Essay Questions

How does watching the Egypt game bring the Professor out of the secluded world?

The Professor is lonely and does not want to associate with others. Since the death of his wife, the Professor feels empty, and he believes no one will ever fill the gap in his life. To symbolize his seclusion, the Professor holds into his late wife's antique shop and does not want to sell anything inside. One day, the Professor is intrigued when he sees April and Melanie playing the Egypt game, which makes him realize many things can enable him to move on. The Professor opens his personal space and allows the little girls to be his friends. Therefore, by watching the young girls' creativity, the Professor discovers he needs to appreciate the people around him and accept that his late wife will never return to life.

How does the author explore overcoming isolation in the novel The Egypt Game?

April wants to do anything that can enable her to forget about her mother and move on with her life. When April and Melanie meet, they start brainstorming on any imaginary game they can play to keep themselves occupied. The two girls invent an Egypt game that keeps them busy daily, and April finds it easy to overcome her isolation. April discovers that living in the past isolates her and makes her unproductive. Consequently, Snyder shows readers that the best way to overcome isolation is by preoccupying your brain and accepting reality to move on.

Why is April insisting on calling her grandmother by her first name instead of grandma?

April's insistence on addressing her grandmother by her first name symbolizes family disconnection. When April's mother takes her to live with Grandma, she feels betrayed because that goes against her wishes. April wants to live with her mother and enjoy the privileges she is used to in the city. However, April's mother refuses to listen to her pleas and leaves. Since this is April's first time living with her grandmother, she sees her as a stranger. By calling grandma by her first name, April shows she does not want to live in that place because there is no connection or attachment.