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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. When Taita explains Pharaoh's horoscope to Lostris, why does it give her hope?
2. Who is the first Shrike willing to help Tanus in exchange for keeping his life?
3. How are Taita's animals killed?
4. What does Shufti the baron offer Tanus in return for twenty of his "slave girls"?
5. What does Taita see at the end of Pharaoh's horoscope?
Short Essay Questions
1. When Taita disguises himself as a priest so that he is not recognized in his native city Thebes, how is he treated? What does this say about the Egyptian people's attitude toward their religion? What does this say about the priests' ethics?
2. Why is Taita angered when he sees Lord Intef in Thebes? What does this reveal to the reader about Taita's character?
3. What danger does Taita find in his basket of pomegranates and mangoes? What does this danger say about his place in society?
4. Describe the murder of Tod onstage during the festival pageant. What does Taita reveal about humanity, as he perceives it, during this scene?
5. What condition is Tanus in when Taita finally finds him? How is this condition similar to Lostris's desire for death on her wedding night? How is Taita able to save Tanus in much the same way he saved Lostris?
6. What are Taita's emotions during and after the battle with the Shrikes? How do these emotions explain several facets of his personality? What does this say for Smith's ability to create a complex character?
7. Throughout this first section, what evidence does Taita give that he is a favored slave? What was the cost of this favor?
8. Why does Lostris want to die on her wedding night? Does Taita respond properly to her demands for poison? Why?
9. What will be the crowning moment of Pharaoh's life? What is Taita's reaction to this moment and how does the reaction seem contrary to Egyptian thought?
10. 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?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
How much knowledge does Taita have of the inner workings of both Lord Intef's and Pharaoh's courts? Why is this so? In other words, is he given this knowledge only because of his lowly position in society?
Essay Topic 2
What role does Rasfer play in the novel? To what extent is he the obvious incarnation of Lord Intef's evil thoughts? What is Rasfer's role in Taita's life? Does Taita, in the end, forgive him?
Essay Topic 3
When Lostris thinks she is pregnant for the fourth time, what is the truth? How does this short scene illustrate the understanding she and Taita have with each other?
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This section contains 2,039 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) |
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