In cogitating on the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, Gilgamesh, the Sumerian king, is a famous and heroic legend. In his pursuit for eternal life, Gilgamesh takes a journey to the very edge of the earth fearlessly showing bravery, boldness, and courage while facing great dangers.
Throughout the entire epic Gilgamesh exhibits notorious skills as a leader. An epic consists of a long narrative or poem surrounded around a heroic leader or warrior. The central figure is a legendary or historical figure of heroic proportions, in this case the Sumerian king Gilgamesh (Sayre 14).I am inspired by Gilgamesh’s ethics. These ethics can be seen in a collection of examples in society today providing no significant outcome for citizens. To begin, much of the “Epic of Gilgamesh” reflects the “inevitability of death” theme.
For example, at the snort of the Bull of Heaven a huge pit opened up and three hundred victims fell into hell. Gilgamesh could have conveniently run away to escape and saved his own life. Alternatively, he stayed and protected the citizens while risking his own life.Thus no more of the righteous citizens were killed. The Epic of Gilgamesh acknowledges what many Mesopotamian kings were unwilling to admit at least publicly: their own, very human, limitations, their own powerlessness in the face of the ultimate unknown death (Sayre16). Similarly The Hunger Games is another epic tale that reflects the “inevitability of death” theme.
In this tale two tributes are invoked in each of the twelve districts and those tributes are rushed off to a gridiron where they battle until one and only one tribute survives.Against all odds, Prim’s name is chosen at the reaping which is Katniss’ little sister; however, Katniss volunteers taking the place of her younger sister. Katniss becomes the district’s tribute for the hunger games risking her own life to sacrifice her sister’s life. The Hunger Games seizes the principal of “reality television” and by pleasurably amplifying it in the face of society. Katniss decides she will not be a part of this game anymore.
She refuses to take a life to save her own. Katniss and the district other tribute Peeta attempts to commit suicide ending the game before they take each other’s lives.As a result, the producers decide to take two winners instead of one or none at all saving both their lives. Katniss, determined to set an example and make a difference, shows heroic leadership skills, bravery, and moral values while facing many dangerous obstacles risking her own life. Additionally, Harry Potter is another epic hero and advocate.
Frequently Harry Potter finds himself involved in jeopardous adventures while on his quest to find and kill Lord Voidemort murder of his parents.For instance, in his second year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter is visited by a prisoned house-elf name Dobby. Because the great dangers that await Harry Potter, Dobby warns him not to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter risk his own life to save his best friend’s sister life Ginny Weasley and frees Dobby by tricking his master into giving him a sock. Harry displays integrity while sacrificing his life to save his friends.
In simpler terms, an epic is a long, narrative poem in elevated language that follows characters of a high position through a series of adventures, often including a visit to the world of the dead (Sayre 14). The previously stated examples are evidence of epics in ancient and modern society passing down from generation to generation in specific regions. Most importantly, the preceding examples are considered `epics because they are heroes who demonstrate self-less service, courage, strength, outstanding leadership skills, and ethical values while facing great dangers.
