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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Nembet, the Great Lion of Egypt, become angry with Tanus?

2. Contrary to Pharaoh's plans, why does Lostris set out to charm him?

3. How are Taita's animals killed?

4. When a beggar boy asks for alms from Taita, what does Taita give him?

5. When Tanus disappeared, to whom did he hand over his squadron and Pharaoh's seal?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the murder of Tod onstage during the festival pageant. What does Taita reveal about humanity, as he perceives it, during this scene?

2. Why is Lord Intef delighted to arrange the marriage between Lostris and Pharaoh? What plans does he reveal to Taita? How does even this brief interaction show Taita's unstable position in the court?

3. In the days leading up to Lostris's wedding, Taita is not allowed to go near her. Even during the wedding ceremony, he stands at the back of the crowd and cannot see much. What is the literary significance of Taita's inability to see Lostris? How does this relate to Smith's silence about Tanus's reaction?

4. When Taita works the Mazes for Pharaoh, what does he see? Why does he lie to the king about what he sees? What might the effect have been if he didn't lie?

5. What does Taita learn from his friend Tiamat about the Shrikes? How does this explain the destitution of Egypt and the weakness of Pharaoh?

6. What is the significance of the double crown of Egypt? Why might Taita mention it so often when he describes Pharaoh?

7. After Taita is whipped because he dares to petition for Lostris and Tanus's marriage, Lostris cares for his wounds. How does she reveal that she is still a child? What hope does the reader have that her marriage to Tanus will occur?

8. How does Taita describe the hippo hunt? How does he see the animal in relation to divinity? What is the effect of the hippo hunt on Taita?

9. How does Tanus show his devotion to his chosen god Horus? How do the people respond to this devotion? What does this say about the roles of the gods in the Egyptians' lives?

10. What is Tanus's reaction to the news of Lostris's coming marriage? What does this reveal about his character? Is this an admirable reaction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Taita usually refers to his country as "this very Egypt". How does this show respect? How does it reveal his sentiments toward his nation? How is this sentiment bound up with his belief in the gods?

Essay Topic 2

What role do Lostris's daughters play in the novel? What is the significance in the fact that Taita records only a few of their words? How does their treatment differ from their mother's? Must they earn honor just as she did?

Essay Topic 3

What value of the story comes in its historical background? Does the story become any richer or more plausible because of the history? How might you read the novel if you knew it was completely fictional?

(see the answer keys)

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