Reading Questions 9

Required: The Dialogue between a Man and His Ba (AEL), Ludlul bel nemeqi (BTM), the Righteous Sufferer (WLBA)

1. The Dialogue between a Man and His Ba (=soul) is an Egyptian woe poem that has some disputation poem elements. What are the man and his ba basically arguing about? Who is on each side?
2. The man recites four short poems (I, II, III, and IV) to his ba as part of his argument. What is the main point of each poem?
3. Can you tell who wins the argument? What do the man and his ba seem to decide to do?
4. In Ludlul bel nemeqi, who is the speaker talking to?
5. Who is acting against them, and how?
6. Why is the speaker surprised by what is happening to them?
7. How is his situation fixed?
8. How does the speaker respond to his restoration?
9. We have only part of the Ugaritic Poem of the Righteous Sufferer. (pages 167, 169) What similarities do you see between this poem and Ludlul bel nemeqi?