Which work is primarily associated with the central themes of mortality and the quest for immortality?

• A. The Iliad.
• B. The Odyssey.
• C. The Epic of Gilgamesh.
• D. The Popol Vuh.

Answer: (C)

Mortality and the longing for lasting life are at the heart of this work. It follows Gilgamesh, a powerful king, who after the death of his close companion Enkidu sets out to master death itself. He seeks out Utnapishtim, the survivor granted immortality by the gods after a great flood, and learns that immortality is a divine prerogative rather than something a mortal can earn. A trial to gain lasting life ends with the discovery of a plant of rejuvenation, only for a serpent to steal it, signaling that physical immortality remains out of reach. On returning to Uruk, Gilgamesh discovers that true immortality comes from the legacy he leaves—the wisdom, achievements, and memories he bestows upon his city and people. This focus on the human confrontation with death and the search for a way to endure beyond one's mortal body is what makes this work the primary association. Other ancient epics touch on fate, war, or divine power, but they do not center on the mortal condition and the quest for immortality in the same sustained way. The Popol Vuh, for example, emphasizes creation and the gods rather than the mortal struggle with death.