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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the double-edged axe symbolize?

2. What must Gilgamesh do for Ishtar?

3. What does Enkidu, along with three hundred armed warriors, do?

4. For how long do the two companions grapple with the beast?

5. How do the citizens feel about Enkido's behavior?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does this wall affect the people of Uruk?

2. What does Ninsun say about this dream?

3. How is Enkidu convinced to join the King on his adventure?

4. How does Gilgamesh react to his mother's warning?

5. How does Ishtar threaten Gilgamesh?

6. Of what does Gilgamesh remind Ishtar? How does she react?

7. What do the hunter and his father find in Uruk?

8. How are the heroes greeted by the citizens of Uruk?

9. How does the King respond when the elders try to intervene?

10. What happens when Harim leads Enkidu into Uruk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gilgamesh does not take Shamash's advice when entering the underworld.

Part 1) What is Shamash's advice? Why does Gilgamesh not take his advice?

Part 2) What role does Shamash play in Gilgamesh's decision to not follow the rules of the underworld?

Part 3) How might the end of this story be different if Gilgamesh had followed the rules? What does this say about following rules and doing as one is supposed or expected to do?

Essay Topic 2

This story serves a purpose.

Part 1) What purpose does it serve?

Part 2) How might those hearing or reading this story when it was first created react to it differently than readers today? Why?

Part 3) Why is this considered an epic? Are there any stories in your culture that you would consider epics? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The behavior of these gods is often cruel and unpredictable.

Part ) How is their behavior cruel and unpredictable? Are you surprised by this behavior? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does this behavior compare to the behavior of humans? How does the behavior of both the gods and humans compare to your opinion about typical god-like or human behavior?

Part 3) How does the behavior of the gods affect both other gods and humans?

Part 4) How does the behavior of these gods reflect the beliefs of the people during which this story was created?

(see the answer keys)

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