The Epic of Gilgamesh was an epic poem considered the world’s first work of literature, about a Sumerian King who went on many adventures, written in cuneiform on 12 clay tablets in 2100 BCE.
While the entire work is too mature for most students, there are videos, and summaries of simplified versions that focus on Gilgamesh’s main adventures with his friend Enkidu.
Giving students a graphic organizer to fill in as they read is helpful to pick out the most important facts and details.
After students conduct their research and fill out a note-taking sheet or graphic organizer, students can create a poster using a template from Storyboard That with images and text that highlight the key events from the story.
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Due Date:
Objective: After learning about the Epic of Gilgamesh create a poster that includes important details and engaging imagery.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Gilgamesh’s image, name, and major details in order of occurrence.
Introduce students to the concept of epics and how they depict the journey of a heroic figure. Before starting on the Epic of Gilgamesh, teachers can give an introduction to epics, how they are written, and what they are trying to tell. Once students are more familiar with the concept, teachers can begin the explanation of Epic the of Gilgamesh and tell the students how it is the world’s first work of literature.
Students will be able to learn better from visual elements such as pictures and animated videos available on the internet. Since the original text will be completely incomprehensible for students, teachers can use some simplified material and explain the topic with the help of visual elements.
Identifying and analyzing themes and central ideas are crucial parts of literature. Students can identify the central ideas present in this epic and try to find out the moral lesson the epic is trying to convey. These ideas will help the students understand the epic on a deeper level and enhance their analysis skills.
Once the students have understood the story and are familiar with Gilgamesh’s journey, they can make a storyboard to summarize the story from their perspective with the help of some interesting elements. Students can use online platforms such as Storyboard That for this activity or make the storyboards by hand.
Encourage students to do creative activities like writing contemporary adaptations, making art, or producing music based on the epic's ideas and characters. Students can also prepare a script for this epic and role-play in front of an audience as it will enhance their understanding of the characters and give perspective.
The two primary protagonists are Enkidu, a god-created beast who was supposed to defeat Gilgamesh but failed, and Gilgamesh, the ruler of Uruk. Ishtar, Utnapishtim, and Shamhat are among the other important characters in the story who become part of Gilgamesh’s heroic journey.
Following Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh pursues immortality. His journey leads him to Utnapishtim, who emphasizes the inevitable nature of death by narrating the tale of the Great Flood and the key to immortality.
Students can provide a timeline or map that shows Mesopotamia's historical background. To highlight the epic's historical context, they can also use pictures of antiquities like cuneiform tablets and display items which were primarily from Ancient Mesopotamia.