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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. How does the Caliph respond to the story of Ali The Persian?

2. Bukhayt was sold as a slave at the age of what?

3. When the King of Himyar awoke, what did he find?

4. What does the hermit eat/survive on?

5. What does the nomad say that the Emir is?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What kind of moral is offered in the story in The Man Who Stole The Dish of Gold Wherein The Dog Ate?

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

10. What does Shahrazad teach the king through The Sweep and The Noble Lady?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

As the reader may have noticed from the beginning of The Arabian Nights, the story possesses unique characteristics in many ways. One way is in regard to the fact that frame stories are used consistently throughout the entire piece. In a 400-600 word essay, and keeping in mind the fact that typical Western literary devices are not used in this novel, please provide insight as to how the use of framing stories is an invaluable tool to:

1. The compiler/authors.

2. The character of Shahrazad.

3. The character of Sindbad.

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)

This section contains 913 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample