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- Boy King: Chapters 1-4
Character Lexicon
- renowned
- juvenile:a young person; childish or immature
- curious something that is hard, difficult to solve or explain
- insignificant too small or unimportant to be worth consideration
- pampered indulged with every attention, comfort, and kindness
Comprehension Questions
- King Tutankhamun is probably the most famous pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. (Introduction, pg. 3)
- Pharaoh Amenhotep IV is thought to be Tut’s father, but his mother is unknown. (Ch. 1, pg. 9)
- Pharaoh Amenhotep IV daughter’s, Ankhesenamun, was King Tut’s wife. (Ch. 1, pg. 9)
- King Tut spent his childhood at a beautiful new palace in Armana. (Ch. 2, pgs. 19 & 24)
- King Tut pastimes included swimming, chariot riding, hunting and playing the board game Senet. (Ch. 3, pgs. 27 – 28)
- As King Tut was only a child the real power was held by his vizier, an army general. (Ch. 4, pg. 39)
- King Tut was only eighteen or nineteen when he died and although some think he may have been murdered, he had broken his leg and probably died of infection. (Ch. 4, pg. 41)
Section 2 – Religious Life
Character Lexicon
- immortal: living forever; never dying or decaying
- prudent: acting with or showing care and thought for the future
- fortunate: favored by or involving good luck or fortune; lucky
- vengeful: seeking to harm someone for a perceived injury
- notable: worthy of attention or notice; remarkable
Comprehension Questions
- King Tut stated to plan his tomb as a child because the ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife and had to make a home filled with the thinks need to live. (Ch. 5, pg. 43)
- King Tut’s tomb had four rooms, which was very small compared to other pharaoh’s tombs and it is thought he was buried in someone else’s tomb because his wasn’t completed. (Ch. 5, pg. 47)
- It took 70 days to mummify King Tut’s body. (Ch. 6, pg. 58)
- King Tut’s heart was left in his body because it was the seat of thought and wisdom and would be needed in the afterlife. The lungs, liver, stomach and intestines were removed but saved. (Ch. 6, pgs. 58 – 59)
- Three coffins were used to bury King Tut and he was buried in the Valley of the Kings. (Ch. 7, pg. 64)
- To ensure that King Tut would be brought back to the life the priests performed “The Opening of the Mouth” ceremony. (Ch. 7, pg. 68)
- Robbers looted the pharaohs tombs for treasure and tourists looted for mummy’s so that they could have mummy “unwrapping parties.” (Ch. 8, pg. 70)
Section 3 – Discovery of King Tut’s Tomb
Character Lexicon
- persistent: continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition
- artistic: having or revealing natural creative skill
- inquisitive:
- patient: able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or sufferings
- dedicated: devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity
Comprehension Questions
- Howard Carter was an English artist who went to Egypt to paint pictures of Amarna and sold painting of Egyptian monuments to tourists. (Ch. 9, pgs. 77-78)
- Howard Carter was certain that there was an unopened pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. (Ch.9, pg. 78,)
- Lord Carnarvon financed Howard Carter’s digs in the Valley of the Kings. (Ch. 9, pg. 81)
- In November 1922, Carter’s crew discovered a series of steps that led to a door. (Ch. 9, pg. 84-85)
- When Lord Carnarvon said, “Can you see anything?” Carter responded by saying, “Yes, wonderful things.” (Ch. 10, pg. 90)
- The treasures that Howard Carter found were taken to a museum in Cairo and the mummy of King Tut stayed in the burial chamber of the tomb that he had discovered. (Ch. 11, pg. 97)