Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Characters
Trials & Flaws
Wild Card
100

Alcinous and the Phaecians embody this theme in the Odyssey.

What is hospitality (xenia)?

100

The snake in Gilgamesh represents this.

What is trickery or deception?  

100

This character in Gilgamesh has many parallels with Noah from the Bible.

Who is Utnapishtim?

100

This goddess keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years, delaying his return to Ithaca.

Who is Calypso?

100

This writing form used to record the earliest versions of Gilgamesh, was written with a stylus in clay.

What is cuneiform?

200

The relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is an example of this theme.

What is friendship and companionship?
200

This is a symbol of the steadfastness of Penelope and Odysseus' marriage in the Odyssey.

What is the rooted bed?

200

This god intervenes to block Odysseus on his journey home.

Who is Poseidon?

200

Gilgamesh is given a plant to grant immortality but loses it to a _________.

What is a serpent?

200

Approximately when the Odyssey was recorded.  (your answer must be within 100 years of the date given)

What is approximately 700 BC?
300

This character from Gilgamesh best demonstrates nature or the natural world.

Who is Enkidu?

300

This symbolizes Odysseus' strength and right to kingship.

What is the bow?

300

What is an example of a temptress from Gilgamesh?

Who is Shamat? Or who is Ishtar?

300

Odysseus faces this whirlpool monster while navigating the narrow straits between two deadly perils.

Who is Charybdis?

300

This is the region from which the Epic of Gilgamesh came.

What is Mesopotamia?  (will also accept What is Sumer? or What is Assyria?)

400

By the end of his journey, Gilgamesh has accepted that this is inevitable.

What is death?

400

This symbol represents Penelope's cunning.

What is Laertes' shroud?
400

Civilizing influence who introduces Enkidu to civilization.

Who is Shamat?

400

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, this goddess of love and war proposes marriage to Gilgamesh but is rejected, prompting her to send the Bull of Heaven to punish him.

Who is Ishtar?

400

This is when the Epic of Gilgamesh was recorded. (must be within 200 years of the date given)

What is approximately 2000 BC?

500

Odysseus crying on the shores of Ogygia is an example of this theme.

2 possible answers:

1) what is memory or grief?

2) what is homecoming?

500

This motif from Gilgamesh acts as foreshadowing demonstrating the power of the gods to intervene in human affairs.

What are dreams?

500

This ferryman takes Gilgamesh across the sea to visit Utnapishtim

Who is Urshanabi?

500

This is a major flaw of both Gilgamesh and Odyssey.

What is hubris (excessive pride)?

500

This is the home of Circe.

What is Aeaea?