Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF of Class 11 English Core textbook (Resonance), chapter Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues by AR Williams which is part of the syllabus of students studying under MBOSE (Meghalaya Board). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
“Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues” by AR Williams chronicles the rediscovery and investigation of King Tutankhamun’s mummy, focusing on the efforts to understand the young pharaoh’s life and untimely death. On January 5, 2005, King Tut’s mummy was removed from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings and placed in a CT scanner to explore lingering medical mysteries. Despite the challenging conditions, including a malfunctioning scanner, the procedure was completed successfully, revealing intricate details of Tut’s body.
Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922, faced significant challenges in preserving the mummy. The ritual resins used in Tut’s burial had hardened, necessitating the use of chisels and even cutting the mummy into pieces to retrieve the gold and other artifacts. This handling left Tut’s mummy in poor condition.
Carter’s excavation unveiled a wealth of artifacts, including gold items and everyday objects intended for the afterlife. These discoveries captivated the world and solidified Tutankhamun’s legendary status. The pharaoh’s tomb, though previously ransacked, remained the richest collection ever found, providing invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices.
Tutankhamun, who ruled during the Eighteenth Dynasty, died unexpectedly in his late teens, ending his family’s line. His predecessor, Akhenaten, had drastically altered Egyptian religious practices, promoting the worship of the Aten and dismantling traditional temples. This period of upheaval likely influenced Tutankhamun’s brief reign and restoration of old practices.
Modern archaeology, utilizing advanced technologies like CT scanning, has shifted focus from treasure hunting to uncovering the details of life and death. The CT scan of Tutankhamun’s mummy revealed missing breast-bone and front ribs, sparking further intrigue about his cause of death. This ongoing investigation reflects the blend of historical inquiry and technological advancement, continuing to unravel the mysteries surrounding one of history’s most famous pharaohs.
Textual questions and answers
Tick the right person
1. What do you think the ‘last heir’ means?
a. The last son of a king
b. The last king of a dynasty
c. The last person to inherit a kingdom
Answer: b. The last king of a dynasty
2. What kind of a place was the Valley of the Kings?
a. A valley where the kings went for a holiday
b. A valley ruled by kings
c. A valley where kings were buried
Answer: c. A valley where kings were buried
3. Pharaoh’s ‘curse’ means:
a. The angry words of a pharaoh
b. A belief that misfortune will fall upon someone who disturbs a dead pharaoh
C. Sins committed by Egyptian kings
Answer: b. A belief that misfortune will fall upon someone who disturbs a dead pharaoh
State if the statements are true or false
1. Amenhotep IV encouraged the worship of the Aten.
Answer: True
2. King Tut died unexpectedly.
Answer: True
3. The Egyptian Mummy Project has recorded almost 600 mummies so far.
Answer: True
4. Finally, the archaeologists could not get a CT scan of King Tut’s body.
Answer: False
Answer these questions briefly
1. Why was King Tut moved from his resting place? What was his resting place?
Answer: King Tut was moved from his resting place to undergo a CT scan to probe the lingering medical mysteries of the young ruler. His resting place was the ancient Egyptian cemetery known as the Valley of the Kings.
2. Why is King Tut’s mummy described as the world’s most famous mummy?
Answer: King Tut’s mummy is described as the world’s most famous mummy because of its historical significance, the mystery surrounding his death, and the treasure found in his tomb, which remains the richest royal collection ever discovered.
3. Why was King Tut’s mummy made to undergo a CT scan? What did scientists want to discover about King Tut?
Answer: King Tut’s mummy was made to undergo a CT scan to reveal more than what the X-ray could, particularly to answer how he died and how old he was at the time of his death.
4. Who was Howard Carter?
Answer: Howard Carter was the British archaeologist who discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922 after years of futile searching.
5. Why was King Tut’s mummy in a very bad condition?
Answer: King Tut’s mummy was in a very bad condition because Howard Carter and his team had to cut it into pieces to free it from the hardened ritual resins that cemented it to the bottom of his solid gold coffin.
6. What had fixed the body of King Tut tightly to the casket?
Answer: The ritual resins used during mummification had hardened, cementing King Tut’s body tightly to the bottom of his solid gold coffin.
7. What did Carter do to free Tut’s body from the casket?
Answer: To free Tut’s body from the casket, Carter’s team chiselled away the consolidated material from beneath the limbs and trunk and cut the mummy into pieces.
8. Why does the writer describe the inner coffin as ‘iconic’?
Answer: The writer describes the inner coffin as ‘iconic’ because of its famous status, being made of pure gold and richly adorned, making it a symbol of the opulence and artistry of ancient Egypt.
9. How has archaeology changed over the years?
Answer: Archaeology has changed over the years by focusing less on treasure and more on the fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death, using more sophisticated tools, including medical technology like CT scans.
10. What is diagnostic imaging? What is a three-dimensional virtual body?
Answer: Diagnostic imaging is a medical technique used to create visual representations of the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention. A three-dimensional virtual body is created by putting together hundreds of X-rays in cross-section like slices of bread to form a complete, detailed image of the body.
11. Mention three things that Amenhotep IV did that makes Ray Johnson say, ‘It must have been a horrific time.’
Answer: Amenhotep IV promoted the worship of the Aten, changed his name to Akhenaten, and moved the religious capital to Akhetaten. He also attacked Amun, a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples.
12. Why did the guard say ‘curse of the pharaoh’ when the scanner stopped working?
Answer: The guard said ‘curse of the pharaoh’ when the scanner stopped working because it was believed that disturbing the pharaoh could bring misfortune, and the malfunction seemed like a manifestation of this curse.
13. What did the Egyptians believe was the role of Osiris?
Answer: The Egyptians believed that Osiris was the god of the afterlife who watched over the dead and ensured their safe passage and protection in the afterlife.
14. What did the scanned images of King Tut’s mummified body reveal?
Answer: The scanned images of King Tut’s mummified body revealed intricate details of his anatomy, including the neck vertebrae, hand, rib cage, and a transection of the skull.
Answer these questions in context
1. Why do you think Zahi Hawass smiled and said, ‘I didn’t sleep last night, not for a second’?
Answer: Zahi Hawass smiled and said, ‘I didn’t sleep last night, not for a second’ because he was very worried about the CT scan procedure on King Tut’s mummy, fearing something might go wrong. Once the scan was successfully completed without any major issues, he felt relieved and finally able to rest.
2. ‘The family that had ruled for centuries was coming to an end and then Akhenaten went a little wacky.’ Why did Ray Johnson say this?
Answer: Ray Johnson said, ‘The family that had ruled for centuries was coming to an end and then Akhenaten went a little wacky’ because Akhenaten made radical changes that disrupted the established religious and social order. He promoted the worship of the Aten, moved the religious capital, and attacked the major god Amun, causing upheaval and contributing to the decline of the dynasty.
Answer these questions in detail
1. Why has there been such intense scientific and public fascination with King Tut’s mummy?
Answer: King Tut’s mummy has fascinated scientists and the public for many reasons. He was the last of his family’s line, and his death marked the end of a dynasty. The richness of his tomb, with its stunning gold artefacts, added to his legend. His untimely death in his late teens and the mysteries surrounding his passing have continued to intrigue people for centuries. The discovery of his tomb in 1922 sparked a worldwide sensation, and his mummy has remained a symbol of ancient Egypt’s grandeur.
2. Why was King Tut’s demise a big event? Describe the last days of the dynasty that King Tut belonged to.
Answer: King Tut’s demise was a big event because he was the last of his family’s line, marking the end of the eighteenth dynasty’s golden age. His father, Amenhotep III, had ruled for almost four decades, but his son, Amenhotep IV, brought about a period of religious upheaval. He promoted the worship of the Aten, changed his name to Akhenaten, and moved the capital to Akhetaten (Amarna). His radical reforms, including attacking the god Amun, led to a tumultuous period in Egypt’s history. After Akhenaten’s death, Smenkhkare appeared briefly, leaving little trace. It was then that the young Tutankhaten, better known as King Tut, ascended the throne. He reversed his predecessor’s reforms, restoring the worship of Amun and ushering in a brief period of stability.
3. Describe the process by which King Tut’s body was scanned to obtain images on a computer screen.
Answer: The process involved transporting King Tut’s mummy from his tomb to a trailer housing a CT scanner. Technicians carefully placed the mummy into the scanner, which took 1,700 digital X-ray images in cross section. These images were then compiled to create detailed three-dimensional views of the mummy’s body, allowing specialists to examine the intricate structures of his remains. This process provided new insights into his health, cause of death, and the condition of his mummy.
4. Explain the statement: ‘King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned in death, as in life….’
Answer: The statement highlights that, just as King Tut led advancements during his life, in death, he continues to be at the forefront of modern scientific techniques. Being one of the first mummies to undergo CT scanning, he remains a pioneering figure in both ancient and contemporary contexts, bridging historical significance with modern technological innovation.
Appreciating form and language
1. The style of writing used by the author is informative and detailed. The passage is a factual piece of writing based on scientific research and modern technology. Precision and accuracy are the main features of this essay. And yet it is able to hold the interest of the reader. Such a work could be described as creative non-fiction. Cite two examples from the text to substantiate these features.
Answer: One example is, “An angry wind stirred up ghostly dust devils as King Tut was taken from his resting place in the ancient Egyptian cemetery known as the Valley of the Kings.” Another example is, “The world’s most famous mummy glided head first into a CT scanner brought here to probe the lingering medical mysteries of this little understood young ruler who died more than 3,300 years ago.”
2. Study these expressions carefully.
- An angry wind stirred up ghostly dust devils…
- Dark-bellied clouds had scudded across the desert sky all day and now were veiling the stars in casket grey.
- Others stood silently…wondering with a shiver if the pharaoh’s curse—death or misfortune falling upon those who disturbed him—was really true.
- The pharaoh again rested in peace where the funerary priests had laid him so long ago.
- The winter air lay cold and still, like death itself, in this valley of the departed. Just above the entrance to Tut’s tomb stood Orion…the god of the afterlife-watching over the boy king.
What effect do these expressions create? Why do you think that the author has introduced these phrases in factual narration?
Answer: These expressions create a vivid and eerie atmosphere, evoking a sense of mystery and awe surrounding King Tut’s mummy. The author likely introduced these phrases to engage the reader’s imagination and emotions, making the factual narration more compelling and memorable.
Extra fill in the blanks
1. An angry wind stirred up ______ dust devils as King Tut was taken from his resting place. (haunted/ghostly)
Answer: ghostly
15. King Tut’s body was scanned to obtain ______ on a computer screen. (images/data)
Answer: images
Extra true or false
1. King Tut was taken from his resting place in the ancient Egyptian cemetery known as the Valley of the Kings.
Answer: True
15. The new pharaoh, Amenhotep IV, initiated one of the most traditional periods in the history of ancient Egypt.
Answer: False
Extra question and answer
Q. When was King Tut taken from his resting place?
Answer: King Tut was taken from his resting place on January 5, 2005.
18. What were the significant changes and actions of Amenhotep IV that impacted ancient Egypt?
Answer: Amenhotep IV, who succeeded Amenhotep III, initiated significant changes in ancient Egypt. He promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk, changed his name to Akhenaten, or “servant of the Aten,” and moved the religious capital from Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten (now known as Amarna). He further shocked the country by attacking the god Amun, smashing his images, and closing his temples. These actions disrupted the traditional religious practices and created turmoil, leading to a period described as “horrific” by Ray Johnson, as the longstanding ruling family faced an end and Akhenaten’s reign brought about significant and controversial changes.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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