“Joseph: Favored and Cast Down” and “Joseph: His Brother’s Keeper” Name_______________
Reading Questions
1. Why is Joseph favored?
2. How does Jacob show his favor to Joseph?
3. What do Joseph’s brothers think of Joseph at the start of the story?
4. What is Joseph’s special talent?
5. How do Joseph’s brothers finally rid themselves of Joseph?
6. What do the brothers do to their father upon their return home that is particularly cruel?
7. How is Joseph treated when sold into slavery in Egypt?
8. What archetypal character lands Joseph in the king’s prison?
9. What is Joseph’s status in the prison?
10. Joseph’s robe is often referred to as the “coat of many colors.” What might this name
symbolize in light of your knowledge of the story of Joseph?
11. How does Joseph get out of prison?
12. What was the Pharaoh’s dream and what did it mean?
13. What does the number seven stand for in this case?
14. In paragraph #1. pg 98- What does this change of clothes represent? Be specific.
15. What is Joseph’s proposal to the Pharaoh to combat the famine? Pg. 98
16. Does this seem like good advice to you? Why or why not?
17. What is Jacob’s family’s condition during the famine?
18. What does Jacob propose to help his family?
19. Why is Benjamin not sent to Egypt? Does this make sense? Why or why not?
20. What do the brothers discuss privately about their brother? (Joseph) Pg. 100 What does
this reveal about the character of the brothers?
21. Why do the brothers blame God for the money in their sacks?
22. Explain the predicament that the brothers are in on pg. 101? Why has Joseph done this to
them?
23. Why are the brothers afraid when Joseph invites them inside?
24. Why does Joseph put the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack? What is his motivation?
25. The Pharaoh says that the family shall eat of “the fat of the land” What does this mean?
26. How does the brothers’ response to Benjamin compare with their earlier attitude toward
the young Joseph? In what way have the brothers changed?
27. Why do you think Joseph treats his bothers the way he does?
28. What is “the moral of the story”? (Theme)