PART I (20 pts)

Essays Topic Choices from Simpson: The Literature of Ancient Egypt

Choose ONE from the three choices below. Your essay response can be in the first person for this exam. Your response should AT LEAST 1 ½ -2 typed pages.

1. Maintaining Ma’at, or balance, is crucial to Egyptian society. How does the literature address this aspect of Egyptian life in the areas of justice, and responsibility and as Wisdom literature? Consider The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant  and The Instructions of Onchsheshonqy
2. Discuss the symbolism, and use of metaphor in The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor. How reflective is the story of archetypal literature of the Ancient World?
3. Utilizing both Wilkinson and Simpson discuss the use of the Tale of Sinuhe as both literary achievement and a great piece of ‘be loyal to your monarch’.

PART II   3 pts each

Define: (each response should be at least 2-3 complete sentences)

Ma’at

Narmer Palette

Manetho

Ideogram

Name and define the units of measure

Akhit

Coffin Texts

Encirclement

Khnumhotep

Hikau khasut

PART III – 5 pts EACH

Identify each image and discuss importance!

4.

5.

6.

Short Answer Essays: Choose any TWO from the topics below (10 pts EACH)

For EACH answer must be at least ½ to ¾ of a page (typewritten) 11 pt. font. – Use both lecture and text in your response.

1. Discuss the evolution of writing in Egypt from the earliest known stages.
2. Discuss the transition from the Pyramid texts to the Coffin texts in relationship to changes in access to the afterlife and political structure.
3. What is the significance of the tale of Osiris, Isis and Horus? How do they rise to be among the most powerful, and popular deities among all classes in Egypt.
4. Discuss the role of magic in Egyptian daily life and in the afterlife. What do you find most interesting about magic in Ancient Egypt and why?
5. What is the source of Heka’s power?  How does the change in magic practices and expression change from the Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period and on into the Middle Kingdom?
6. Discuss the evolution and unique nature of Egyptian medicine. How was it interwoven with spells and common sense in your opinion?
7. Considering that maintaining Ma’at, or balance, is crucial to Egyptian society, how did the rulers respond to the climatic challenges and what was the outcome?
8. Discuss the legacy of the Twelfth Dynasty (Amenemhats and Senuserts, Queen Sobekneferu) how do they leave the door open to invasions from Nubia and the Asiatics despite all their efforts to enclose themselves behind fortresses?