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Listen&Learn: The Epic of Gilgamesh

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock
Learn about the oldest written story

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • narrative poem: a long story written in verse
  • compose: to create something
  • tablet: a piece of clay or stone that is used to write on
  • contribute: to help accomplish something
  • eternal: lasting forever
  • mortality: the idea that all living things will eventually die

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an narrative poem. It is the oldest written narrative that has ever been found. Some of the individual that make up the poem were composed as early as 2100 B.C.E. The complete poem was later written on clay tablets in Akkadian, a language of ancient Mesopotamia. There is no known author. Many people likely contributed to the story over many years. The poem follows the long journey of a who searches for the secret to eternal life. The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced literary works in many different . In fact, stories from The Epic of Gilgamesh can also be found in literature from later in , such as Homer’s epics and the Bible.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. The complete poem was first written in
    a. Akkadian
    b. Sumerian
    c. Greek
  2. The poem was written by
    a. Homer
    b. Gilgamesh himself
    c. an unknown author, possibly multiple
  3. In the story, Gilgamesh is primarily searching for
    a. true love
    b. wealth
    c. eternal life

Discussion/essay questions

  1. The Epic of Gilgamesh deals with the theme of mortality. This has continued to be a common theme in literature throughout history. Why do you think death is such an important focus of stories?

Transcript

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient narrative poem. It is the oldest written narrative that has ever been found. Some of the individual stories that make up the poem were composed as early as 2100 B.C.E. The complete poem was later written on clay tablets in Akkadian, a language of ancient Mesopotamia. There is no known author. Many people likely contributed to the story over many years. The poem follows the long journey of a king who searches for the secret to eternal life. The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced literary works in many different cultures. In fact, stories from The Epic of Gilgamesh can also be found in literature from later in history, such as Homer’s epics and the Bible.

Answers to comprehension questions

1a 2c 3c

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub
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