Young Ranofer’s dreams of becoming a goldsmith seem impossible because of his abusive half-brother’s influence unless he can prove the man is a thief in Eloise Jarvis McGraw’s esteemed middle-grade historical mystery, The Golden Goblet (1961). As Ranofer struggles to escape from Gebu’s evil control, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the importance of doing the right thing. Vivid historical details of life in 1400 BC Egypt and a thrilling puzzle complement powerful themes of abuse and coming of age in this tale of one boy’s efforts to change his life.

The Golden Goblet received glowing reviews from Kirkus and The Horn Book and was named a Newbery Honor Book in 1962. The novel is one of three Newbery Honor Books written by McGraw, including Moccasin Trail (1952) and The Moorchild (1997). Pagination in this study guide refers to the Puffin edition (1986).

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Ranofer lives with his half-brother, Gebu, on the Street of the Crooked Dog in ancient Thebes. Ranofer’s life, once ideal, changed after the death of his beloved father, Thutra, a respected gold artist. He hopes to follow in Thutra’s footsteps and study with Zau, a master goldsmith, and eventually craft beautiful items for Queen Tiy. Ranofer has skill, but cruel Gebu will not apprentice him to Rekh, the goldsmith, to learn more. Instead, he works in Rekh’s shop as a porter. Ranofer envies the apprentices and struggles to repress his longing to work with gold.

A master of a stonecutting shop, vicious Gebu is solid and dangerous. Gebu starves, disparages, and violently beats Ranofer, who is humiliated by Gebu’s constant abuse. Ranofer represses thoughts and questions that make him unhappy. He is friendless until Heqet, a new apprentice, arrives at the gold shop. Heqet’s droll jokes slowly put Ranofer at ease.

Ibni, an oily Babylonian porter, frequently gives Ranofer wineskins to deliver to Gebu. When gold goes missing, Ranofer realizes Ibni has been slipping gold into wineskins that he unwittingly carries home to Gebu. The thought of being a thief appalls Ranofer. He knows he should tell Rekh but fears Gebu’s anger. When he does defy Gebu, the stonecutter beats him, telling the boy no one would believe his accusations. Ranofer trusts Heqet to inform Rekh that Ibni is the thief, and Ibni is let go. Rekh notices Ranofer’s skill and begins to allow him to craft gold objects.

Ranofer’s hopes of advancing his gold craft are shattered when Gebu ends his work with Rekh and takes him as an apprentice at his stonecutting shop. He hates stonework, which uses crude tools and has no beauty: the opposite of goldwork. Ranofer, embarrassed by his position at the stonecutter’s, avoids Heqet until they renew their friendship one day.

The boys meet daily in a secluded thicket of reeds by the river and are joined by the Ancient, an old man who cuts papyrus stalks for a living. The three become fast friends. The boys visit Zau, who remembers Ranofer and offers him a position as a pupil once Ranofer has changed his life.

Ranofer suspects that Gebu and his friends Wenamon, a mason, and Setma, a Nile riverboat captain, are again stealing gold. Ranofer believes if he can prove Gebu is stealing this time, he will be free. Heqet and the Ancient help Ranofer spy on Gebu and his friends with no success.

Discouraged, Ranofer applies himself to stonecutting and asks Gebu about an unnecessary room marked on a scroll. His question infuriates Gebu, who beats him. Ranofer rebelliously searches Gebu’s room for food and discovers a priceless golden goblet. Ranofer realizes Gebu is a tomb robber. This crime is particularly hateful because it violates the afterlife of the deceased. The goblet is the evidence Ranofer needs against Gebu. When he goes to take the goblet, however, it is gone. He searches the stone shop but cannot find it. Ranofer does not tell his friends about the goblet, though keeping the secret from them makes him unhappy. When Heqet learns that Wenamon and Gebu are meeting the following day, Ranofer knows he must follow Gebu into the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings.

During the High Nile Festival, a feast day celebrating the river’s bounty, Ranofer braves his fears and frightening spirits to follow Gebu. He trails Gebu and Wenamon across the desert, down a deep crevice, and into a tunnel leading to a burial chamber. The tomb is filled with treasures. Ranofer is outraged at Gebu’s desecration, especially when he discovers that the tomb is that of Queen Tiy’s parents. He accidentally alerts the men to his presence but escapes through the tunnel and up the shaft, blocking the entrance with a stone.

Heqet and the Ancient, worried about Ranofer, follow him to the Valley. Ranofer runs for help while they guard the crevice. Determined to stop Gebu’s villainy, Ranofer desperately sneaks onto the palace grounds. He is captured, and his story discounted, but a dwarf, Qa-nefer, believes him and takes him to the Queen. Queen Tiy tests Ranofer’s tale, knows he is honest, and sends soldiers to the Valley. They catch Gebu and Wenamon, and others find the goblet in the stone shop. Queen Tiy asks what Ranofer wants for a reward. He requests a donkey to be independent like the Ancient and someday be Zau’s pupil and make her beautiful ornaments. The Queen fulfills his request and then some. Ranofer jubilantly hurries to rejoin his friends.