IMPORTANT: Comprehension questions will be in chronological order as you read through the story. Page numbers are approximate, and will vary with different editions of the book.
Section 1: Chapters I – III
Vocabulary
brusquely: abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
crucible: a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures
exasperate: irritate and frustrate someone intensely
frivolity: lack of seriousness; lightheartedness
illustrious: well-known, respected, and admired for past achievements
ingratiate: bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them
servility: an excessive willingness to serve or please others
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
He turned to Heqet more brusquely than he intended. (Ch. 1, pg. 22)
The boy Ranofer slowly tightened his grip on the two stones between which he held the crucible as he tilted it farther and father, devotion in every careful movement of his hands and bare brown shoulders.” (Ch. 1, pg. 7)
“I know!”” snapped Ranofer, exasperated at hearing it for the fiftieth time. (Chapter I, pg. 12)
“…Dancing, parties, and frivolity…” (Ch. III, pg. 58)
No matter what illustrious futures he imagined for the ingots he poured, his own future remained the same… (Ch. I, pg. 9)
Ibni only edged closer, ducked his head even farther between his shoulders, and scrubbed his hands together ingratiatingly. (Ch. I, pg. 10)
The man’s servility disgusted him, and so did his cheese-white hands with their dirty nails, and the stained teeth he revealed in his constant grin. (Ch. I, pg. 11)
Comprehension Questions
If Ranofer’s father hadn’t died he would have become a pupil of Zau the goldsmith. (Ch. I, pg. 8)
The demeanor of the Babylonian sends prickles up Ranofer’s spine because he is so servile. (Ch. I, pg. 11)
Ranofer is shocked to hear that Sata suspects that the loss of weight of gold is due to the theft from someone in the workshop. (Ch. I, pg. 15)
Ranofer suspects that Ibni is placing small amounts of gold nuggets into the wineskins he is asked to deliver to Gebu. (Ch. I, pg. 17)
Ranofer gives a rare smile when Heqet the new apprentice uses a funny expression. (Ch. I, pg. 20)
During the last two years of his father’s life Ranofer enjoyed receiving instruction from his father on his goldwork, romping with Yetti his dog, and lessons each morning at the scribe school, but now he had nothing. (Ch. I, pg. 23)
Ranofer knows he can’t report Gebu’s stealing because he would simple deny it and say the Ranofer was a wicked boy. (Ch. II, pg. 35)
After Gebu’s warning, Ranfer’s stomach has an empty feeling because he is hungry and his heart feels empty because he knows he can do nothing to report Gebu. (Ch. II, pg. 38)
In his dreams of being a goldsmith Ranofer dreams of making a fine bowl, a small eye-paint pot, and a bracelet. (Ch. II, pg. 39)
Ranofer’s ankh amulet has protected his ka and kept it in his body, but it had not protected him from beatings, hunger, Gebu, Ibni and the hated wineskins. (Ch. II, pg. 41)
Every morning at the goldsmith shop, the gold is weighed, to the craftsmen and a scribe records the amounts of gold given out. (Ch. III, pg. 48)
Ranofer tells Meryra that if he holds the hammer with his elbow held higher and comes down smartly onto the bowl then the bowl will shape as he wishes. (Ch. III, pg. 52)
After showing Rekh that he is capable of making gold leaves, Rekh commissions him to make fifty gold leaves for Lady Renma’s necklace. (Ch. III,pg. 55)
If Ranofer doesn’t bring home the wineskin from the goldsmith shop the next day, Gebu will remove him for the shop and make him an apprentice stonecutter. (Ch. III, pg. 60)
Section 2: Chapters IV – VII
Vocabulary
akimbo: with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward
belligerent: hostile and aggressive
buoyant: cheerful and optimistic; able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas
incredulous: (of a person or their manner ) unwilling or unble to believe something
obsequious: obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
raucous: making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise
solder: a low-melting alloy, especially one based on lead and tin or (for higher temperatures) on brass or silver, used for joining less fusible metals
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
A man stood surveying these works, his thin arms akimbo and his fists, one of which grasped an authoritative-looking stick, propped on his skinny hips.” (Ch. VI, pg. 92)
Ranofer flashed him a belligerent look. (Ch. VII, pg. 108)
The Ancient and the little beaste trudged off through the papyrus, and the boys went back to their tasks, Ranofer strengthened by the unaccustomed food and companionship, and buoyant with the thought of more tomorrow. (Ch. VII, pg. 117)
“Incredulous , he let out his long-held breath.” (Ch. VI, pg. 101)
He scrambled to his feet and darted over to Ranofer with his most obsequious smile and the hateful hand-rubbing. (Ch. V, pg. 82)
The moment the sound of raucous had faded around the corner, he slipped out of the gate and ran in the opposite direction. (Ch. IV, pg. 74)
“…Here show this Ignorant One how to make hard solder .” (Ch. IV, pg. 64)
Comprehension Questions
Ranofer plans to ask Heqet questions about himself to see if he is trustworthy and can keep a secret. (Ch. IV, pg. 65)
When Heqet asks why he, Ranofer can’t tell Rekh about the thief, Ranofer tells him he has unwittingly been helping the thief. (Ch. IV, pg. 69)
Ranofer is surprised when Gebu gives a copper ring coin to him for bringing the wineskin home from the goldsmith shop. (Ch. IV, pg. 74)
There are crowds of people jostling through the street because they are making their way to a public execution. (Ch. V, pg. 77)
The men about to be executed were tomb robbers and had robbed a pharaoh’s tomb of its treasures and sold them at the market. (Ch. V, pg. 78)
The Ancient lives where the fields end, and the desert begins because he is poor and the land there is free. (Ch. V, pg. 79)
After arguing with Ibni, Gebu tells Ranofer that he is finished at the goldsmith’s shop and the next morning must become an apprentice to him, a stonecutter. (Ch. V, pg. 84)
Gebu laughs when Ranofer tells Gebu his plan to live in the desert, build a hut, and earn a living cutting papyrus, if only he, Gebu would give him a donkey. (Ch. V, pg. 87)
When Ranofer sees that the stonecutter’s hands are mutilated he is horrified as those hands would be unable to handle the fine tools to work gold. (Ch. VI, pgs. 90 – 91)
Ranofer is unable to keep his mind on the task Pai has given him because it is monotonous, uninteresting, and lacking in any skill. (Ch. VI, pg. 95)
In the first few days as an apprentice stonecutter Ranofer learns to sand the drill, sandstoning and roughdressing, all of which become increasingly more monotonous, fatiguing and dangerous. (Ch. VI, pg. 97)
During the night Ranofer hears the squeaking of the door’s hinges and suspects that Gebu has gone out, which is odd as no one goes out at night when the ba of the dead roam. (Ch.VI, pgs. 100 – 101)
Even though Heqet and Ranofer work in two different worlds they realize that they can still keep their friendship by meeting after their workday is done. (Ch. VII, pg. 105)
Heqet suggests that when they get together in the evenings, he can tell Ranofer about the new skills he learns while goldsmithing so that he doesn’t get too far behind in his training. (Ch. VII, pgs. 109 – 110)
Section 3: Chapters VIII – XI
Vocabulary
audacious: showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
dubious: hesitating or doubting
hauteur:haughtiness of manner, disdainful pride
laconic: (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
morose: sullen and ill-tempered
temerity: excessive confidence or boldness; audacity
wrought: made or done in a careful or decorative way
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
Halfway there an audacious thought stopped him. (Ch. X, pg. 165)
He glanced questioningly at the Ancient, who was old and must therefore know a great deal about everything, but he found the old man looking both thoughtful and dubious. (Ch. IX, pg. 139)
Heqet snatched up a bunch of grapes and held them across his throat like a necklace, meanwhile assuming an expression of such conceited hauteur that both Ranofer and the Ancient burst out laughing. (Ch. IX, pg. 141)
“Yesterday’s baking,”” he remarked laconically. (Ch. XI, pg. 173)
The Ancient nodded in a conspiratorial manner, winked his one eye, and chuckled again as he led Ranofer into the lane where his donkey was snuffling morosely along the baked roadside ditch in search of a blade of something green. (Ch. XI, pg. 177)
He fell silent, trembling with anger and with fright and his own temerity. (Ch. X, pg. 164)
It was half finished, a wide gold collar formed of tiny chains strung with innumerable golden bees, each one delicately and imaginatively conceived, superbly wrought. (Ch. VIII,pg. 127)
Comprehension Questions
Heqet tries to explain and teach Ranofer the skill of beading. (Ch.VIII, pg. 118)
After listening to Heqet’s explanations of goldsmithing techniques, Ranofer realizes that he needs practice not just information to learn the skills. (Ch. VIII, pg. 120)
The Ancient tells Ranofer that learning a trade, whether it be goldsmithing or stonecutting is important because there is security in daily wage and as one becomes older it is harder to make a living without a trade. (Ch. VIII, pg. 121)
After work one day Heqet tells Ranofer that he is going to Zau the matster goldsmith’s the next day to run an errand for Rekh and invites Ranofer to join him. (Ch. VIII, pg. 122)
