Identify a feature of epic poetry in the passage. In three to four sentences, explain its impact on the epic's plot.

Answer:

One feature of epic poetry present in the passage is the intervention of supernatural forces, specifically the gods. In the epic, the sun god Shamash assists Gilgamesh and Enkidu by sending powerful winds to help them defeat the monster Humbaba. This divine assistance is crucial because it allows the heroes to succeed in their quest, but it also leads to further conflict with other gods, which drives the tragic events later in the plot.