Egyptian Literature

Question 1

• northest corner of Asia
• bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley which separates its arid western desert from the smaller semi-arid eastern desert

Answer 1

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

Question 2

• capital of Arab Republic of Egypt

Answer 2

CAIRO

Question 3

this literature includes hymns to the gods, mythological and magical texts

Answer 3

RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

Question 4

this literature includes stories, instructive literature known as ‘wisdom literature’, poems; biographical and historical texts; and scientific treatises, including mathematical and medical texts

Answer 4

SECULAR LITERATURE

Question 5

although it is not actually literatures it includes legal, administrative and economic texts and private documents such as letters

Answer 5

NOTABLE

Question 6

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• very few literature survived in this kingdom and the most important works of the period were:
• PYRAMID TEXTS - include nonliterary and highly poetic spells
• CANNIBAL TEXTS - a vivid bits of poetry representing the dead King attaining power in the afterlife by devoting the gods
• PROVERBS of PTAHHOTEP - a book of sound but wordly advice

Answer 6

OLD KINGDOM

Question 7

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• the classic age of Egyptian literature which saw the flourishing of works which became popular for hundreds of years among these are:
• Tale of Sinuhe which relates the flight of a refugee
• the Shipwrecked Sailor, a simple folk tale of a sailor who meets a fatherly serpent on an Island
• the King of Cheops and the Magicians

Answer 7

MIDDLE KINGDOM

Question 8

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- during this period, the style of writing changed and the language of the day was used which brought more natural manner of writing, replacing the artificialities
- in this kindom it saw increased concern over the dangers after death and many spells and rituals were composed for use of the dead
- among the famous writings of this period were:
The story of King Apohis and Seqenere, Voyage of Wenamum, The Tale of the Two Brothers, The Enchanted Prince, Hymn to the Sun

Answer 8

NEW KINGDOM

Question 9

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- the literature in this period differs greatly from that of the earlier times because it was written in demotic, the simplified Egyptian language of that time. Works like the Lamentation of Isis and Nephthys and Set and the Magic Book were populating these period

Answer 9

LATE PERIOD

Question 10

TYPE OF EGYPTIAN LITERATURE

- prdominates in Egypt

Answer 10

RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

Question 11

Earliest body of texts and comprises a series of hymns and spells sculptured on the walss of the burial chambers in th pyramids of the fire kings of the sixth dynasty. This text consist of hymns and spells for the benefit of the dead and as they are the earliest literary liturgy and exposition of religion in the world

Answer 11

PYRAMID TEXTS

Question 12

In the 12th dynasty, many texts appear on the printed and sculptured coffins of the period and this is called what now?

Answer 12

COFFIN TEXTS