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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. What does Thothmes' father want Thothmes to do as an adult?

2. Why is the day of Sinuhe's birth unknown?

3. What happens to the false king at the end of the Day of the False King?

4. Why does the new pharaoh bother Horemheb?

5. Who becomes the wife to the new pharaoh?

Short Essay Questions

1. Sinuhe speaks of a remedy from the Hittites that cures the body of heat. What is this remedy called today? How do you think the Hittites created this drug?

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. When Ptahor is opening the skull of the pharaoh, the young prince steps forward and speaks of a blessing from the god Aton. How does Ptahor react to this? Why does he react as he does?

6. When Sinuhe enters the House of Life to study, what advise does he take to heart? How does this decision affect his relationships with his classmates and teachers? Is it the right way to behave or did this hurt him in the long run?

7. 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?

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. What is important about being able to read more than one Egyptian character at a time? How does this make the reader different in the eyes of others?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Pharaoh Akhnaton's idea for teaching all children to read and write fail? What is wrong with the plan? How could it be successful? What about the new script; is this something that should be continued? Why? Why not?

Essay Topic 2

The names Ramses in mentioned twice in the novel; once as a far away leader and once as Horemheb's son. There was a very famous pharaoh names Ramses. Do you think either of these men were that pharaoh? Which one do you believe it was?

Essay Topic 3

Once Sinuhe discovers his origin, what happens to his personality? How does he view the royal family and those who fight over the crown? Do you think this attitude affects how he is unable to see that Thoth is his very own child?

(see the answer keys)

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