Paper Topics | Fall 2015 | Paper 1

Due Saturday, September 12th, 5 p.m., in your conference leader's Eliot Hall mailbox.
Maximum length: 1,500 words

Carefully reread Tablet I, lines 1-23 and Tablet XI, lines 319-329 from The Epic of Gilgamesh. Notice that the last lines of the poem refer back to the opening of Tablet I as well as to formulae from Tablet IV. What work does this repetition do?

This question asks you to start practicing the skills of close reading. You should focus your discussion on the referenced passages, but you may also consider how these repetitions affect the poem as a whole. Structure your paper around a strong central argument, and use explicit, textual evidence to support that argument.

In addition to consulting with your conference leader, you can get help with all stages of the writing process from peer tutors at the Writing Center. You can find links to the Writing Center hours on the Drop-in Tutoring Schedule website. Extra tutoring help will be available in the week leading up to paper due dates.