The Epic of Gilgamesh vs. the Biblical Flood Story Essay Example
September 4, 2011
Period 2
Comparative Essay In the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ and ‘The Biblical Flood Story’ have a very similar plot line, but many several key differences. In both stories a flood occurs, which were caused by the God/s( This shows that in Gilgamesh they were polytheistic while in the Biblical version they were monotheistic. ) to destroy the people of the earth. For both flood stories, a specific person is chosen to build an arc but for different reasons. In the Biblical story, Noah builds the arc due to his righteous character but in Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim built the arc to save himself. Later on in both stories birds are released making them seem very similar. In the end, the stories are separated because of the covenants made and not made by the Gods. The stories are pulled together with their similarities but separated with their differences. The reasons that the Gods sent the flood and the aftermath of the construction of the arc in both stories make the plot line go hand in hand but the concepts separate them. In the Biblical story, God had seen that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that the earth was corrupted with violence. Therefore, he sent the flood to purify the corrupted flesh of the earth. God then found Noah and commanded him to build an arc simply because of how honorable of a man he was. Noah then uses the arc to protect his family and every living thing of flesh. God did that to repopulate the earth once the wrath had been completed. Then, God made a covenant to man agreeing to never punish mankind in such a harsh manner again. In Gilgamesh, 5 Gods took an oath to keep the plan of flooding the earth a secret. They were going to exterminate the human race to punish them for the sins they had committed. One of the Gods, Ea, broke the oath and told Utnapishtim to build a ship in order to save his life. Utnapishtim then made an arc and boarded it with all the animals of the world so he could, too, repopulate the
Period 2
Comparative Essay In the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ and ‘The Biblical Flood Story’ have a very similar plot line, but many several key differences. In both stories a flood occurs, which were caused by the God/s( This shows that in Gilgamesh they were polytheistic while in the Biblical version they were monotheistic. ) to destroy the people of the earth. For both flood stories, a specific person is chosen to build an arc but for different reasons. In the Biblical story, Noah builds the arc due to his righteous character but in Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim built the arc to save himself. Later on in both stories birds are released making them seem very similar. In the end, the stories are separated because of the covenants made and not made by the Gods. The stories are pulled together with their similarities but separated with their differences. The reasons that the Gods sent the flood and the aftermath of the construction of the arc in both stories make the plot line go hand in hand but the concepts separate them. In the Biblical story, God had seen that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that the earth was corrupted with violence. Therefore, he sent the flood to purify the corrupted flesh of the earth. God then found Noah and commanded him to build an arc simply because of how honorable of a man he was. Noah then uses the arc to protect his family and every living thing of flesh. God did that to repopulate the earth once the wrath had been completed. Then, God made a covenant to man agreeing to never punish mankind in such a harsh manner again. In Gilgamesh, 5 Gods took an oath to keep the plan of flooding the earth a secret. They were going to exterminate the human race to punish them for the sins they had committed. One of the Gods, Ea, broke the oath and told Utnapishtim to build a ship in order to save his life. Utnapishtim then made an arc and boarded it with all the animals of the world so he could, too, repopulate the