• What is the wall of Uruk and how could it be bigger than any city? pg 69—BH

• On pages 69-70, the Prologue describes the monuments that stood due to the greatness of Gilgamesh: the great wall of Uruk, the Eaana Temple, and the tablets upon which his journeys were recorded. Since these monuments have been lost almost entirely, is the significance of his deeds diminished? It (the Prologue) asks us to "inspect it (the wall's) mighty foundations, examine its brickwork, how masterfully it is built, observe the land it encloses: the palm trees, the shops and marketplaces, the houses, the public squares." Does the story still stand as a story of understanding and growth, or does it become an example that even the mighty Gilgamesh and his constructions are nothing before the force that is time?—KM

• How does the society described in this story compare to the factual society at the time? (One such reference is the priestess, Shamhat (pp 77) who gives her body to men in order to honor the goddess and how Gilgamesh uses new brides (pp 72).) In what way is this story similar to other creation myths?—CD

• I would like to discuss the similarities and differences between this and the story of Adam and Eve, especially descriptions given in book I. E.g., p. 74: Enkidu was created from clay to balance the power.—SM

• I suggest we talk about the sex and manipulation seen right away in Book 1. (E.g., p. 79.) Is this a metaphor for the idea that the flesh can be dangerous and is not something to be indulged in too often?—JB

• Gilgamesh's sexuality and his need to sleep with brides on their wedding day before their husbands. Page #88-89: "the bride was ready for Gilgamesh as though for a god, she was waiting in here bed to open to him."—RA

• "Time passed quickly. Gilgamesh said,/'Now we must travel to the Cedar Forest,/where the fierce monster Humbaba lives./We must kill him and drive out evil from the world." (P.91.) "Hero in the front lines, beloved by his soldiers—/fortress they call him, protector of people" (P.71).

"The priest will bless the young couple, the guests,/will rejoice, the bridegroom will step aside,/and the virgin will wait in the marriage bed/for Gilgamesh, king of great-walled Uruk./It is he who mates first with the lawful wife." (P.87.) "He is king, he does whatever he wants,/takes the son from his father and crushes him,/takes the girl from her mother and uses her." (P.72.)

He protects his people, he uses his people. Gilgamesh is a good king or a bad king?—KT

• Also when the people of Uruk called for the gods to send someone to balance out Gilgamesh (p75) did Enkidu really stop Gilgamesh from doing the arrogant things he did before?—KW

• Why did Gilgamesh and Enkidu become friends so quickly after their fight? (p.90)—RS

• Why does Gilgamesh feel he needs his mothers blessing if he is already confident he can defeat the forest guardian?—JP

• I would like to discuss the reason why the author chooses to repeat certain phrases in the text over and over again, more specifically the part where Gilgamesh has dreams before he kills Humbaba, and also the importance of dreams throughout books I-VI—PJI

• I was wondering why in the book IV, 105-117, that the original authors found it necessary to literally repeat the same exact words about 6 times for every one of Gilgamesh's dreams?—KW

• How is the use of repetition of sentences/phrases an affective form of writing?—ER

• I would like to discuss the relevance of the dreams (pg. 106-115), as well as, the loves of Ishtar (pg. 133-134). Is the number 5 at all symbolic, 5 dreams & 5 loves?—SC

• What are some characteristic that you saw in Gilgamesh that make it different from other heroic stories you have read?—MG

• Throughout the reading I noticed that Gilgamesh is quite vain. In all honesty if you were one of the first great warrior kings during the beginning of civilization how do you think you would act?—LK

• So far what do you think the role of Enkidu is?—EC