The Tale of Sinuhe: and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems 1940-1640 B.C.

What do these poems reveal about the historical era of the Middle Kingdom in its social, political, and/or cultural aspects? What does this literature reveal that more straightforward historical or factual Egyptian documents may not?

Outsiders and foreigners (“Asiatics” or Easterners) are often evoked as a sign of threat or disorder. How do these outside forces work to define Egyptian cultural and social values? You may wish to look particularly at “The Tale of Sinuhe” and how his time in Syria contrasts to his life in Egypt.

Discuss the didactic or instructional mode that frequently emerges in the poems, especially in the wisdom literature. What values and ideas do they seek to impart to listeners/readers? How are they different or similar to one another in their didactic approaches?