Character Analysis Map

Gilgamesh

The hero who is perfect in strength, surpassing, like a mountain bull, men in power. Gilgamesh is two thirds god and one third human. He may be strong, but he is also arrogant. Gilgamesh is a brave king that defeats threats to his kingdom. After dealing with grief he finally deveoples compassion for his people.

Traits

Selfish

"Gilgamesh does not leave a daughter to her mother, Nor the maiden to the warrior, nor the wife to her husband"

Fearful

"Fear of death has befallen me, and I lie here stretched out upon the ground."

Athletic

“This man is wearing the pelts of wild animals, and he has eaten their flesh. This is Gilgamesh, who has crossed over to where no man has been”

Focused

"Gilgamesh, you have labored long. What now shall I give you before you return to your country? I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a mystery"

Sensitive

"Gilgamesh wept bitterly for his comrade, for Enkidu, ranging over the desert"

Herosim

Antagonist

Gilgamesh is the antagonist in the sory, because he
embodies competition. When Gilgamesh first sees Enkidu, he chooses to fight with him in order to see who is stronger. Also, Gilgamesh sets forth to kill the protector of the forest, Humbaba, although Humbaba is no threat to the people of Uruk.

Change

Dynamic

"Gilgamesh arrogantly leaves no son to his father"
"Urshanabi, this plant is a plant of great power;
I will take it to Uruk the strong-walled, I will cultivate the plant there and then harvest it"

The first quote is from the beginning of "The Epic of Gilgmaesh" stating that Gilgamesh was a selfish man who left no son to his father. He was a menace to the community. Once Gilgamesh was introduced to Enkidu his persona changed. Gilgamesh had a true comrade that he could lean on. When Enkidu passed away and Gilgamesh went on a search for everlasting life he recieved a flower that would restore youth. Instead of keeping the flower to himself, Gilgamesh thought of his people and wanted to cultivate it to share.

Conflict

Internal Struggle

Gilgamesh dealth with internal struggle. He struggled to survive without his comrade, Enkidu. Gilgamesh wondered if death would come upon him to, so he went on a journey to search for everlasting life.

Odysseus

Traits

Adaptable

"He built a mast and fit in a yardarm, And he made a rudder to steer her by. Then he wove a wicker-work barrier to keep off the waves, plaiting it thick"

Athletic

"Then he dove into the sea and started to swim
A furious breaststroke"

Clever

"They left then, and I laughed in my heart
At how my phony name had fooled them so well"

Loyal

"In her halls and yearned to possess me; But they could not persuade me or touch my heart.
Nothing is sweeter than your own country
And your own parents, not even living in a rich house—
Not if it’s far from family and home."

Observant

"So I climbed to a rugged lookout point
And surveyed the scene"

Herosim

Protagonist

Odysseus is the protagonist in "The Odyssey." He is the
center of each book in the story and each story describes a journey that Odysseus has endured.

Change

Static

"Still, I want to go back. My heart aches for the day I return to my home."
"I was bringing it to you as an offering, hoping you would pity me and help me get home"

Odysseus's goal throughout each book is to go back home to Ithica nad be with his family. When trapped with the goddess Calypso, he understands that his human wife, Penelope, will never compare in beauty with her but still wants to be with her.

Conflict

Driven by external Forces

Everything Odysseus endured was driven by external forces. The reason Gilgamesh was stuck on Calypso's island for so long was because she did not want to let him go. Posiden did everything in his power to not allow Gilgamesh to return home by creating rough waters to travel in, because Gilgamesh killed the Cyclopes. Gilgamesh was driven to kill Penelope's suitors because they would not leave his home and were treating the premises as their personal buffet by eating all the cattle and drinking all the wine.