“The Epic of Gilgamesh”, the “Bhagavad Gita,” and “The Odyssey”: Comparison

Take “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” the “Bhagavad Gita,” and “The Odyssey” as foundational texts and present versions of heroic figures whose journeys both educate and emancipate them, eventually leading them to positions of authority.

What is it that they learn? What is it that they are freed from? How do their struggles define them? How do they overcome their struggles? Discuss at least two of these heroic figures, comparing and contrasting them as you elaborate on the nature of their heroism. Why are these figures presented as heroes, and what does this say about what these foundational texts describe as the human position in this world? Analyze each text, presenting an argument that interprets at least two of them. Integrate quotations from the texts.