After remembering the cup and arm bands that Ranofer made in gold Master Zau offers to take Ranofer on as a pupil and not charge the usual fee. (Ch. VIII, pg. 130)
After visiting Zau the goldsmith, Ranofer doesn’t go into see Rekh at the goldsmith shop because if he speaks kindly to him he will break into a million pieces. (Ch. VIII, pg. 133)
On his way home from visiting Zau the goldsmith, Ranofer remember that he forgot to collect his wages at the end of the day and Gebu will be angry. (Ch. VIII, pgs. 133 – 134)
After pondering Gebu’s wealth, Ranofer suddenly realizes the possibility that Gebu is stealing again. (Ch. IX, pg. 134)
When Ranofer tells Heqet of his suspicion that Gebu is stealing again, Heqet suggests that he follow Wenamon, Ranofer follow Gebu, and the Ancient watch the river captain. (Ch. IX, pgs. 139 – 140)
Upon hearing the squeaky hinges late one-night Ranofer realizes that Gebu is stealing or making plans at night while he is sleeping and that’s why his spying has been unsuccessful. (Ch. X, pg. 155)
When Ranofer looks inside Gebu’s battered wooden chest he finds the most amazing, beautiful golden goblet. (Ch. X, pg. 166)
After reading the inscription on the golden goblet, Ranofer suspects that Gebu has robbed a tomb. (Ch. X, pg. 167)
As Ranofer leaves Gebu’s room he sees when he opened the door to the room, he cracked open a seal, which will alert Gebu to the fact someone has been in his room. (Ch. X, pg. 168)
The Ancient reports an incident he observed between Gebu and the river captain to Ranofer and explains that they had a falling out because transporting gold is too dangerous. (Ch. XI, pgs. 177 – 178)
Section 4: Chapters XII – XVI
Vocabulary
aimless: without purpose or direction
curt: rudely brief
obliterate: destroy utterly; wipe out
precarious: not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse
serenity: the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled
wither: (of a plant, person, limb, or the skin) become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
“He turned away and started aimlessly along the empty street.” (Ch. XV, pg. 228)
“Heqet sounded so disappointed that Ranofer was ashamed of his curtness.” (Ch. XII, pg. 187)
“The queen obliterated the dwarf with a gesture and nodded to Ranofer.” (Ch. XVI, pg. 239)
“After a moment’s inspection he leaped to its rough trunk and crawled up it like a cat, swayed precariously outward on a thick frond and dropped to the top of the wall.” (Ch. XV, pg. 229)
“Her expression was one of serenity and joy, and the sculptor who carved her had been a master.” (Ch. XIV, pg. 216)
“Was it from the breath of that great black creature, still after him, or the deathly, withering wind of its wings?” (Ch. XIV, pg. 212)
Comprehension Questions
Ranofer avoids going to see Heqet and the Ancient at the little green room as if saw Heqet he would have to reveal the finding of the golden goblet and Heqet would become so excited that he might overdo his actions and they would get into trouble. (Ch. XII, pg. 184)
The golden goblet distracts Ranofer’s from the feast and weighs heavily on Ranofer’s mind as he knows a criminal roams free and that he feels guilty for doing nothing about it. (Ch. XII, pg. 190)
When Ranofer asks how the tomb robbers were caught by the authorities, the Ancient tells him they were followed. (Ch. XII, pg. 196)
On the morning of the feast Ranofer wishes that he were someone else then he wouldn’t know any secrets and he could go enjoy the feast instead of following Gebu to the tomb. (Ch.XIII, pg. 199)
The two things that signal the beginning of the Festival are the seven red and white pennants rising above the palace walls and the squeal of the trumpets. (Ch. XIII, pg. 201)
After Ranofer sees the shaft, he comes to the realization that Gebu had dug a separate tunnel to the tomb, which he plastered over with a fake wall, but would allow him access to the tomb once some time had passed since the pharaoh’s funeral. (Ch. XIII, pg. 204)
At the bottom of the shaft Ranofer must decide to either climb out of the shaft or follow Gebu into the tunnel. He decides to follow Gebu because it is better than being in the Land of the Khefts by himself. (Ch. XIV, pgs. 211 – 212)
The tomb that Gebu has broken into is the tomb of Huaa and his beloved wife Tuaa, the parents of the Queen of Egypt! (Ch. XIV, pg. 218)
Ranofer accidently announces his presence in the tomb by knocking over and smashing an alabaster vase. (Ch. XIV, pg. 219)
Ranfer partially covers the shaft’s exit with a boulder so delays Gebu and Wenamon’s exit from the tomb. (Ch. XIV, pg. 222)
To test Ranofer’s claim that he has been in her parents tomb the Queen asks what object leans against the north wall of the chamber. (Ch. XVI, pg. 239)
Queen Tiy gives Ranofer the donkey he asks for and the apprenticeship to Zau the goldsmith. (Ch. XVI, pg. 248)
