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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. How many days does Sinuhe serve in the House of Death?

2. What trick does Sinuhe perform for the young king of Babylon?

3. What kind of seal does Sinuhe have made for himself in Smyrna?

4. Who played with Amenhotep like a sister when they were children?

5. After the battle with Khabiri, how does Horemheb reward his men?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. Why does Horemheb want Sinuhe to be his spy? What does Sinuhe have to offer that others cannot? What does Sinuhe have to gain from this experience? Will this affect Sinuhe's life if and when he returns to Egypt? Why? Why not?

4. By his description of his servant, Keftiu, Sinuhe's opinion of women comes to light. What does he think of Keftiu? What does this tell the reader about his opinion of women in general?

5. 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?

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. 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?

8. 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?

9. In Babylon, the astrologers know the heavenly bodies. What does this tell us about the people of Babylon? Is this advanced science for the time? Why? Why not? How will this knowledge affect the gods that they worship?

10. How does Sinuhe feel when the priest gives voice to the statue of Ammon? How does this affect his belief system? What do you think Sinuhe will think later on about religion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Are there instances in the novel when you think someone is hypnotized? When? How many times do you see this in the novel? Do you think this was a common form of trickery at the time? Why?

Essay Topic 2

What does Queen Mother Taia admit about the god Aton? Why does this information not diminish the god in Sinuhe's eyes? Why does he still believe?

Essay Topic 3

When Sinuhe opens a skull what is usually the outcome? Why is this considered good? How do the people view his work? Is his work making progress throughout the novel? How?

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