Epic of Gilgamesh Narrative Assignment

The Epic of Gilgamesh- Epic Friend/Foe and "Mini-Epic"

To accompany our reading of Gilgamesh's adventures, you are going to create and design your own friend or foe for Gilgamesh. You will also write a short "epic" including Gilgamesh and your newly created friend/foe. Following are the specific requirements:

Friend/Foe Creation

  • Choose to create a friend or enemy for Gilgamesh
  • Draw the detailed design of your creation on typing paper adding color and creativity
  • Give your creation interesting and appropriate features (think about the half-man/half-scorpion in the original Epic of Gilgamesh)
  • Give your creation an interesting and appropriate name

Written Epic

  • Using good "epic" style, write a story that includes Gilgamesh and brings in your new creation of friend/foe
  • Includes an appropriate title
  • Includes at least 2 epic similes (an extended/long simile with multiple comparisons of the two different items)
  • Includes at least 2 epithets (descriptive adjective phrases used repeatedly with -or in place of- a noun or proper name such as "the wine-dark sea")
  • Includes at least 2 appropriate references to characters or places described in the original Epic of Gilgamesh
  • Follow the style and convention of the epic . Epics often begin in media res "in the middle of things." They often have an invocation at the beginning which is a formal plea to a deity or supernatural power to inspire the poet. The tone is often serious. The epic will relate the great deeds of a larger than life character (epic hero) who often undertakes a quest to achieve something tremendous.
  • Write your epic neatly in blue/black ink (two full pages in normal handwriting) or one full page typed.