Kirconnell: The Journey Begins-2010

Currently Reading:
Gilgamesh translated from the Sin-Leqi-Unninni version

Well, I am finally starting my journey toward reading the world classics. Late, but better than never. Some I have skimmed (as you can only do in college classes), but now I'm here to study and learn. I spent January setting up a reading plan and reading the preface to The New Lifetime Reading Plan by Clifton Fadiman and the first section of The Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. After taking the suggestions of both into consideration I decided that the best program for me consists of a chronological study of great literature rather than a subject oriented plan. My mind understands things better when I know what has come before. I also agree with Fadiman that these books represent a lifetime study. Just my luck, the first classic to tackle is Gilgamesh....poetry! My least comprehensible form of literature. Fortunately it is epic poetry which, to me, is more straightforward than modern.
So, greetings to anyone who would like to join me with comments, suggestions, or discussion. Refreshments to one and all provided. Make mine tea.

I began the study proper on February 1st by finishing the review on reading poetry offered by Ms. Bauer. (Boy, did I ever need that!) I am now in the final stage of the 1st level of inquiry-to finish the reading of the piece. The translation that I have is by John Gardner. It is masterful but disjointed due to the damage to the original stone tablets. I plan to get the David Ferry or Benjamin Foster translations, but for now I continue with this one. The book contains extensive notes by John Maier based on his enormous understanding of the texts and time period, but I will finish the reading of the poem itself before I tackle these. I hope that this will allow me to get a personal impression of Gilgamesh before I am exposed to the views of others. One question that pops into my mind is, who is the Stalker and what is his significance?

Working my way through the poem, but some tough going because it is transcribed so literally with all the holes and missing parts. The areas of the tablets where the text is near complete is fascinating if strange. You see the repetition of verses common to literature which has oral traditions and sometimes it is almost as if there should be a choral group to echo the narrator's main phrases. (Could it be that there was?)
The story of the flood as related by Utnapishtim is powerful and frightening in this translation. Probably the best portion that I have read yet.
I looked at some copies of Foster and Ferry's translations online. The cost is reasonable. Some readers applaud the "poetic freedoms" that Ferry took with the text and others are less pleased. Looks like a combination of the two is the way to go.

Ok, I've finished the initial reading of the poem and it was very good. Now on to the introduction and a reread with the notes.
So many myths rolled into one story! I was amazed.

I'm finding the introduction to be very interesting and helpful to the understanding of the poem. There are other books recommended for someone who wants further information on the culture and time which I may seek out, but perhaps not right away.

I'm finding the reading slow because I can't read too much without feeling stressed mentally. Not the poem itself, but the notes accompaning it. So much information from an unfamiliar culture. However, I believe that I am gradually getting a better feel for the poem and its rhythms.

I've finished Gilgamesh and I did enjoy it. The poem felt strange yet familiar in some ways. I guess that human nature really hasn't changed much over the years. I have concluded that it is about death as well as life. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu begin their adventures Gilgamesh tells his friend not to fear death because they will be making a name for themselves. However, after Enkidu dies Gilgamesh finds that he himself is afraid to die and goes to the ends of the earth searching for the key to immortality. After the plant given to him is stolen by the snake he returns home, but he is a different man than he was at the beginning of the poem. He now knows that death awaits everyone and that life teaches us to accept this.
Sunday I began the Iliad by Homer. I wanted to use the Fagles edition that I bought, but was unable to locate it. So I wouldn't have to postpone reading it I borrowed a copy from the library which was translated by Richmond Lattimore.