2. How is Shahrazad able to hint at the king's faults through this story of The City of Many-Columned Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kalibah indirectly?

3. Correlate the experience of visiting the Caliph for help/direction in the Porter and The Three Ladies of Baghdad to visiting another person of power for help in the present day.

4. What kind of a character is the hermit in The Hermits?

5. Describe the character of the man burdened with debts in The Man Who Stole The Dish of Gold Wherein The Dog Ate.

6. What does Shahrazad teach the king through her story In The Tale of Ma'an Son of Zaidah and The Badawi?

7. In The Sweep and The Noble Lady, how did the Emir's pardon of the sweep seem just, although it was not the ultimate punishment (death)?

8. What might Shahrazad be suggesting through her tale to the king in The Hermits?

9. What are the fundamental differences in value systems between the duck and the three other animals; peahen, peacock and antelope metioned in The Tale of The Birds And The Beasts And The Carpenter?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose the tale that you feel is the most powerful/poignant one, within one of the following realms of appreciation:

1. Your personal life/impression.

2. The king and his situation within the novel at that moment.

3. The general adult audience of the times.

4. The general adult audience now.

Essay Topic 2

The City of Many-Columned Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kalibah, is unique in that King Shahsyar's faults are pointed out to him by a woman. But, unlike a court jester who can mock a king directly to point out his faults, Shahrazad has to hint at King Shahryar's faults through the stories of other kings with faults. Please write an essay on the facts/life situations Shahrazad must keep in mind throughout her entire experience with her king. In your intro, choose the adjective you use to describe how she must be with great care, and use them to back up your arguments.

Keep in mind:

The role of women in society at the time these stories were compiled.

The specific situation Shahrazad is in until the end of the book.

After reading the above essay assignment, write a similar essay on what a similar/parallel situation might be for a woman to do something like this in present day, and the situational challenges she might face in similarity and/or difference to Shahrazad.

Essay Topic 3

The Story of King Shahryar and His Brother demonstrates the good of what will come when all characters involved that are suffering turn their fates over to Allah. This is also a consistent theme seen throughout the telling of Shahrazad's tales until the end of the novel itself. Now, Arabian Nights is seen as one of the most powerful and beautiful classics of all times in the literary world. Do you feel that the historical timing of the introduction of this book to society helped its ascension to fame, or hindered it? Would another Arabian Nights be so highly lauded if offered up to the public today, despite its moral teachings?

Consider and recognize:

Islamic culture in Persia at that time.

Stances on religion and appropriateness of religious teachings in schools at this time.

Women's traditional places in the areas discussed in the book at that time.

Women's rights today.

Accepted sexual practices of the political elite at the time.

Unacceptable publicity of sexual practices of the politically elite at that time.

(see the answer keys)

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