The man who pulled you up from the groundand gave you fresh water from his waterskinis Lugalbanda, your personal god.With his help, we will achieve a triumphgreater than any man has achieved. Which feature of epic poetry does this excerpt mostclearly show?
a courageous hero who answers a call to adventure
a journey filled with many challenges
a vast setting of distant landscapes
supernatural forces, such as gods or monsters, that intervene
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: supernatural forces, such as gods or monsters, that intervene.
Explanation:
This excerpt from Gilgamesh: A New English Version illustrates a feature commonly found in epic poetry: the intervention of supernatural forces, specifically gods. In the passage, Lugalbanda, a personal god, helps the hero by pulling him from the ground and providing water from his waterskin. This shows the direct involvement of divine or supernatural powers in the human world, a typical aspect of epic narratives.
In many epics, gods or other supernatural beings play significant roles in influencing the fate of the heroes. They may aid or hinder the hero in their quest, offering guidance, protection, or challenges. For instance, in The Iliad by Homer, gods frequently intervene in mortal affairs, influencing battles and the outcomes of events. In The Odyssey, gods such as Athena guide and protect Odysseus on his journey. Similarly, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, divine beings like Shamash and Enkidu play pivotal roles in Gilgamesh’s journey and transformation.
The passage highlights the importance of divine intervention, a characteristic that sets epic poetry apart from other genres. The gods are often portrayed as powerful forces, sometimes acting as protectors or mentors, while at other times serving as obstacles that the hero must overcome. This interaction with the divine world underscores the epic hero’s larger-than-life stature and the monumental tasks they must face, often with the assistance or opposition of supernatural entities.
In this case, Lugalbanda’s aid helps the hero achieve greater feats than others, emphasizing the epic’s theme of divine favor and the extraordinary nature of the hero’s journey, a hallmark of epic poetry.