Final answer:
The oldest literary work outside the Bible is "The Epic of Gilgamesh," dating back to around 2100 BCE, which predates other works like Homer's epics and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War."
Step-by-step explanation:
The world's oldest literary work outside the Bible is B) "The Epic of Gilgamesh". This ancient Mesopotamian epic is older than the other options listed, with the earliest surviving version written down around 2100 BCE. The poem recounts the adventures of Gilgamesh, a semi-divine king, and his companion Enkidu as they encounter monsters, face the gods, and explore themes of heroism, friendship, and human mortality.
In contrast, the other works listed, such as Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey", date back to the eighth century BCE and are foundational to Western literature. While significant, these epic poems were composed after The Epic of Gilgamesh. Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is also a later work, dating from the fifth century BCE.