The Epic of Gilgamesh
Study Questions and Essay Topics
Study Questions
1 Is the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh homoerotic, and, if so, is this an important element of the story?
2. Compare and contrast the role of the serpent in the Bible and in Gilgamesh.
Suggested Essay Topics
1. What do Enkidu’s curse and then his blessing of the prostitute suggest about the lot of women in ancient Mesopotamia?
2. Why does Utnapishtim tell Urshanabi that he is no longer welcome in his realm?
3. What does the story of Enkidu’s education by the prostitute tell us about Mesopotamian views of culture and civilization?
4. What is the significance of Gilgamesh’s passage through the darkness beneath the twin-peaked mountain?
Readers' Notes allow users to add their own analysis and insights to our SparkNotes—and to discuss those ideas with one another. Have a novel take or think we left something out? Add a Readers' Note!







