The Prince of Egypt 3 Brothers in Egypt 4 5

Penguin Readers Factsheets level E

Teacher’s notes 1

2 The Prince of Egypt 3 Brothers in Egypt 4 5

Novelization by David A Adler 6

SUMMARY PRE- INTERMEDIATE

he story of Moses, as told in the Bible, is one of the T most famous stories of all time. This version of his BACKGROUND AND THEMES life is based on the film ‘The Prince of Egypt’, released in 1999. Legends - ancient stories of peoples or gods - tend to have universal themes. The story of Moses is the story of The story takes place in Ancient Egypt, where its rulers, an oppressed people and an inspired leader who takes the Pharaohs, use Hebrew slaves to build their temples. THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: BROTHERS IN EGYPT them from slavery to freedom. Does it sound familiar? We The Prince of Egypt begins with Egyptian soldiers, on the can all think of historical parallels, some of them in world orders of the Pharaoh, killing every Hebrew baby boy they events today. It is not surprising, therefore, that The Prince find. A Hebrew woman hides her baby boy in a basket and of Egypt affects people as powerfully today as it has ever sends the basket down the river. He is found by the Pharaoh’s wife, who adopts the child, and calls him done in the past. ‘Moses’, bringing him up as a beloved brother to her own There are many other reasons for the power of this son, Rameses. legend. Through the ages, myths and fairy tales have told We see Moses and Rameses as happy, irresponsible the story of foundling children, abandoned by their own teenagers, racing chariots and wrecking sacred statues. parents, and adopted by parents (often royalty) who are But by accident, Moses discovers the secret of his birth. ignorant of the child’s true birth. The child then grows up The discovery alters the course of his life. He leaves the and discovers his origins. Sometimes, disaster results and palace, goes into the desert, marries a Hebrew girl and the child destroys his real family. This is the basis of the works as a shepherd. Then one day, years later, God world-famous Greek legend Oedipus. In other happier speaks to him, commanding him to free the Hebrew stories, for example Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, the people. child is reunited with his or her true parents and there is a happy ending. Moses returns to the palace and reveals his identity to Rameses, now the Pharaoh. He begs him to release the For Jews and for Christians the story of Moses has Hebrews, but Rameses angrily refuses. Then ten terrible enormous meaning, as it depicts God’s omnipotent plagues come to Egypt... power. As a modern version of the ancient Bible story, reading the book is a valuable experience. In addition, The ABOUT THE FILM & AUTHORS Prince of Egypt succeeds in personalizing the story, telling it from the point of view of a young man who turns his The idea for ‘The Prince of Egypt’ arose from a back on his fabulously wealthy background in order to be conversation between three powerful Hollywood true to himself and his God. The first part of the book producers, of whom one was the world-famous director, revolves round the loving relationship between Moses and Stephen Spielberg. The three men were going to start Rameses, making the confrontation between them all the their own film production studio, ‘Dreamworks’, and more difficult. When by accident Moses learns of his true Katzenberg, a former Walt Disney producer, described to origins, we see and understand his difficult but inevitable his two partners the kind of animated films he wanted to decision to leave the palace and go and live with his own make. ‘"I explained to them," he said, "that what I would people. like to do is to make a Spielberg . . . or a David Lean movie If one thinks of animated films and Disney films, one in animation, and that’s when Stephen said, ‘Well, why thinks of ‘cute’ faces, cute voices and songs - wonderful don’t you do the Ten Commandments’?"’ (‘The Ten Commandments’ was a famous epic-style film made in children’s entertainment. However, the producers of ‘The 1956 by Cecil B. De Mille.) Prince of Egypt’ aimed at something very different. They wanted to make a film that was epic in scope, and one Out of this conversation grew the film ‘The Prince of that would appeal to adults as well as children, using Egypt’. Scriptwriters Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook were computer generated animation to give a look that no brought in and under the guiding hand of the three cartoon had ever had before. They succeeded, and the producers, an extraordinarily realistic film was produced, film opened to excellent reviews all over the world. unlike any animation film previously seen. A novelization of the film was written by David A Adler, an experienced writer of children’s stories and schoolbooks.

