• On pg. 142, Enkidu described his second dream with there being a creature with lion and eagle body features that seized him by the hair and forced in into the underworld. Later on pg. 154, after Enkidu’s death, “Like an eagle, Gilgamesh circled about him, he paced in front of him, back and forth, like a lioness….he tore off clumps of his hair.” Why is it that Gilgamesh is described like the creature that doomed Enkidu in his dream?—MO

• On page 145-147, Enkidu curses the trapper and Shamhat. Why do you think he was so quick to curse the ones he first met instead of Ishtar who essentially caused the God’s to be upset?—BY

• Enkidu dies on pages 40-50. My question is was Gilgamesh there even though Enkidu could not see him? Another question I have for this passage is sense Enkidu’s believed that Gilgamesh was not , did that have a greater significance?—MM

• In response to page 67-69 of the Andrew George translation of Gilgamesh, why does Gilgamesh take the time to list the number of gods that are to attend and greet his dead friend Enkidu?—ASC

• After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh faces a fear of death that has taken hold of his entire life. Do you think this was only due to the similarity in power that Enkidu had to Gilgamesh, or from the traumatic experience of losing his dear friend? Pg. 150—CSz

• At the end of book 10 [9?], what is the significance of Gilgamesh passing through the mountain?—CSt

• From Page 171: When Gilgamesh introduces himself to Urshanabi, he doesn’t mention how Enkidu and himself killed Humbaba like he had been doing. Why do you think this is?—HW

• Seeing the trials Utnapishtim faced from pp. 182 to 188 and the misery Gilgamesh faced on his journey, would you want to be immortal?—RG

• Were these trials worth immortality? pg. 182-188—DS

• I have a question regarding page 197 of Book XI. Why is it that snakes are mainly regarded as symbols of mischief or evil?—LH

• At the end of the reading what is the significance of Gilgamesh telling Urshanabi to look at all the things in Uruk that are so great? For example the great walls, the Temple of Ishtar etc. (page 198)—MT

• When Gilgamesh returns to his city, does this symbolize him appreciating what he has in life? Page 198—CB

• On page 198, Gilgamesh decides that Uruk is a great city and he accepts mortality. Do you think that Enkidu is the reason Gilgamesh changed and accepted not being a god?—DE

• Why does the author choose to repeat so many lines through the book? For example, dreams, animals, and stories are all retold in the exact same format. Why does the author do this and what is the significance of it?—CJM

• On page 199, Gilgamesh returned to Uruk, what will he do now, will he accept his mortality or will he try to find new ways to become immortal.—NB