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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of seal does Sinuhe have made for himself in Smyrna?
(a) A diamond-shaped seal.
(b) A cyllinder-shaped seal.
(c) A round seal.
(d) A seal made from a ruby.

2. What does Sinuhe tell his mother and father he wants to be when he grows up?
(a) A pharaoh.
(b) A warrior.
(c) A painter.
(d) A doctor.

3. What does Sinuhe do with the scarab that he finds?
(a) He gives it to the stranger.
(b) He gives it to Nefernefernefer.
(c) He leaves it on his mother's grave.
(d) He gives it to Kaptah as a god.

4. What is Sinuhe's favorite toy as a child?
(a) A reed boat.
(b) Glass marbles.
(c) A cane.
(d) A wooden crocodile.

5. When Sinuhe finds his old friend Thothmes, what is he doing for a living?
(a) Painting in the royal court.
(b) Working for Semnut, Sinuhe's father.
(c) Making picture books for rich men's children.
(d) Working for Nefernefernefer.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is significant about the slave that Sinuhe buys?

2. When Sinuhe admits to the priest that the god Ammon did not speak to him, what do the priests and his classmates do?

3. Who becomes the wife to the new pharaoh?

4. Why will Minea not board the second vessel bound for Crete from Hatti?

5. What god does the young heir call upon to bless his father at the opening of his skull?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how embalming works int he House of Death. What do the priest tell people who bring their loved ones for preparation for burial? What do they actually do? How does Sinuhe view this?

2. What is Ptahor's job? Is this a cure for any disease or is this a quick way to die? Why do you think Ptahor is called to the pharaoh?

3. As the novel progresses, Kaptah begins to refer to the property of Sinuhe as "our" as in "our" house, "our" scarab and even "our" gold. What does this indicate to the reader? Does Sinuhe seem aware of these changes? If he does, does he care? Why? Why not? What does this say about their relationship?

4. How does Sinuhe defend the young prince to Horemheb? What does Sinuhe think of the young prince's beliefs? Do you think he is affected in this way because of his experiences in the House of Life? Why? Why not?

5. What are the two truths of the young prince and Horemheb? How are they in conflict from the beginning? How does Horemheb argue with the sickly young prince about his truth when he first meets him? What does Horemheb fear of the future?

6. When Sinuhe says that a man who knows the Babylonian language can be understood throughout the world, what does this say about Babylon? If Egypt is the most powerful land on earth, then why would the Egyptian language be the most important language? What does this say about politics of the time?

7. On the night that Ammon is supposed to appear before the students in the House of Life, what happens to Sinuhe? What does he do that is different from his classmates? Why does he tell the truth to the priest in the morning? What does this say about his basic character?

8. When Sinuhe and Kaptah arrive in Babylon, Kaptah wants Sinuhe to announce his presence to the other physicians in a certain way. How does he want Sinuhe to announce that he is in Babylonia? Why? Why is this important to their relationships with others? Is this political correctness for the time? Why?

9. Why does Sinuhe continue to give Nefernefernefer all he possesses? Why can he not pull himself away from her? What is her appeal to Sinuhe? What is his behavior a metaphor for?

10. What message do Sinuhe's parents leave behind for him? How does this make him feel? How do his parents die? Why do they do this?

(see the answer keys)

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