What role do women play in the Epic of Gilgamesh?

1) Love is a major theme in the text. But what is the most important relationship in the story, in your opinion- and why? Defend your answer.

2) What role do women play in the Epic of Gilgamesh? For example, how would you characterize women like Ishtar, Ninsun, Shamhat, or Aruru? How do these characters help advance any of the story’s themes? Finally, what do their portrayals suggest about the status of women in this ancient culture?

3) The fear of mortality is a dominant theme in the epic. How does the character of Gilgamesh grapple with his fear of mortality? Does Gilgamesh’s attitudes on this topic change over the course of the story? If so, how, and why?

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