Read the excerpt from gilgamesh: a new english version. 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. in this excerpt, gilgamesh is most characterized as compassionate because he listens to his friend. strong because he is triumphant in battle. practical because he does what it takes to survive. confident because he takes unnecessary risks.