CONTENT - the role of nature, gods, animals and humans
FORM - Language, Structure, narrative perspective etc
TOPOGRAPHY - situation of event/setting/earth/water/boat/heaven
THE ROLE OF ANIMALS
GILGAMESH: dove, swallow, Raven [strength] Significant religious symbol
OVID: No birds. Fell into the sea. Sacrificial role = animal = wealth
BIBLE: Clean/unclean animals - noah's ark
*ANIMALS are not important in Babylonian times. NOT mentioned in GILGAMESH
PORTRAYAL
OVID: V. evocative - shows panic and chaos
BIBLE ordered - shows passengers on a ship
GODS; AND THEIR REASONS FOR DESTROYING MANKIND
GILGAMESH - gods show fear 'terrified, fled to heaven'
Christian- god = patriarchal society. Old man + beard: kindly but firm.
WHY & HOW
BIBLE: Humans are evil >>> RAIN
OVID: Humans are rubbish & anger the gods. Will try again >>> RAIN & DAMS BURSTING
GILGAMESH:Humans make too much noise >>> fire & water
THE GODS
GILGAMESH: Dickle, prone to mistakes etc - v. human
BIBLE: God = perfect. V. Patriarchal
OVID: Looks after their own - like a parliament in the heavens
THE HUMANS
GILGAMESH: Upnapishtim selected by Goddess
BIBLE: The 'main man' = Noah. God chose
OVID: Deucalion & Pyrrha = afterthought: Gods: 'oh... I... er.. ok'
OVID - METAMORPHOSIS
- Written in exile to prove to Emperor Augustus that he is still the greatest poet ever.
- Is a compendium of all the myths in circulation
- Direct linear relationship between rulers & gods
- INCOHERENT/INCONSISTENT: gods referred to by many different names:
Apollo = phoebus, Mercury = Jupiter & Jove
INTERTEXTUALITY: eg 'Rebecca' and 'Rebecca's Tale' - telling a story from a nother point of view.
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