Gilgamesh Hero's Journey
Gilgamesh
In Gilgamesh, we see several of Campbell’s stages of the heroic myth. We see Gilgamesh introduced in his ordinary world, he is called to adventure twice, he passes the first threshold, he meets several helpers and encounters tests, he reaches the innermost cave, endures the supreme ordeal, seizes the treasure, is resurrected, and returns home with the treasure.
Gilgamesh begins the tale at home as the restless king (introduction of the hero in their ordinary world). He soon meets his helper Enkidu and the two of them go off on their adventure to the forest to defeat Humbaba (call to adventure). Enkidu dies. This prompts the grief stricken Gilgamesh to seek the answer to immortality (another call to adventure and passes first threshold). …show more content…
We see Beowulf called to adventure, he passes the first threshold, encounters tests and helpers, endures the supreme ordeal, seizes the treasure, takes the road back, resurrection, and returns with the …show more content…
Beowulf never refuses the call to adventure because he is confident that he can defeat Grendel. The first night that Beowulf arrives, he faces a test. Unferth is jealous of Beowulf and tries to make him look like a fool in front of the Danes. Beowulf ends up insulting Unferth for killing his brother. At the same time, Beowulf meets his helpers which are King Hrothgar and Welthow. Later in the night, Beowulf meets Grendel and kills him (another test/passes first threshold). After this encounter, Beowulf has to fight Grendel’s mother (reaches innermost cave). Beowulf’s helmet and sword fail him while he is fighting Grendel’s mother. Beowulf finds the magical sword and is able to kill Grendel’s mother (sword can also be looked at as a helper). Beowulf returns to his people after this battle (return home). After 50 years of being king, Beowulf must fight a dragon (another call to action and test). The dragon fatally wounds Beowulf and he dies. The resurrection stage is seen by the way Beowulf wants to be remembered, he wants a tower built by the sea next to the dragon’s treasure that he will be remembered. The returning with treasure stage is having the tower built by the
In Gilgamesh, we see several of Campbell’s stages of the heroic myth. We see Gilgamesh introduced in his ordinary world, he is called to adventure twice, he passes the first threshold, he meets several helpers and encounters tests, he reaches the innermost cave, endures the supreme ordeal, seizes the treasure, is resurrected, and returns home with the treasure.
Gilgamesh begins the tale at home as the restless king (introduction of the hero in their ordinary world). He soon meets his helper Enkidu and the two of them go off on their adventure to the forest to defeat Humbaba (call to adventure). Enkidu dies. This prompts the grief stricken Gilgamesh to seek the answer to immortality (another call to adventure and passes first threshold). …show more content…
We see Beowulf called to adventure, he passes the first threshold, encounters tests and helpers, endures the supreme ordeal, seizes the treasure, takes the road back, resurrection, and returns with the …show more content…
Beowulf never refuses the call to adventure because he is confident that he can defeat Grendel. The first night that Beowulf arrives, he faces a test. Unferth is jealous of Beowulf and tries to make him look like a fool in front of the Danes. Beowulf ends up insulting Unferth for killing his brother. At the same time, Beowulf meets his helpers which are King Hrothgar and Welthow. Later in the night, Beowulf meets Grendel and kills him (another test/passes first threshold). After this encounter, Beowulf has to fight Grendel’s mother (reaches innermost cave). Beowulf’s helmet and sword fail him while he is fighting Grendel’s mother. Beowulf finds the magical sword and is able to kill Grendel’s mother (sword can also be looked at as a helper). Beowulf returns to his people after this battle (return home). After 50 years of being king, Beowulf must fight a dragon (another call to action and test). The dragon fatally wounds Beowulf and he dies. The resurrection stage is seen by the way Beowulf wants to be remembered, he wants a tower built by the sea next to the dragon’s treasure that he will be remembered. The returning with treasure stage is having the tower built by the