View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What change to the festival pageant does Taita protest?

2. What is the name of Taita's friend who gives him information and supplies prior to the battle with the Shrikes?

3. How many wounded Shrikes does Taita care for after the battle?

4. Why is Taita valuable to Lord Intef?

5. Why is Taita able to persuade Pharaoh of Lostris's illness on their wedding night?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the song that Tanus and his men sing during the thick of battle? What effect would this song have on the enemy?

2. Explain Tanus's bow Lanata. How does this story about the weapon reveal Tanus's character?

3. What is Tanus's reaction to the news of Lostris's coming marriage? What does this reveal about his character? Is this an admirable reaction?

4. How does Lostris interact with Pharaoh during their first three months of marriage? Though Smith does not say this is so many words, how does Pharaoh reveal his true character during this time?

5. Why is Lord Intef delighted to arrange the marriage between Lostris and Pharaoh? What plans does he reveal to Taita? How does even this brief interaction show Taita's unstable position in the court?

6. How does Taita describe the hippo hunt? How does he see the animal in relation to divinity? What is the effect of the hippo hunt on Taita?

7. What is the significance of the double crown of Egypt? Why might Taita mention it so often when he describes Pharaoh?

8. Throughout this first section, what evidence does Taita give that he is a favored slave? What was the cost of this favor?

9. In the days leading up to Lostris's wedding, Taita is not allowed to go near her. Even during the wedding ceremony, he stands at the back of the crowd and cannot see much. What is the literary significance of Taita's inability to see Lostris? How does this relate to Smith's silence about Tanus's reaction?

10. Why does Lostris want to die on her wedding night? Does Taita respond properly to her demands for poison? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What value do vows to the gods have? Consider Lostris's vow to the gods that she will properly bury Pharaoh. How does this vow drive her life? What are the consequences if such a vow is broken? What does this say about Egyptian religion?

Essay Topic 2

When Taita dreams to explain Lostris's second and third pregnancies, the lords believe him. Is there belief rooted in superstition or religion? How is their belief affected by their conviction in the gods?

Essay Topic 3

When does Taita use his potions and why? What variety of potions does he use? Are they mostly used for good or for evil? What are the consequences in the lives of the people who use the potions?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,929 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample