The Story of the Amulet · Chapter
XI: Before Pharaoh explained
The children plan to use gifts to trade for a sight of the Amulet in Ancient Egypt.
What happens
The children plan to use gifts to trade for a sight of the Amulet in Ancient Egypt. They each select an item by blindfolded chance and travel to Egypt, where they are swept into a crowd of discontented workers. They are brought before Pharaoh, and after demonstrating magic with matches and a candle, the Psammead is seized. The children are imprisoned but use the Amulet to return home and bring back a geranium to impress their guard.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene marks the dramatic climax because Cyril articulates the central crisis—that searching the Past for…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Wish Fulfillment and Consequences
The children's plan to use gifts and magic leads to the Psammead being taken and their imprisonment.
- Social Class and Inequality
The chapter vividly depicts class conflict between workers and the rich, echoing modern Hyde Park speeches.
- Courage and Personal Growth
Despite fear and imprisonment, the children use ingenuity to try to rescue the Psammead.
Characters to notice
- Anthea
Suggests using gifts to trade for the Amulet; selects the Nécessaire by blindfold; tries to protect the Psammead.
- Cyril
Proposes going among common people; demonstrates matches and candle before Pharaoh; devises plan to impress the guard.
- Robert
Chooses a candle by blindfold; recognizes the crowd's rhetoric from Hyde Park; tries to explain the Psammead's value.
- Jane
Picks up the tie-clip; expresses fear of unknown places; sobs when imprisoned, wishing for queens and larks.
- The Psammead
Advises taking small merchandise; is seized by Pharaoh's order and carried away despite the children's protests.
- Rekh-marā
Whispers joyously to Cyril about the Temple; is pardoned by Pharaoh after the children's magic display.
Key passages
“The great thing is to get people to love you by being generous. And that’s what we’ve got to do. Next time we go into the Past we’ll regularly fit out the expedition.”
Anthea suggests that by being generous with gifts, they can win people's affection and gain access to the Amulet on their next journey.
Reflects the children's strategic thinking about using trade and kindness.
“Comrades and fellow workers, how long are we to endure the tyranny of our masters, who live in idleness and luxury on the fruit of our toil?”
A worker rallies the crowd against the wealthy, accusing them of exploiting labor for their own comfort.
Highlights the theme of social inequality and class struggle.
“Seize it. A very curious monkey. It will be a nice little novelty for my wild beast collection.”
Pharaoh orders the Psammead to be taken, treating it as a mere curiosity for his collection.
Demonstrates the power imbalance and the children's helplessness.
