Reading Guide for Book IV and V

Reading Guide for Book IV and V of Gilgamesh

1. Please number the pages of this book.

Pre-reading:

Before reading this book, think about the power of dreams in your culture. Does your family talk about dreams? Have you ever had a dream interpreted, or do your parents? Do you generally remember your dreams, and if you do, do you try to figure out what they mean?

Remember the importance of dream-telling in The Giver as a way to control the society.

Now, read Book IV.

Questions to guide annotation:

1. Gilgamesh and Enkidu honor the gods and conduct rituals each night before sleeping. What items do they use, and what does this tell us about what this culture values. Then, what does that tell us about the culture?

2. What do you notice about how this book is structured?

3. What do we learn about Shamash's role in this killing of Humbaba?

Book V

Again, please number the pages of the book.

1. You will notice that Gilgamesh and Enkidu give a reason three different times in this book for killing Humbaba. What is the reason?

2. What stage would you say the hero's are in the hero journey?
   Is it a typical hero journey?
   1. Who called them to action?
   2. Is there purpose a noble one?

3. Events are described on page 5 and again on page 8 that cause the earth to react. What kind of geologic events do you think are being described?

4. What evidence is there in Book IV to prove that Enkidu and Gilgamesh know they are doing something they should not be doing?

Vocabulary:

Please look up and define and mark an average of two words per page as you read.