The end of Gilgamesh

The Relationship of Mankind to the Gods:  Consider the creation and death of Enkidu and Utnapishtim’s story of the flood (and the aftermath).  What do these episodes tell us about the relationship between the gods and human beings? How, if at all, do Exceptional human beings differ from ordinary ones in this regard? 

     Both of these episodes tell us that the gods will do and can do whatever they want. Since the flood was started by the gods, it shows us that they didn't care that they were going to kill humans. Even though the god Ea, went and told the fence about the gods plan, showing that he maybe cared for the humans. Then with Enkidu dying, he killed humbaba and the bull, which angered the gods. The gods punished Gilgamesh by killing him, meaning that they didn't care how he would feel about losing his 'brother'. I feel that exceptional human beings differ in how they act from ordinary ones. The gods are so powerful and can accomplish anything and the ordinary people have to try much harder and don't have the power that the gods do.

Chord- Stuart Dybek

A man steps out of sunlight,

sunlight that streams like grace,

still gaping at blue sky

staked across the emptiness of space,

into a history where shadows

assume a human face.

A man slips into silence

that began as a cry,

still trailing music

although reduced to the sigh

of an accordion

as it folds into its case.

      I like this poem because it has a good meaning and also a bad meaning. He is trying to find happiness but he keeps getting sucked back into the darkness. Another meaning could be like he is dying and he's trying to accept that. The last line "of an accordion as it folds into its case" hints that its at a funeral and his life has ended.

G-MESH

    What I think being 'human' means is how you act, and not necessarily the way that we are made. Being human doesn't just include walking upright, our brains, social life, and language. Gilgamesh in the beginning shows a side where he is very powerful and strong. He doesn't care for anyone else but himself. Later, Gilgamesh meets Enkidu, who he becomes great friends with. Enkidu has an effect on Gilgamesh. You start to see that Gilgamesh is becoming more 'human' like by just being an all round better person. He turns down a woman named Ishtar, this shows he is more human like because in the real world today most people would not do what Gilgamesh did. I think he finally notices how some people are just bad and in the end are going to hurt you Like Ishtar would do to Gilgamesh. Both Enkidu and Gilgamesh are both exceptional people by showing that you can help someone change to be more human.

Poetry Out Loud- The Net

Into this net of leaves, green as old glass  
That the sun fondles, trembling like images

In water, this live net, swung overhead
From branch to branch, what swam? The spider’s thread

Is less passive, where it appears to float
Like a bright hair clinging to the wind’s coat.

Hot at work, history neither schemes nor grieves  
Here where the soaking dead are last year’s leaves,

And over them slung, meshed with sun, a net  
No creature wove, none frantically tried to fret.

The huge weight of time without its sting  
Hangs in that greenly cradling woof. A wing

Has caught there, held. Held. But not to stay,  
We know, who, how slowly, walk away.

I like this poem because I'm unsure of what it's taking about. I really don't know if this poem is talking about a spider or someone trying to catch something, but it's very interesting trying to find out what it means.