BOTOR, AIRA MAE P.

BSED-ENGLISH 2A

ASSESSMENT 2: Mythological Analysis Paper

The intent of this activity is for you to be able to demonstrate proficiency in using Mythological
approach in making an analysis of a chosen literary work.

Output: You shall present a mythological analysis essay of a written work of your choice. You may opt to
use a short story, a legend, a folktale, etc. as your subject. You may cite textual evidence and reference
experts to strengthen major points in your paper. The essay must contain the following parts:
Introduction (Creative Opening/Hook, and Thesis); Body (Topic Sentence, Textual Evidence,
Commentary, Lead-In, and Concluding or Clincher Sentence), and Conclusion.

Myth Analysis Myths have long been of interest to philosophers, literary critics, and
anthropologists interested in examining them for a variety of elements. While myths
demonstrate a clear structural knowledge of the culture’s history, theorists also argue that they
reveal some deeper elements regarding political, spiritual, and philosophical undercurrents
within that specific culture’s unconscious. Nearly all cultures share a sort of myth-making and
the sheer amount of myths that have been produced and become elements of contemporary
analysis is truly astounding.

Within this context of the investigation, one of the most analyzed myths is the Epic of
Gilgamesh. Perhaps for its position as one of the earliest forms of surviving writing, the text
represents one of the central in the field of myth analysis. This essay functions to analyze this
myth through the theoretical lens of Smith who argued that myths follow rituals. In considering
the nature of the Epic of Gilgamesh in terms of Smith’s lens it is difficult to argue that the
elements in the story were first ritualized, but their structural nature gives clues to this theory
as an originary element.

Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh is shown going through several trials and tribulations that
ultimately bring him to a higher state of self-knowledge and consciousness. This essay argues
that these trials and tribulations represent the conglomeration of real-life experiences, or
rituals, that have been articulated within the construct of the myth as a means of
demonstrating a sort of deeper structural dimension to the reality of the human condition. In
these regards, the inspiration of the story represents a sort of nebulous and abstract
understanding of human nature that is placed into narrative form through its articulation in the
myth.

One of the central aspects in these regards can be witnessed in Gilgamesh’s relationship with
Enkidu. In the first part of the epic Enkidu fills a role within Gilgamesh’s life that is akin to
meaning or purpose in existential terms; she opens his life and draws him into out a concern
with his people’s interests. Upon her death, Gilgamesh is profoundly influenced by her death,
and indeed a great part of the epic’s narrative is structured around Gilgamesh’s reaction to this
occurrence.

Rather than taking solace in his relationship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh now sets out to achieve a
sort of immortality. Utilizing Smith’s theoretical matrix, it’s argued that this shift from a concern
with the love relationship to a quest for immortality represents a ritualistic element of the
human condition. In attempting to achieve meaning in life individuals will oftentimes turn to
love, or towards higher purposes of life, such as art, or making social contributions. The Epic of
Gilgamesh has articulated this concern from one of meaning in life as achieved through love, to
one wherein meaning is achieved through a higher state of purpose that is believed to result in
immortality.

In conclusion, it’s clear that utilizing Smith’s theoretical lens the Epic of Gilgamesh in part
represents the mythological articulation of ritualistic aspects of the human condition. This essay
has demonstrated that Gilgamesh’s shift from a concern with Enkidu and love to a concern with
achieving immortality, is similar to the modern-day human’s concern with achieving a sense of
meaning and purpose. While the Epic of Gilgamesh is multi-varied and a broad amount of
interpretations exist within it, it’s clear that to some extent Smith’s theoretical perspective is at
work.