The Doomed Quest

Which detail should definitely be included in a summary of the play?

• Gilgamesh gives two siblings a handful of silver.

• Gilgamesh’s close friend, Enkidu, passes away.

• Gilgamesh meets two scorpions at the Great Mountains.

• Gilgamesh stumbles as he exits a tunnel.

What is the main purpose of Scene 5?

• to emphasize that the Distant One is immortal

• to show the benefits of immortality

• to raise questions about the value of immortality

• to reveal that the Distant One will help Gilgamesh conquer death

Which statement BEST explains how Gilgamesh changes over the course of the play?

• Gilgamesh is overcome with disappointment and settles for being King of Uruk.

• Gilgamesh comes to understand that the gods want him to be immortal.

• Gilgamesh eventually sees life as short and dangerous.

• Gilgamesh realizes that he doesn’t need to literally live forever because he can live on through the city of Uruk.

Which line from the play BEST supports your answer to Question 3?

• Enkidu: You cannot escape death, nor can you stay young forever.

• Gilgamesh: I must attain eternal life. That is the only answer!

• Gilgamesh: I will happily fight—and die—beside you, for this great city will live on long after I am gone. In that way, I will be immortal.

• Storyteller: Gilgamesh had never had a friend. But then he met Enkidu. Together, Gilgamesh and Enkidu performed many heroic deeds and transformed the city of Uruk.

In Scene 3, when Gilgamesh approaches the cave, SD2 says, “… two monstrous scorpions scuttle out of the entrance.” Scuttle means _____.

• to float

• to run with quick, short steps

• to walk slowly

• to glide gracefully

Which is a theme of the play?

• Living for a long time is not as important as making the most out of the time you have.

• Power is dangerous.

• If you never take risks, you might not fail, but your life will not be as full and rewarding as it could have been.

• The key to happiness is strong relationships with friends and family.

The story titled “The Waters of Death” presents the idea of living forever in a:

• Positive way

• Negative way

• Neutral way

• Ambiguous way