Question answering systems and methods

Ancient Lit

Gilgamesh questions

Why might we consider Gilgamesh a bad king at the beginning of this Sumerian work?

The King of Uruk is described as being an arrogant ruler, and is compared to a "wild bull" in the first tablet. He takes advantage of his power by amassing great wealth but Gilgamesh is also described as being tyrannical: he has left a litany of dead soldiers in his wake and the people of Uruk cry to the gods to help them.

Explain the two challenges Gilgamesh fails in paradise.

First, Gilgamesh tries to stay awake for one week and fails. Second, he loses the plant of immortality when he is sleeping.

Why does he fail?

One of the lessons Gilgamesh must learn is that because he is part human he must also suffer the body. Sleep is one of the basic physical needs of human beings, and human beings are also not born to be immortal. Therefore, Gilgamesh fails the tests if for no other reason than to learn to accept his own mortality.

3)Gilgamesh is considered by many to be the first hero of epic poetry. Why?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the first known epic poems, and the story predates the Bible.

4)in what ways in Enkidu a "foil" or counterpoint to Gilgamesh?

Enkidu is a perfect counterpoint or foil for Gilgamesh. Enkidu is unlike Gilgamesh in that he is completely human, almost beast-like or animal-like. Gilgamesh, on the other hand, is part divine. Also, Enkidu is as strong as if not stronger than Gilgamesh and so Enkidu helps make Gilgamesh more humble and less arrogant. Finally, Enkidu also helps Gilgamesh become more fully human himself by invoking extreme grief when he dies and by inspiring Gilgamesh's quest.

Egyptian Poetry

1. How does Pharoah Akhenaten (aka Amun-hotep IV, who reigned from 1375-1358 B.C.) see himself in relation to the Egyptian sun god called Aten? Give evidence from his prayer.

The Pharoah renamed himself after Aten, which is the first sign that he believed himself to be a personal channel for the god of the Sun. However, Akhenaten does view Aten as being transcendent, based on the lofty language of the prayer. Using the word "father" in the prayer is also a clue that the Pharoah viewed himself as at least being the symbolic son of the Sun god.

2. What are the some of the themes you notice in "The Leiden Hymns"?

First, the sun continues to be a powerful symbol of God. Second, God is referred to explicitly as male and as a paternal figure. Third, the language in the Leiden hymns hints at monotheism, a major break in the religious and cosmological perspectives of previous Egyptian culture.

3. What are some of the themes you notice in the "Love Songs"?

The Egyptian love songs use the terms "brother" and "sister" as generic references to male and female lovers and suggest intimacy as well as the taboo of incest. Brother-sister unions were already written into Egyptian mythology by the time the love songs were penned. Also, the love songs reveal an emerging theme of romantic love, which almost seems out of place in ancient literature.

4. Did the erotic or explicit nature of some of the love songs surprise you? Explain.

The eroticism in the love songs is not wholly surprising, given that many ancient cultures addressed human sexuality frankly and even using graphic depictions. The Egyptians also employed some sexual imagery into their art, as did the ancient Indians and Chinese.

Old Testament

1. In what ways is the Hebrew view of God different from the Sumerian view of the gods as seen in Gilgamesh?

The main reason is that the Hebrew God is strictly One; the Hebrews staunchly affirmed a monotheistic worldview. Sumerian and other early religions including those of ancient Egypt gradually welcomed the concept of one supreme God without neglecting the rest of the pantheon. Another way the Hebrew God is significantly different from the Sumerian is that the Hebrew God is angry and vengeful and wholly impersonal and transcendent. The Sumerian gods are more personable, almost depicted like human beings with human emotions and flaws such as Ishtar's jealousy. They can be approached like people.