The Golden Goblet

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. What city does Ranofer work in?

2. What is Ranofer’s occupation?

3. Where do the wealthy live in Egypt?

4. What street does Ranofer live on?

5. Who is Ranofer’s friend?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does Ranofer suspect about Gebu and Ibni?

2. How does Gebu mistreat Ranofer?

3. How does Gebu react when Ranofer confronts him about the stolen gold?

Paired Resource

The History of Gold in Ancient Egypt

• This 4-minute video describes the importance of gold in ancient Egypt.
• What was gold considered to be in ancient Egypt? Why were rulers’ coffins often made of gold? Why is gold still considered a symbol of status today? How is this information related to the novel’s theme of The Power of Art?

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What does Ranofer believe visits him in the night?

2. Where has Gebu decided to force Ranofer to apprentice?

3. What is the name of the foreman in the stonecutting shop?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Ranofer decide to trust Heqet?

2. Why does the Ancient advise Ranofer not to go to the palace with the crowd?

3. What is Ranofer’s realization about his father’s ba?

Paired Resources

“Ancient Egypt’s City of the Dead”

• This article describes some of the items that are found in the City of the Dead and their purpose in the afterlife.
• What items have been found in the City of the Dead? What is the purpose of the items? How were these items believed to aid people in the afterlife? How is this information related to the novel’s themes of Doing the Right Thing Takes Integrity, Courage, and Perseverance and Reshaping Your Life: Coming of Age?

“ba”

• This brief encyclopedia entry describes what a ba is in ancient Egyptian religion.
• What is a ba? Why is it significant that Ranofer believes his father’s ba visits him in the night? How is the ba related to the novel’s themes of Reshaping Your Life: Coming of Age and Doing the Right Thing?

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Whom does Ranofer meet up with when he revisits the Street of Goldsmiths?

2. Whom does Ranofer daydream about apprenticing with?

3. Why is Gebu angry with Ranofer after he returns home from the Street of Good Fortune?

4. Where does Gebu go when Ranofer follows him?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why do Heqet and Ranofer fight when they meet for lunch?

2. What about Gebu’s appearance and lifestyle makes Ranofer suspicious?

Paired Resource

“Jobs in Ancient Egypt”

• This article describes occupations and socioeconomic status in ancient Egypt.
• What does the article say was the “backbone” of the ancient Egyptian economy? How were laborers often paid? How is The Satire of the Trades an accurate representation of ancient Egypt’s working class? What were some of the higher- and lower-class jobs in ancient Egypt? How is this article related to the novel’s themes of Reshaping Your Life: Coming of Age and The Power of Art?

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Why is Ranofer afraid to follow Gebu at night?

2. Why does Ranofer believe Gebu will know he was in Gebu’s room?

3. Who does the Ancient believe is smuggling items for Gebu?

4. What celebration do Ranofer and his friends look forward to?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Gebu end his partnership with Setma?

2. How does Ranofer plan to bring Gebu to justice?

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. What do Heqet and Ranofer see when they look for Ranofer in the Valley?

2. What waits outside the tunnel where the thieves are?

3. How does Ranofer accidentally alert Wenamon to his presence?

4. Where does Ranofer go to find help while the Ancient and Heqet keep the thieves trapped?

5. Who believes Ranofer’s story about the robbers and takes Ranofer to the Queen?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does Ranofer realize about Gebu’s anger when he asked about the spare alcove on the scroll?

2. How does Ranofer succeed in reshaping his life?

Recommended Next Reads

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• Shared topics include friendship, grief, and morality.
• Shared themes include Reshaping Your Life: Coming of Age, Good Friends Are Worth Their Weight in Gold, and Doing the Right Thing.
• The Tiger Rising on SuperSummary

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

• This novel is about an 11-year-old girl and a collection of children who develop a game based on ancient Egypt.
• Shared topics include historical fiction, Egypt, and friendship.
• Shared themes include Doing the Right Thing, Reshaping Your Life: Coming of Age, and Good Friends Are Worth Their Weight in Gold.
• The Egypt Game on SuperSummary