook. Throughout the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne, we are able to see the differences in their styles, while still writing on similar topics. Their narration styles are significantly different, as well as the overall goodness of their main characters.…
Analysis Of Claude Lévi-Strauss The Elementary Structures Of Kinship
Bueler makes in her essay "The Structural Uses of Incest in English Renaissance Drama", where she analyzes incest as a literary motif. According to Bueler, there are two ways in which incest influences a play; first, incest has the task of "complicating and unravelling plots" (116), and, second, it proves "the moral relationship between individual passions and social well-being" (116). Thus Bueler establishes a great number of variations in the portrayal of incest, with two distinctions as the most relevant for the dramatic and structural features of the play: fictional/actual and witting/unwitting incest (118). She claims that the former distinction has influence on the structure of the plot, while the latter has it upon the portrayal of characters (119). These distinctions, she claims, are to be found by "identifying the differences in tone and effect among [the] plays" (119).…
Platonic Socrates: The Power Of Philosophy And Poetry
Philosophy and poetry are just mere means at controlling the population to promote justice. This would mean that both literary tools are capable of being tyrannical. I would also argue in agreement with the scholars that Socrates is as guilty of using the two tools as avenues of tyranny, though it may be fore a good cause. Through this tyranny, enforced by primarily philosophy and secondarily by poetry, Socrates sincerely believes that he can create the ideal just city. Which in turn helps him identify what justice actually is, and how it operates within man…
Stereotyping In Generation Me
We dont need entitlments, generation Y needs concrete information and evidence-based observations about really how people really end up at their dream passionate job. Actually loving what they do. I can strongly agree when Carl Newport says we are entitled and catagorized as the high mantainance generation. But not generalizing it to everyone who is a member of generation "Y". Not everyone had the same type of education or beliefs while growing up and i strongly belief we turn out the way we are taught to and it is for sure not our fault until a ceratin…
Gender Stereotypes In The Miller's Tale By Chaucer
Chaucer carefully constructs a scenario where Nicholas' anal end is scolded, fabricating the image of homosexuality. As stated in the critical anthology, gender roles are merged because "in one of the traditional representations of homosexuality, maleness and masculinity are uncoupled." When we first meet Nicholas, readers are greeted with his womanizing ways as he gropes Alisoun ("And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones") and are described as "hende" (meaning he's 'handy'), labelling him as 'manly'. Chaucer's choice of description, however, can be indicting in a feminine way. Elaine Treharne points out that the gender roles between Nicholas and Absolon are both incredibly different, but when it comes to their appearance they are the same. Both are described as feminine as they are equally "sweet smelling", however, a significant difference comes from the idea that Nicholas possesses a real penis and effectively employs it with Alisoun, whereas Absolon has to wield the idea of a penis from a red-hot poker but does not use it effectively with Alisoun as he ends up striking Nicholas in the buttocks instead.…
Differences Between Call Of The Wild And Thoreau
Two authors, one born in 1812, the other in 1876. Two books, one a reflection of life in nature, the other, the tales of animal decivilization. Even though the two book topics carry strong, distinct differences, they both carry strong beliefs about the laws of nature. Henry Thoreau, the author of Walden, describes a two year stay in nature and how he developed different views on life and nature. Jack London, the author of Call of the Wild, wrote a story about how an animal goes from being a civilized home dog, to essentially turning wild.…
Mid-Term Break Poem Analysis
Because of this, many of his poems pertain to events in his life told narratively through the use vivid imagery. The poem Mid-Term Break focuses on the crushing experience of living through the death of one of his siblings while the poems Follower and Digging are about his rural family history, and his decision to become a…
Theme Of Classicism In Mann's Death In Venice
The themes of classicism related to art, literature, and mythology are specifically woven around the persona of Aschenbach in Mann's novella, Death in Venice. Artfully crafted, a reader easily identifies with the narrator's condescending attitude, but also questions the true purpose of Mann's allusions. Mann would have the reader closely identify with Aschenbach's love of classical literature and beauty as justification for Aschenbach's behavioral decline. However, the mood of this novella remains cloaked, in disguise of the fact of Aschenbach's true aching illness: pederasty. The Oxford English Dictionary, defines pederasty as homosexual relations between a man and a boy.…
Behind The Masks In Thomas Wyatt, Philip Sidney, And William Shakespeare
Behind the Masks During the English Renaissance, a new wave of writers—Like Thomas Wyatt, Philip Sidney, and William Shakespeare—aspired to tackle what it is considered to be controversial topics, such as equality, social justice, and sexual desire. However, because of their relationship with the royal court, their reputations in society, and/or the strict religious code, their controversial works were disguised, in which they employ multiple literary devices to either protect themselves from persecution or to protect the identities of those whom they are writing about. By employing the poetic form of sonnets, Wyatt, Sidney, and Shakespeare dramatize the sexual desire as they attempt to reveal the experience of sex—and to what extent it impacts…
Epic poetry