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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the main struggle of the man who stole the gold dog bowl?

2. For how long does Ghanim live in Baghdad?

3. What does Abdullah, Son of Abi Kalibah, set off to find?

4. What does Shahrazad do in order to stay alive?

5. What does Lady Zubaydah order her staff to do to look as though they are mourning Kut's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. What qualities does the Caliph show through his actions towards the sisters and princes in the Porter and The Three Ladies of Baghdad?

2. What is the purpose of Shahrazad telling this story In Hatim Of the Tribe of Tayy to the King?

3. What is the purpose of Shahrazad deciding to tell this seemingly innocuous story to the king in Ali The Persian?

4. How might Shahrazad's tale in The Tale of The Three Apples whittle away at the king's assumption that all women are faithless and untrustworthy?

5. How is the main character in the story of The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through A Dream rewarded for his faith?

6. How in the Tale of Ghanim in Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O'Love does Shahrazad strive to replace King Shahryar's distrust of women with doubt over his belief?

7. What message through the story is meant for the King from Shahrazad in The City of Many-Columned Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kalibah?

8. What does the circular nature and connectedness of the happenings in The Tale of The Three Apples imply?

9. How do faith and destiny align in The Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman?

10. In Hatim Of the Tribe of Tayy, how does this story blur the lines between the living and the dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shahrazad is clearly an ingenious, persistent, and indelible character in The Arabian Nights and to the people of Persia, both in the book and through the book. Identify the stories she tells that you would find most poignant and pertinent to the People of Persia at the time this book was originally published. Write an essay arguing for the stories that may have been the most important and memorable for the people of the times, and why.

Draw hypotheses and conclusions specifically regarding:

A. What you have learned about Islamic culture/religion.

B. The ages of the stories.

C. The morals offered up in each story.

D. The way by which the stories are told (i.e. fables, humor-based, character sympathy, etc.).

Essay Topic 2

In The Tale of The Three Apples, the circular nature and connectedness of the happenings in Chapter 3 could arguably imply that there is a higher intention or being in power that if tapped, will lead the way to freedom and an improved life. In what way is this kind of fate/faith-based lesson-telling indicative of the times during which these tales were compiled?

Please keep in mind historical background, Islamic culture, and advantages to the author for the purposes of developing Shahrazad and the king's relationship.

Essay Topic 3

In Abu Kir The Dyer And Abu Sir The Barber, the character of goodness in Abu Sir saves him from the evil actions of his false friend Abu Kir. All lies clearly become revealed in time, and as the saying goes, time heals all wounds. Write an essay outlining and explaining the ways in which the lessons stated above are acted out and proven throughout Abu Kir The Dyer And Abu Sir The Barber.

(see the answer keys)

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