This essay was written by a 6th grader
The Epic of Gilgamesh and Sundiata are both very old stories. They both also have some similarities and differences. For example, Gilgamesh and Sundiata were both kings, but Sundiata was a king in Mali, Africa. The Epic of Gilgamesh and Sundiata are different, but they are also similar.
The Epic of Gilgamesh took place in modern day Iraq. Gilgamesh was a mean and cruel king of Uruk, Mesopotamia, until he meets someone named Enkidu. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh travels to find immortality. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a friend to accompany him on his travels. Gilgamesh fails to find immortality. He was the son of the goddess Ninsun. Therefore, Gilgamesh was two-thirds god and one-third human. Unlike Sundiata, Gilgamesh dies of old age.
Sundiata was a nice and friendly child. He couldn’t walk until he found a special iron rod. Sundiata is taken place in Mali, Africa. Sundiata has a different problem than Gilgamesh. Sundiata was overthrown by his own brother from his own country. Sundiata then goes on a journey to find power. Sundiata has many friends accompany him on his travels, including his mother Sogolon. Sogolon was all human. Therefore, Sundiata was also human. Sundiata eventually gains power and inherits the thrown from another king who had conquered Mali and had overthrown Sundiata’s brother. Like Gilgamesh, Sundiata eventually dies, but some people say that he drowned while others believe the he had been shot.
There are a few similarities between Gilgamesh and Sundiata. Sundiata and Gilgamesh both were kings. Also, Gilgamesh is all powerful but Sundiata becomes very strong too. Even though Gilgamesh travels to find immortality and Sundiata travels to find power, they both are on quests. The last similarity is that they both become famous.
All of these are the differences between Gilgamesh and Sundiata, but there are also similarities. All though Gilgamesh was mean and Sundiata was nice, they were both kings in the past. These differences and similarities can help understand The Epic of Gilgamesh and Sundiata.