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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 task does Queen Lostris give to Lord Aqer?
(a) To open the road north to Thebes.
(b) To hunt enough meat for the next six months.
(c) To guide the ships through the fourth cataract.
(d) To infiltrate King Salitis' inner circle of advisors and send back information.

2. What dream does Taita have to explain Lostris's pregnancy?
(a) Lostris has generative powers to conceive a child without a man.
(b) The goddess Hapi approved of Tanus and Lostris's union.
(c) Pharaoh came back from paradise and slept with her at night.
(d) The child was conceived before Pharaoh's death but did not grow until now.

3. How does Lord Intef escape his execution with the Shrike barons?
(a) He pleads with Pharaoh for mercy.
(b) He buys his own life with half of his treasure.
(c) He argues that his execution will tarnish his daughter's reputation forever.
(d) He poisons the guards and slips out a secret passageway.

4. As he lies dying, what are the last words that Pharaoh speaks?
(a) Words of love to Queen Lostris.
(b) Incantation against evil spirits.
(c) Prayers for a safe journey into paradise.
(d) Passages from the Book of the Dead.

5. Why are Lord Nembet and most of his men killed by the Hyksos?
(a) The men were sailors not warriors.
(b) Lord Nembet had not trained them well.
(c) The men were poor archers.
(d) Lord Nembet laughed at Tanus's warning letter.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Memnon's reaction to the hunt?

2. How far south had civilized man progressed, prior to this Egyptian journey?

3. Where does the Shepherd King shoot his first arrow as the battle begins?

4. Who enticed the Hyksos to attack Thebes with promises of treasure?

5. How do Hui and Taita capture the runaway Hyksos horses?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. Why will so few people ride astride a horse? (Throughout the novel, only Hui, Taita, and Memnon dare this.) What reaction do they get when people see them astride the horses? Why do you think they get this reaction?

3. What is Taita's reaction to the birth of Memnon? How does he slightly bridge the gap between the roles that both Tanus and Pharaoh play in Lostris's life?

4. Why do the common people love Lostris? What does she do to encourage their love? How does she prepare the way for their acceptance of Memnon as rule?

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. 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?

7. 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?

8. How does Lord Intef die? Considering his life, is this a suitable death? Why?

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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