StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

GILGAMESH by David Ferry - Book Report/Review Example

Cite this document
Summary
7 June 2011. Gilgamesh by David Ferry Response: Gilgamesh by David Ferry is a very interesting narrative of a man’s effort with immortality. The translation made by David Ferry was fairly accurate and made use of simple words…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94% of users find it useful
GILGAMESH by David Ferry
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "GILGAMESH by David Ferry"

7 June Gilgamesh by David Ferry Response: Gilgamesh by David Ferry is a very interesting narrative of a man’s effort with immortality. The translation made by David Ferry was fairly accurate and made use of simple words. This raises the reader’s interest in the story and the experience with the book becomes quite pleasant. In Gilgamesh, the author has introduced a writing pattern which is way off the conventional style of writing. While Gilgamesh and Enkidu make preparations for invasion into the forbidden Cedar Forest in order to encounter the demon Humbaba, Enkidu says: Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death.

Enlil made him guardian of the Cedar Forest, to frighten off the mortal who would venture there. But who would venture there? Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar is the floodwater; he breathes and there is death. He hears the slightest sound somewhere in the Forest. Enlil made him terrifying guardian,Whose mouth is fire, whose roar the floodwater. (Ferry). In this epic, the articulate manner in which the verses have been repeated is indeed, a very incredible literary technique. It is difficult to generalize the literary style used in the epic because of the fact that different English translations relate to the poems in different ways and there is a great deal of variation in the ancient versions as well.

There are repetitions that associate with the formal structure in that the repetitions might have helped the storytellers with mnemonic assistance when the storytellers did not have any written versions. The repetitions may prove very incantatory in effect both in the original languages of Gilgamesh and the English translation. In the lines mentioned above from the book, the audience is made aware of the awesome presence of Humbaba as well as the fear which is inspired in the challengers of Humbaba.

In Gilgamesh, the author has come up with many transitions in the literature. This can be estimated from the fact that Gilgamesh’s despair upon losing his last chance for immortality, the magical plant turns out to be false since the loss was a truthful moment. Gilgamesh takes Urshanabi with him and reaches the wonderful expense of Uruk. Its fields, towering ziggurat and the orchards fascinate him and Gilgamesh takes pride in it. Throughout the book Gilgamesh keeps finding the real meaning of life and by the end of it, discovers the meaning in nowhere else but his own home.

Gilgamesh has certain elements in common with The Odyssey, particularly the meeting with the souls of expired people and the trip to Underworld. If this book was to be defined in one word, it would be cute, because it does sound absurd and strange at times, yet this never comes as a compromise upon the intrinsic beauty of the literature and creativity of ideas of the author. The translation by David Ferry is highly recommendable. A reader may feel bored to read the first few pages of the book, though if the reader continues to read, the book gradually starts to reveal its hidden powers.

Works Cited: Ferry, David. Gilgamesh: A New Rendering in English Verse. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1993. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“GILGAMESH by David Ferry Book Report/Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/other/1424887-gilgamesh-by-david-ferry
(GILGAMESH by David Ferry Book Report/Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/other/1424887-gilgamesh-by-david-ferry.
“GILGAMESH by David Ferry Book Report/Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/other/1424887-gilgamesh-by-david-ferry.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF GILGAMESH by David Ferry

The Epic of Gilgamesh

The epic of gilgamesh is an extended narrative poem, which, on the bigger scale, is based on the manners of heroes and warriors.... The basic epic is primitive or oral, such as gilgamesh's epic.... … The epic of gilgamesh is an extended narrative poem, which, on the bigger scale, is based on the manners of heroes and warriors.... The basic epic is primitive or oral, such as gilgamesh's epic.... The Epic of gilgamesh dates back to 2150-2000 BC and before that there were only two huge Indian epics called the Ramayana and Mahabharata, which date back to 1000-800 BC....
5 Pages (1250 words) Assignment

Contribution of Western Civilization

With this, they were able to present the first epic known to mankind, which was the gilgamesh.... 1.... SUMERIANS: The Sumerians were inhabitants of southern Mesopotamia, where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers converge and today's modern societies owe a lot to them.... They invented the wheel, from which the potter's wheel and the first wheeled vehicles and the mill wheels were derived....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Historical Background of Gilgamesh

gilgamesh, the oldest documented stories in the world tells about an ancient King of Uruk, gilgamesh, who may have in fact existed, and whose name is on the Sumerian (Sumer was in Mesopotamia, i.... Engraved in the block -shaped letters known as cuneiform on clay tablets, gilgamesh stands as the most basic classic of world literature, a classic which is still in the making, for scholars keep on discovering and assemble slices -- in Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite and other ancient languages intermittently adding some more lines to this story of the ancient Middle Eastern king's search for immortality and his accepting the inevitability of death (Dirda, 2007). The story of gilgamesh, in several Sumerian versions, was at first generally known in the third millennium B....
10 Pages (2500 words) Book Report/Review

Character of Gilgamesh

gilgamesh is the oldest epic known to man.... The story follows the antics of gilgamesh and his literary foil, Enkidu as they seek fame, glory, and ultimately everlasting life.... hellip; Throughout the epic poem, gilgamesh goes through a significant change of character that allows him to evolve, and by the end of the story gilgamesh has grown into the true hero he was destined to be.... gilgamesh is the oldest epic known to man....
3 Pages (750 words) Book Report/Review

Critique of Gilgamesh

gilgamesh, the oldest documented stories in the world tells about an ancient King of Uruk, gilgamesh, who may have in fact existed, and whose name is on the Sumerian (Sumer was in Mesopotamia, i.... … This study looks into the story of gilgamesh, in several Sumerian versions, was at first generally known in the third millennium B....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Gilgamesh the Immortal One

This epic poem is best explained when looking at the… First, we see gilgamesh as a fearless immortal being.... gilgamesh goes on a quest for everlasting life to get his dear friend back.... gilgamesh is happy with his kingly status.... The story begins with gilgamesh of Uruk.... The people who belong to gilgamesh are everything but happy.... Enkidu is known as gilgamesh's counter part....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Epic of Gilgamesh Analysis

In this poem, sex plays a significant role since it has a strong hold on gilgamesh and… gilgamesh is a ruggedly and super strong mortal king of Uruk.... These women's husbands are not pleased with gilgamesh's Anas Musharraf Browning CORE 104 6 March gilgamesh In, The Epic of gilgamesh, Jackson uses her female characters to influence men.... In this poem, sex plays a significant role since it has a strong hold on gilgamesh and Enkidu who are some of the most powerful men, in this society....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

My Hero in Life: My Mother

Moreover, those people happen to be really lucky who get their role models within their family.... In that context I am proud to say that my mother is my hero in life.... She is somebody whom I… She is somebody whom I have always admired.... Whenever, in life I feel discouraged or demotivated, I look up to my mother as a role model and thinking of her gets me motivated and encouraged....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us