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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. In what location does The Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman begin?

2. Who sends the angel?

3. What happens to the sweep after he tells his story to the Emir?

4. In the end of his story, Bukhayt became the property of ____________.

5. How does the man who stole the gold bowl repay the formerly wealthy man?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. In The Tale of Ma'an Son of Zaidah and The Badawi, how does the Emir reward loyalty?

4. Through this story of Nur Al-Din Ali And His Son Al-Din Hasan, how does Shahrazad indirectly remind King Shahryar of the value of family?

5. 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.

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

7. In The Story of King Shahryar and His Brother, the tale within a tale about the fisherman and the Jinni demonstrates the power of what kind of belief system?

8. In the story of The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through A Dream, Shahrazad reminds King Shahryar that a life lived in faith is rewarding. Why is this an important reminder from Shahrazad to the king?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ironically, The Arabian Nights first rose to prominence when it piqued the interest of Western readers, as they were considered to be too "low-lit" to be of interest to Arab literati. Choose three or more tales from the book, and giving examples, explain why the elements of those stories might have been seen as too rough, simple, or rude to the trained eye of upper/class Arab literary intelligentsia.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

OR

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.

(see the answer keys)

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