Hi Tamur,
I had never actually taken the time to sit down and write a backstory with disconnects before the last lesson. Since I see you are continuing to build on previous lessons, I want to switch to a character I would actually like to build into a story someday. So, I wrote backstory for this new character, and the disconnects I could see. Assignment 6 was based off this. I'm going to post the backstory here as well because I am hoping to get your comments. Do you see areas that could be interesting as far as creating conflict goes? What part catches your interest? -And thanks in advance!

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Genre: Historical Fiction – aimed at girl audience ages 10-14

Backstory:

Enheduanna is a Sumerian princess. At the time of the story she is 13. (2227 BC)

Enheduanna, from the time she was little, was sprite like, had an airy quality to her. She stood out like a misplanted flower in the military stiffness that pervaded her fathers court. Daydreaming, humming, her feet moving without her noticing whenever musicians played at her father’s feast. She learns to stick up for herself though, as she begins her education.

She was very different from her two competing brothers: Man-Ishtushu(23) the oldest, eager to travel and see far lands. and Rimush (21) a self serving plotter with a good head for business. They both seek to make their names greater than their fathers. Ibarum (15) is another brother, overlooked in general, and who is her partner is mischief. Abaish-takal is a brother of hers who died. (He was a scholar that is missed in the family, and replaced by his younger sister.) Her brothers scoff at her religious beliefs, but are secretly envious of the power she will wield as head priestess eventually.

Her father is Sargon the Great. His primary wife is Tashlutum, her mother. (Sargon is an empire builder in Mesopotamia. He united the kingdoms of Sumer and Akkadia.)

Enheduanna lives in his capital city, Agade, which is dedicated to Innana (the moon goddess). She is promised to wed Nanna (the Sumerian god of the moon) when she comes of age (14). She is currently in training to conduct fertility ceremonies in the temple to bless the crops. She takes lyre lessons, and literature lessons, and loves writing. She is one of the first women to be allowed to compose her own priestly chants. Her tutors are not excited about his. They sense they are losing power.

She also has a gardener boy (Dmuzi – whose name is the same as the vegetation god, whom Gilgamesh is said to be descended from.) whom she is in love with, and sad to be unable to marry. He is 16. Her love will eventually bring about his death. (Maybe – I’m still not sure on this.)

There is also a governor (future-brother in law) who wishes to rise into the political circles, and wishes to do it by marrying Enheduanna himself. His name is Lugalanne. He is the bad guy in the story.

Disconnects:

Enheduanna is scheduled since birth to marry a God, she would rather marry Dmuzi.

Enheduanna is a girl who is drawn by nature’s freedom (open fields, gardens, clouds in the sky) but is kept under lock and key in the palace.

Enheduanna loves her father and is proud of his conquests, and doesn’t want to disappoint him, or weaken his rule, but is frustrated by the political side of being a princess.

Enheduanna is the most beloved of the people, and this causes a rift in the family she wishes to unite.

Enheduanna’s poetry makes others see themselves in ways they would rather avoid- causing divides.