Epic" is a Greek word applied to the two great narrative poems by Homer. When we apply it to other works, we imply that these other works have something important in common with the Homeric epics. In the case of Gilgamesh, the common elements are a strong central hero and a central concern with the relationship between human beings and death, the gods, and fate. ... Unlike Homer's epics, Gilgamesh is a somewhat disconnected story: a collection of episodes in the career of the hero, rather than a single unified action. ...

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• Grade Level: High School