The Tale of Sinuhe Summary: The Story of Sinuhe was written during the ancient Egyptian period and is one of the earliest known literary texts. The narrative follows the protagonist, Sinuhe, who was an assistant to King Amenemhat I during the early 20th Century BC. After the death of the King, he panics and flees Egypt for Syria, encountering problems along the way. At first, he becomes part of a tribe called the Renetu and marries the leader's eldest daughter. He ages and has children, but still wants to go back to Egypt. Later, he is approached by a warrior who was sent to kill him and agrees to duel with him. He is victorious and considers going back home to Egypt. After this, he receives a letter from the new King of Egypt but has some apprehension due to his departure. After heading to Egypt, Sinuhue is accepted by the King and is given a place to stay. He is told to change his appearance but is forgiven by the King for his earlier departure and is even offered a prestigious position. It is unknown whether this story is about a real-life person or whether it is a fictional tale. This being said, academics generally agree that it is most likely fiction and not based on real events. Analysis Free Will and Determination: One of the themes of this text is the idea of free will, and whether human beings are the agents of their own actions. Although this text celebrates the strength of divine power and intervention, it maintains that humans have free will, and therefore are accountable for their actions. This is represented by the fact that Sinuhe chooses to move away from Egypt and then chooses to return again when he is older. Divinity: In this text, we gain an insight into beliefs about divinity and life after death. Throughout the text, we see the presence of the divine, which is something Sinuhe encounters along his journey. He is protected by divine powers such as Maat, and through the story, we see a number of symbols associated with the divine, such as the sycamore, which was considered to be the Egyptian Tree of Life. Home: Home is a key theme of this text, as it is something Sinuhe years for after he departs. He is born in Egypt and serves there as a young man, and although he sets up his family in Syria, he still longs to return to where he came from. As such, this represents the comfort and attachment felt to home, which is something many readers can relate to.