1. What character trait(s) of the men in the story Julnar The Sea-Born And Her Son King Badr Basim of Persia allow(s) them to be ensnared by Queen Lab?

2. What in How Abu Hasan Bake Wind does Shahrazad imply about shame?

3. Why might it be in Shahrazad's interests to decide to tell this story to the king in The City of Brass?

4. Explore the ironic moments of this story in The Lady And Her Five Suitors.

5. In Khalifah The Fisherman of Baghdad, the reader witnesses the Caliph dispense mercy and cruelty with the whim of someone raised in a position of such absolute power that it distances him from the suffering of the common people, much like the fisherman Khalifah. How could this part of the story relate to Shahrazad's goal of changing the king's ways?

6. What moral does Shahrazad imply through her story in the story Julnar The Sea-Born And Her Son King Badr Basim of Persia?

7. Consider the phrases, "All lies become revealed in time," and "time heals all wounds". How is this played out/proven in Abu Kir The Dyer And Abu Sir The Barber?

8. What is ironic about the fact of Abu Hasan breaking wind in How Abu Hasan Bake Wind?

9. What is the relationship between the Allah and the Caliph in regards to which has the most power in Khalifah The Fisherman of Baghdad?

10. How is the ending of this story from The Ebony Horse a very direct and personally-related implication to the king from Shahrazad?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ask students to re-read the Tale of Nur Al-Din Ali And His Son Badr Al-Din Hasan, especially keeping in mind the intent behind Shahrazad's seemingly innocuous intent. Write down the points/situations at which suspense was created, and how. After getting into groups, discussing and compiling the best and most poignant moments, individually write an essay revolving around the many ways by which Shahrazad created suspense throughout this tale.

Essay Topic 2

In Ma'aruf the Cobbler and His Wife Fatimah it is shown that one cannot fully escape the past, as proven when Ma'aruf spends most of his life as far away from his wicked wife as possible. Using examples from this story and any others found germane enough to prove the argument, explore in an essay just how Shahrazad uses the workings of fate, and the idea that one cannot escape past evil deeds, to her advantage.

Essay Topic 3

Appreciating that the Tale of The Three Apples is one of the earliest known suspense thriller murder/mystery with detective fiction elements and multiple plot twists, write an essay detailing what you believe to be the most effective and powerful crime fiction element in the tale, and why. You may choose from:

1. Plot twists.

2. Suspense.

3. Mystery.

Make a strong base for whichever element you choose by backing up your argument with all places in the story where your element has been used.

(see the answer keys)

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