Gilgamesh, hearing his beloved friend,

came to himself. He yelled, he lifted

his massive axe, he swung it, it tore

into Humbaba’s neck, the blood

shot out, again the axe bit flesh

and bone, the monster staggered, his eyes

rolled, and at the axe’s third stroke

he toppled like a cedar and crashed to the ground.

At his death-roar the mountains of Lebanon shook,

the valleys ran with his blood, for ten miles

the forest resounded. Then the two friends

sliced him open, pulled out his intestines,

cut off his head with its knife-sharp teeth

and horrible bloodshot staring eyes.


Which statement best paraphrases evidence to support the conclusion that Gilgamesh is a fierce warrior?


A Humbaba is so terrified of Gilgamesh that he lets out a “death-roar” that makes the mountains of Lebanon shake.

B After hearing Enkidu’s encouraging words, Gilgamesh feels like himself again and begins to yell and swing his axe.

C Humbaba is so wounded that he staggers around before crashing to the ground like a falling cedar tree.

D After attacking and killing Humbaba with his axe, Gilgamesh assists in slicing him open, removing his intestines, and cutting off his head.