This is a lecture-style, deep poetry analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet I. In this video, I walk through the beginning line’s establishment of formal structure, and then take some time (or quite a lot of time!) to make sense of the themes represented by narrative plot.

My hope is that by learning how poetic verse is crafted, we can grow in our understanding of poetry, and inform our own modern writing.

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In spite of the time and effort I put into this video, I do feel as though I couldn’t touch on everything worth talking about. I suppose that is the nature of this kind of project, as this is essentially a lecture-style video over-viewing the text.

If you enjoyed this video, please let me know, because I could certainly use the continued encouragement . . . :,)

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone! For being here! For caring about language and life of forgotten eras~

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More of my stuff online:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ElisabethElmore
Instagram:   / perusing_moods  
Bandcamp: https://softrepose.bandcamp.com/album...

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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:23 Reading Opening Lines
5:43 Formal Structure
8:23 Building Sensory Details
11:39 Characterization of Gilgamesh
14:36 Physical Traits + Divine Nature
17:06 Accomplishments + Why it all matters
19:19 Reading of Conflict in Uruk
20:24 Beginning Action of Plot
23:03 Divine View of Conflict
24:01 Creation of Enkidu
29:05 Enkidu and the Hunter
34:28 Coupling of Shamhat and Enkidu
38:38 Prophetic Dreams


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Sources

The Paper on Mesopotamian System of Measurements:
https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...

On Lugalbanda
https://www.mesopotamiangods.com/luga...
More on Lugalbanda:
https://www.ancient-origins.net/histo...
On the Bull of Heaven:
https://oldeuropeanculture.blogspot.c...