Gilgamesh the Hero
by Geraldine McCaughrean
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Book Summary Information
Author: Geraldine McCaughreanBrand: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Illustrator: David Parkins
Edition: School & Library Binding
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-08
ISBN: 0802852629
Number of pages: 96
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Book Reviews of Gilgamesh the Hero
Book Review: Gilgamesh the Hero.
Summary: 5 Stars
Gilgamesh the Hero. Author: Geraldine McCaughrean Illustrator:David Parkins. 96 pages. 2003.
I picked this book up in the Children's section of a local library one day while I was looking for books to read with my daughter who was three at the time. The book was in the Folk Tales and Myths section. The last time I had read the story of Gilgamesh was at university.
Gilgamesh the story dates from before the seventh century BC. There are several translations and versions of this epic. The version used in this book is the 12 tablet Sumerian version. The translation is faithful to the original and very readable. It works equally well for adults and toddlers.
The story resonates with emotions and experiences on many levels. My daughter thought of it as a super-hero adventure story with great feats, great friends, and epic journeys. All of this is in the story and as such there are parallels in the Odyssey, Beowulf, the Chronicles of Marco Polo, the Viking Sagas and many other stories.
The adult reader will notice parallels from the Bible especially in the story of the flood. Which leads to the broader question for the reader whether the Bible collected the story of the flood from Gilgamesh or vice-a-versa. The main plot occurs after Gilgamesh finally finds a friend who is his equal, who is compatible with his abilities and interests. The death of his friend Enkidu about a third of a way into the epic drives the remainder of the plot and adventure as Gilgamesh seeks to deal with his loss and come to grips with his own mortality. We see a man bereft and in the grip of PTSD as he seeks solace in action. He attempts to run away from his problems.
In the end Gilgamesh will find the immortality he seeks and the re-union with his great friend Enkidu. He finds immortality in this saga so worthy were his deeds but also in the normal way in the memory of his children and grandchildren. All of which can serve as thought provoking about our own eternal memory.
The book has excellent illustrations and can be a conduit for discussion with children about feelings and events such as loss, travail, and the personal search for authenticity. Thos who have a strong religious faith may be intimidated by the inclusion and roles of the Sumerian belief system but rather than shy from it uses it as an opportunity to discuss matters of faith and belief.
This is a fantastic book. I look forward to re-reading with my daughter over the years to come as each reading will peel back another layer of meaning and import as she grows up and journeys to adult-hood. It is one of those few books whose meaning changes with your experience. While our technology, faith, social structure and mode of living may have changed since 3,000 BC when this story was being written down ... as Ardant du Picq noted in his book "Battle Studies" the human heart and condition remains unchanged. Reaching forward through the eons this book will make that relevant connection.
Summary of Gilgamesh the Hero
This is one of the oldest stories in the world, and its about many things that still matter to us today: friendship, fame, courage, happiness. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are friends - best friends. Together they can work wonders, fight monsters, brave earthquakes, travel the world! But waiting in the dark is the one enemy they can never overcome. Retold by award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean, and illustrated with great power by David Parkins, Gilgamesh the Hero is a story that will linger in the imagination long after the book has been put down.Literature Books
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