The Role of Dreams in “The Epic of Gilgamesh”

Dreams play a significant and important role in “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” Select a series of dreams that Gilgamesh has and a series of dreams that Enkidu has.

Where do the dreams occur in the plot? Describe a few of the elements or motifs in the dream, for example — a rock, an ax, and doors. What do they symbolize? Who interprets dreams? What is the relationship between the dreamer and the interpreter of the dreams? Is each set of dreams comforting or fearful? Why do you imagine dreams were so highly regarded back in the time 4500 years ago when this epic was composed? What might that indicate about the Sumerian culture back then? Even today, why might we have the need to think about and interpret the meaning of our dreams? Or maybe, we do not have this need? Either way, speculate on why.