The well-known film magazine Empire tells us that the What happens/happened in these countries? Write six to visual style of the film ‘The Prince of Egypt’ was inspired twelve sentences about this. by three sources: the biblical etchings by French illustrator Chapters 10-12 Gustave Doré, the Impressionist paintings of Claude Put students in small groups. Teach the word deserve. Monet, and the films of British film director, David Lean. Then give them the following question: The result is unique: a film of great splendour, ending Very bad things happen to Rameses and the Egyptians with the incredibly realistic parting of the Dead Sea before because Rameses will not let the Hebrews go. Do you the Hebrews, which allowed them to escape from the think they deserve these things? Why/Why not? Give reasons for your opinion. pursuing Egyptians. Scenes such as these would be much too expensive in a ‘live’ film. In this film, the famous ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK American film critic Roger Ebert writes, ‘imagination frees 1 Organize a debate. Divide the class into two groups. the spirit from the shackles of gravity and reality and One group is the Egyptians. They believe in slavery. allows a story to soar as it will’. Ask them to write down why slavery is a good thing. The other group are Hebrews. Ask them to write down The film ‘The Prince of Egypt’ deserves all the praise it why slavery is a bad thing. Then have the debate. One received. For children and teenagers, the novelization of student from one side speaks. Then a student from the the film is a wonderful way in to a fascinating ancient other side replies etc. story. 2 In groups, students discuss the following, then write 10 -15 lines about it. During this story, Moses grows from a baby to a man. Communicative activities He changes in very many ways. By the end of the story he is a very different person. Describe how he The following teacher-led activities cover the same changes. sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, and supplement those exercises. Further supplementary exercises, covering shorter sections of the book, can be found on the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of Glossary this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. readers, but with the exception of pair/groupwork They are practised in the Before You Read sections of exercises at questions, can also be used by students working alone in the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman a self-access centre. Active Study Dictionary.) Chapters 1-3 ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK basket (n) this is made of thin pieces of wood and people carry things Photocopy the following pictures from the book but blank in it out the captions: p6, 10, 14, 16, 25, 37, 43. Put students chariot (n) a vehicle with two wheels pulled by a horse in groups and give each group a set of photocopies. Ask crocodile (n) an animal with a long body, hard skin and sharp teeth, which lives in rivers in hot countries students to write what they think is happening in each hush (v) to be quiet picture. Then write the captions to the pictures on the lullaby (n) a song that you sing to children to make them sleep board and ask students to match the captions with the pray (v) to speak to God to ask for help or to give thanks pictures. priest (n) someone who works for a church ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION rock (v) to move gently from side to side rope (n) something very long, strong and thin, which is used for tying Chapters 1-3 things These chapters tell us about Egypt. In pairs, students slave (n) someone who is owned by another person and must work write down seven facts about Egypt. Then ask students for them what other facts they know about Egypt. Ask them to statue (n) this is made of stone and is the shape of a person or animal write down four more facts. still (adj) not moving Chapters 4-6 temple (n) a temple is where people in some religions go to pray (see THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: BROTHERS IN EGYPT Put students into groups of five. Students play the above) following roles: Moses, Rameses, Seti, Tzipporah, Miriam. throne (n) the chair that a king or queen sits on The last four tell Moses how they see and feel about him. Chapters 4-6 Moses answers each of them in turn. He can say anything camel (n) a large animal which lives in the desert (see below) and he wants to them, eg tell them if he agrees with them. which people ride on Chapters 7-9 desert (n) a large area of hot dry land where not much grows freedom (n) the right to live your life the way you want to and not 1 In pairs, students write a letter from Moses to have to do what other people tell you Rameses. He explains why he has left the palace and god (n) the ‘person’ who people pray to if they are religious is living with a Hebrew family. He tells Rameses about snake (n) a long thin animal without legs; it moves along the ground his feelings for him. Chapters 7-9 2 Put students into groups. Teach them the verb treat. well (n) a very deep hole in the ground where people get water Ask students the following questions: Chapters 10-12 (a) The Egyptians treat the Hebrews very badly. Give bush (n) a plant like a small tree some examples of this. holy (adj) close to God (b) Can you think of other countries where one plague (n) a bad illness, or a very large amount of something, which kills many people people treats/treated another people very badly? staff (n) (old word) a long stick which people carry to help them walk or to use for work

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Mary Tomalin © Pearson Education Limited 1999 Factsheet series developed by Louise James Penguin Readers Factsheets level E

Student’s activities 1 The Prince of Egypt: Brothers in Egypt 2 3

4 Photocopiable Students can do these activities alone or with one or 5 more other people. 6 Activities before reading the book

Do exercises 1 and 2 on page 53 of your book. Then (d) What damage do Moses and Rameses do in this PRE- read the Introduction. Now read the sentences below and chapter? INTERMEDIATE correct the mistakes. Then look at the Introduction again. (e) Why is Rameses worried? Were you right? 2 Answer these questions.

