Humanities CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the earliest surviving written work of Western literature?

1. The Iliad

2. The Odyssey

3. The Epic of Gilgamesh

4. The Bible

The correct answer is: The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the earliest surviving written work of Western literature because it is an ancient Babylonian epic poem that is believed to have been written around 2100 BCE. While The Iliad and The Odyssey are also ancient Greek epic poems, they were written much later, around 800 BCE. The Bible, which is a collection of religious texts, was written over a period of many centuries. Therefore, it would not be considered the earliest surviving written work of Western literature.