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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 are the Egyptians easily able to capture the Shilluk village in Cush?

2. How does Lord Intef die?

3. What would happen if Lostris bore the illegitimate child of another man?

4. What dream does Taita have to explain Lostris's pregnancy?

5. How old is Lostris when she becomes queen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Smith goes into details about the mummification of Pharaoh's body? Is this fitting to the novel? Especially in relation to Taita's character, since he is involved in the embalming, do the details add to or detract from the story?

2. The Egyptians are terrified at the approach of the Hyksos army. What are the reasons for their fear? Do these fears contradict or affirm their previous actions as warriors? Who understands the importance of this eastern enemy the best?

3. Who is Arkoun? Why is he a powerful man? At the same time, what in Taita's descriptions portray him as a pathetic man?

4. As the great journey south begins, why does Queen Lostris not board her ship? Is this a good example of her leadership? Why?

5. Why do Lostris and Tanus disagree over the fate of the Hyksos horses? How does this argument illustrate their respective places in society?

6. Both Tanus and Taita are struck with longing for Ethiopians possessions: the blue sword and the horses, respectively. How do these passion signal deep trouble in the future? How do these desires change the men's thinking?

7. How does the love between Memnon and Masara mirror the love between Tanus and Lostris? How is it different?

8. At age five, how does Memnon begin to assert himself? How does Smith draw out the contradictions between his age and his social position? What does Memnon's attitude predict for the future?

9. What is the bittersweet ending to Tanus's life? Why does he never tell Memnon the truth of his paternity? Do you think Tanus dies in peace?

10. How does Taita justify the enslavement of the Shilluk people? What does he observe about their customs and what does he seek to change? How do the Shilluk customs of marriage differentiate, in a large part, their culture from that of the Egyptians?

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 surgical skills does Taita display, apart from any potions? What explorations and innovations have benefited his people? How does this set Taita apart from any other doctors? How does his medical knowledge pervade and affect many pieces of the story?

Essay Topic 3

How does Taita spend his two years in Arkoun's prison? What does this reveal about his personality? Does the reader ever lose hope of his rescue? Given his conversations with Masara, what does the reader come to expect?

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This section contains 2,010 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample