The Golden Goblet
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| The Golden Goblet | |
| Author | Eloise Jarvis McGraw |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Children's book, Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Coward McCann |
| Publication date | 1961 |
| Pages | 256 |
| ISBN | 0140303359 |
The Golden Goblet is a children's book by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. It was first published in 1961 and received a Newbery Honor award in 1962. The book tells the story of a young Egyptian boy named Ranofer who struggles to reveal a hideous crime and reshape his destiny.
[edit] Plot summary
Ranofer is a porter at a goldsmith's shop, but has learned much about gold working despite his position. When the tallies of gold sweepings and other ore don't add up , he tries to figure out why. He discovers a plot between Gebu, his older, abusive half-brother, and Ibni, a Babylonian, to steal gold. Eventually, he figures out that Ibni is smuggling gold to Gebu through wineskins that Ranofer carries home every ten days or so. Ranofer tries to stop this, but Gebu forces him to continue. All goes well, and Ranofer even makes a friend, but things turn for the worse when Gebu moves him to his stone cutting shop after Ibni is caught.
At one point, Ranofer breaks into Gebu's "room" and discovers a golden goblet, the likes of which could not come from the area. Ranofer immediately realizes that Gebu has been tomb robbing. He asks the Ancient how tomb robbers are caught, and The Ancient replies that "they were followed". Ranofer knows what he has to do. During the upcoming feast, he knows from Heqet's eavesdropping that Gebu will be going on another tomb robbing session. Ranofer follows them all the way into the burial chamber. Meanwhile, Heqet and the Ancient have also gone to the Valley of the Kings looking for Ranofer. Ranofer runs out of the grave after extinguishing the robbers' torch, and one of the giant steps crumbles, trapping Gebu and his companion Wenamon. To make sure of this, Ranofer puts a boulder on top of the entrance. He finds Heqet and the Ancient, who completely seal the tomb. Meanwhile, Ranofer runs back to the town/city.
He manages to get into the palace by means of brute force, sheer will, and shouting that "They're in your parent's tomb!" Ranofer says that the cup bore the name of Thutmose the Conqueror. He eventually gets an audience with the queen, who asks him (to test his story's veracity) what the object leaning against the tomb's north wall was. Ranofer answers her father's oaken staff, and the queen immediately sends out soldiers, catching Gebu. Finally, the queen asks what Ranofer wants most in the world. "A donkey" was the answer--Ranofer wanted to live life like the Ancient, who cut papyrus for the sailmakers. Eventually, he "reshapes his life into a new form" and goes to Zau for goldsmith training. He finally accomplishes his dream to become a papyrus cutter just like his friend the Ancient.
[edit] Characters in "The Golden Goblet"
- Ranofer - a young boy whose father has died and is now in the care of his evil half-brother, Gebu.
- Gebu - a stonecutter by trade, who tries to rob the tomb of Huaa and Tuaa, the queen's parents and mean half-brother of Ranofer.
- Heqet - an apprentice goldsmith who befriends Ranofer and 'The Ancient'.
- The Ancient - a very old man who owns a donkey, 'Lotus Blossom', and cuts papyrus for a modest living, he lives on the edge of the desert in the house he made out of bricks. He has one blind eye and has a physical ailment of hobbling.
- Thutra - Ranofer's father; a deceased goldsmith and a friend of Zau.
- Rekh - a local goldsmith.
- Zau - a master goldsmith who works in the palace making ornaments and teaching students.
- Ibni - a Babylonian who helps Gebu steal from Rekh's goldshop.
- Setma - a Nile boat captain, and friend of Gebu.
- Wenamon - a mason and Gebu's friend.
- Pai - The Stone Cutter's foreman
- Tiy - The Queen.
