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The First Civilizations - Baby's First Year

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Copyright © by <strong>The</strong> McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.<br />

Name Date Class<br />

WORLD LITERATURE READING 1<br />

Early Literature<br />

About the Selection<br />

<strong>The</strong> Epic of Gilgamesh was discovered<br />

in ancient Mesopotamia and is the oldest<br />

known piece of literature in the world. It<br />

was written in cuneiform (wedge-shaped<br />

characters) on stone tablets. It tells the<br />

story of the warrior Gilgamesh. After his<br />

friend Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is so overcome<br />

by grief that he searches for a way<br />

to live forever. In the end, he must accept<br />

that only the gods are immortal.<br />

Guided Reading<br />

As you read this excerpt from the<br />

epic, pay attention to how Enkidu<br />

describes his dreams. <strong>The</strong>n answer<br />

the questions that follow.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Epic of Gilgamesh<br />

Tablet VII, Column iv<br />

With these last words the dying Enkidu did pray<br />

and say to his beloved companion:<br />

“In dreams last night<br />

the heavens and the earth poured out<br />

great groans while I alone<br />

stood facing devastation. Some fierce<br />

and threatening creature flew down at me<br />

and pushed me with its talons towards<br />

the horror-filled house of death<br />

wherein Irkalla, queen of shades,<br />

stands in command.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is darkness which lets no person<br />

again see light of day.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is a road leading away from<br />

bright and lively life.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re dwell those who eat dry dust<br />

and have no cooling water to quench their awful thirst.<br />

As I stood there I saw all those who’ve died<br />

and even kings among those darkened souls<br />

Reader’s Dictionary<br />

devastation: destruction and ruin<br />

talons: claws of a bird<br />

quench: to satisfy<br />

remote: distant, far removed<br />

forfeit: lose<br />

resumed: began again<br />

withering: shriveling and drying up<br />

deprived: withheld something from<br />

21<br />

CHAPTER 1

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