Genesis 6-9 and Gilgamesh Tablets I and XI

There are many similarities between the the story in Genesis and the epic of Gilgamesh. For instance, an arc was constructed with precise dimensions in order for humanity to survive the destruction of all living things on earth. However, there are some striking differences. In the story of Noah, God inflicts a flood upon earth as a result of mans corruption. Whereas in the epic of Gilgamesh, the elder god Enlil unleashes a more frightening catastrophe primarily to cleanse the earth from over population. Moreover, the biblical story in genesis serves as a religious document that helps to acquire followers. The epic of gilgamesh is a narrative therefore is presented simply as a story. I enjoyed reading genesis a lot more than the epic of Gilgamesh; this is probably because I found the epic more difficult to understand or follow while reading it. Furthermore, I feel that the purpose of genesis is to "teach" a lesson to man, while the epic is more representative of cultural attitudes.