Writing About Literature: Values in the Literature of the Ancient World

Writing about Literature: Values in the Literature of the Ancient World Write an analytical essay that explores the values expressed in The Epic of Gilgamesh. You will need to choose three values that are exhibited in this text. These values can include, but are not limited to… Bravery Justice Patience Loyalty Wisdom Acceptance of fate

Take notes on the story using the chart below. The first line of the chart is given as an example. You will use the information that you place in the chart to write your essay. You need two examples for each value from the text.

Text Value Example Page # The Epic of Bravery “If your heart is 16 Gilgamesh fearful throw away fear…” Write a working thesis: After you have gathered examples, write a working thesis. Introduce the values you will discuss and explain the way in which they are central to the text. Organize logically: A logical organization makes your ideas clear to readers. After you introduce your thesis, you should write a paragraph for each value you discuss and include examples from each of the selections. If the paragraphs seem too long, you may decide to write a separate paragraph for each selection. I. Introduction II. Value 1 a. Example 1 b. Example 2 III. Value 2 a. Example 1 b. Example 2 IV. Value 3 a. Example 1 b. Example 2 V. Conclusion Provide examples: Illustrate the values you cite with specific examples from the text, such as direct value statements by the author or a character or values you infer from the behavior of the characters and the twists and turns of the plot. When including examples in the form of quotes in your essay, remember to follow the proper format. Example: In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the value of bravery is seen when Gilgamesh says, “If your heart is fearful, throw away fear…” (16). Be sure to include the page number after the quote. Even if no one is speaking and you are simply quoting the author of the story, you still need quotation marks. Conclusion: In the conclusion, you should restate the thesis of your essay (the values that are present in this literature).