Write a thesis driven essay of at least 5 pages on one of the below topics. Please refer to “Gilgamesh” and “ The Odyssey” and be sure to USE DIRECT QUOTES from these texts to support your argument. There is no need to bring outside information or research for this paper, and you must address both of the epics in your essay.
Paper topics:
1. How is the issue of death addressed in the epics? In “The Odyssey” the epic hero visits the underworld, while death is a central theme in Gilgamesh. What does the protagonist learn by his encounter with death and the dead? You might also compare and contrast each era’s (Sumerian, Greek) attitude towards death as made clear in the epics.
2. How does the role of women develop from “Gilgamesh” to “The Odyssey?” Pick a female character or two from each epic and explore the ways in which women were treated and viewed in each period. Then compare the differences and similarities between the representations to see if any sort of “progress” has occurred.
3. How are the gods depicted in each of the different epics? In both the gods play a rather direct role in the action- but does that role change from “Gilgamesh” to “The Odyssey?’ Do both epics present essentially consistent picture of the role the gods play in the affairs of morals, or is there a significant change from the time of “Gilgamesh” to the time of “The Odyssey?”