“The Epic of Gilgamesh,” the great Mesopotamian/Sumerian poem, composed before the Bible or the Greek epics, remains the earliest extant piece of Western literature. Written on clay tablets in Akkadian cuneiform between 2000 and 1100 B.C.E., the text was not discovered until the 1850’s. The poet weaves together myth and reality, artfully creating an archetypal tale of a great Sumerian king’s quest for friendship, love, and immortality. The poetry is beautiful and moving; the society it depicts is amazing.
The course will emphasize the ancient poem itself; the development of cuneiform writing; the history of Mesopotamia. While many of us may associate the “great flood” with its depiction in “The Book of Genesis,” we’ll find an older and strikingly similar version in “Gilgamesh.”
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Instructor: Juliet Baker
Juliet has taught at least 15 literature courses at Senior College: lots of ancient literature in translation along with many 19th century English novels. She has viewed each of her courses as a closely knit group affair. The emphasis is on textual analysis and group discussion, along with frequent illustrations. Each course has necessitated copious weekly reading.