‘My son, there is nothing I can give you. I can only pray THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: BROTHERS IN EGYPT that you will live. I hope that we’ll meet again.’ (a) How do you think Moses and Rameses feel about each other? Yocheved carefully placed his baby in the box. He looked (b) Describe Moses and Rameses. Do you think they at him for one last time . . . are bad? There is a new law in India and the Pharaoh’s soldiers are (c) Do you like them? Say why/why not. ordered to kill every Hebrew baby girl. But one baby escapes when his father leaves her in a box on the river. Chapter 3 He grows up in a temple and has a very comfortable life. 1 Answer these questions. He and his brother, Rameses, spend their days laughing, (a) Why is Seti angry with Rameses? playing and racing their camels. They don’t notice the suffering of the children all around them. (b) What does Seti want from his son? But one day Rameses learns the secret of his past and (c) Moses suggests to Seti how to act with his life will never be the same again. Rameses. What does he suggest? Do you think Seti will do this? Give reasons for your opinion. 2 Work in pairs. Make the conversation between Seti Activities while reading the book and the Queen about Rameses and Moses after the two boys leave the room. CHAPTERS 1 - 3 CHAPTERS 4 - 6 Chapter 1 Chapter 4 1 Are these sentences right or wrong? If they are wrong, Who says these things? change them. (a) The Hebrew slaves build the big palaces and temples (a) ‘Why do I get in trouble when you start something?’ of Egypt. (b) ‘You’re in trouble now, Rameses!’ (b) The soldiers are looking for Egyptian baby boys. (c) ‘Because of you the palaces will fall and the great (c) Yocheved gives her baby son to her son, Aaron. buildings will turn to sand.’ (d) Yocheved puts her baby in a basket to hide him from (d) ‘Did you know that we’re late?’ the soldiers. (e) ‘It can’t get worse, so let’s have some fun!’ (e) The basket travels down the river and hits a boat full (f) ‘Your problem, dear brother, is that you don’t worry of men. enough.’ (f) The Queen of Egypt finds the basket. Chapter 5 (g) Yocheved called her baby son, ‘Moses’. 1 Put these sentences in the right order. Put 1, 2, 3, etc (h) The Queen has a son called Rameses. Moses next to the sentences. becomes his new brother. (a) Rameses makes Moses Chief Builder. 2 How do you think Yocheved feels after she (b) Tzipporah tries to bite Rameses. (a) sends her baby away in the basket? (c) Moses sees his sheets. They were hanging from (b) hears Miriam’s story about the Queen? the window. Chapter 2 (d) Tzipporah falls into a pool of water. 1 Find the word ‘damage’ in your dictionary. Answer (e) The priest give Rameses a woman as a present. these questions. (f) Seti makes Rameses Prince Regent. (a) What work do the Hebrew slaves do? (g) Rameses gives Tzipporah to Moses. (b) What does Moses do to Rameses’ chariot? (h) Rameses gives Moses a ring. (c) Why does Rameses say to Moses, ‘You’ve 2 Work in pairs. How do you think Tzipporah escaped? always looked up to me’? What did she do? Write a story about it.

Chapter 6 CHAPTERS 10 - 12 1 Answer these questions. Chapter 10 (a) Why doesn’t Moses want the guards to notice Work in pairs. Write the conversation between Moses and that Tzipporah is escaping? Guess. Tzipporah when Moses returns home and tells his wife (b) Why does Moses follow Tzipporah? about the burning bush. (c) Why does Miriam drop the bottle of water? Chapter 11 (d) How does Miriam recognize Moses? Guess. Fill in the gaps (...... ). (e) Miriam feels that Moses will help the Hebrews. 1 Moses goes to see the (1) ...... He is very Why? Guess. surprised because the Pharaoh is (2) ...... (f) Why does Miriam sing to Moses? The two men are very (3) ...... to meet again. (g) Why doesn’t Moses understand what Miriam tells him? Moses asks Rameses to (4) ...... the Hebrew (h) Why does Moses feel sad and worried? people. But Rameses will not do this. Moses gives 2 Work in pairs or groups. Miriam sings Moses a lullaby. Rameses back his (5) ...... He tells What lullabies do you know in your language? Choose Rameses that he (6) ...... do what God says, one and write some of it in English. Use your dictionary if necessary. or there will be (7) ...... But Rameses says that the Hebrews have to work (8) ...... CHAPTERS 7 - 9 than before. When Moses leaves the palace, he Chapter 7 knows that his (9) ...... with Rameses is 1 Choose the best answer. finished. (a) In Moses’ dream, 2 Discuss this question with another student: (i) a crocodile eats him. (a) Why do you think Rameses is so angry with (ii) he falls towards the mouths of crocodiles. Moses? (b) Moses sees a picture of Seti (b) What ‘danger’ do you think there will be for the (i) telling a guard to kill a Hebrew baby Egyptians? (ii) killing a Hebrew baby. Chapter 12 1 Answer these questions. (c) Seti tells Moses that he ordered this because (a) Why does Rameses give his permission for the (i) there were too many Hebrews. Hebrews to leave Egypt? (ii) he hated Hebrews. (b) Why do you think Rameses changes his mind (d) The Queen tells Moses that he lives as her son about this? because (c) How do the Hebrews escape from the Egyptian (i) she chose him. soldiers? (ii) the Egyptian gods chose him. (d) How do you think Moses feels at the end of the 2 Work in pairs. Write a conversation between Seti and story? a Hebrew slave. Seti has to say why he killed the Hebrew babies. 2 The story of the ten plagues that God brings to Egypt is in the Bible. Chapter 8 (a) How many plagues does this story tell us about? In this chapter, Moses realizes that he has to leave the (b) What are these plagues? palace. What happens? Why does he decide to do this? THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: BROTHERS IN EGYPT Chapter 9 Activities after reading the book 1 How are these things important to the story? (i) shoes (ii) wind (iii) camel (iv) sheep The story of Moses is taken from the Bible. How much of (v) strangers (vi) well (vii) Jethro the story do you think is true or could be true? Why do you think this? Give reasons for your opinion. Write 10-20 2 What do you know about Tzipporah? What kind of lines. woman is she? Write10 -20 lines about her.

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Mary Tomalin © Pearson Education Limited 1999 Factsheet series developed by Louise James