View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. To where does Abu return after losing his money and friends in The Sleeper And The Waker?

2. What story does Abu tell his two "merchant" friends at his house in The Sleeper And The Waker?

3. In the story of How Abu Hasan Broke Wind, what is the great celebration Abu Hasan is throwing?

4. Where does Abu waste half of his father's money in The Sleeper And The Waker?

5. How many donkeys does Kasim take to the cave's door in Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves?

Short Essay Questions

1. In The Ebony Horse, the brother Kamar rescues his younger sister from marriage to an ugly old Persian bearing a gift. In the process of helping his sister, Kamar also finds love, so his kindness is rewarded. What is to be learned from this part of the story?

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

3. 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?

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

5. What goal in Alaedddin: Or, The Wonderful Lamp may Shahrazad been trying to achieve through this story to the king?

6. In what way could this be a sort of cautionary tale from Shahrazad to the king in The Lady And Her Five Suitors?

7. How is Abu Kir's life like his business in Abu Kir The Dyer And Abu Sir The Barber?

8. In Judar And His Brethren, how does Judar portray his greed?

9. 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?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The seemingly random and somewhat humorous story of How Abu Hasan Broke Wind seems to have no apparent places in this plethora of artfully told selection of moralistic tales. Explore the reasons why Shahrazad may have decided to tell this tale. Consider the following background concepts when outlining your essay:

Characters' intentions/reasonings.

Length of the book itself.

Length of the tale.

Essay Topic 3

In the story of The Angel of Death With The Proud King And The Devout Man, a wealthy man lived for his own glory while the devout man lived for God, so each man faced death differently: one as loss, the other as gain. The moral lesson is not about wealth or poverty, but about the character of a man. In short, wealth and position are meaningless in the next world because one cannot take his possessions to the grave. Citing specific examples from the tale as your supporting evidence, explore and explain how this tale flies in the face of the cultural and social beliefs of the day.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,230 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample