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. What does the Persian give King Sabur in the story of The Ebony Horse?

2. In the story The Angel of Death With The Proud King And The Devout Man, what privilege is given the pious man when his death his imminent?

3. What does Abu Kir convince Abu Sir of doing?

4. Who does King Shahryar invite to his wedding of Shahrazad?

5. Which of their three sons do Omar, a Cairo merchant, and his wife love and trust most in the story Judar And His Brethren?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Shahrazad reinforce to her king through The Sleeper And The Waker?

3. What does Shahrazad illustrate in telling this story to the king in The City of Brass?

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

5. Consider the saying, "The clothes maketh the man." How is this proven in Alaedddin: Or, The Wonderful Lamp?

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

7. How is justice served through the story of Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves?

8. In this tale of Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves, Shahrazad presents a servant girl as the hero. What may be the point of this story for Shahrazad in light of the king's attitude towards women?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shahrazad's feminine heroism leaves for a depth of literary interpretation. Her story can be seen as a feminist critique insofar as it criticizes the weaknesses of a masculinity that is constructed on the image of power, control and domination. Yet Shahrazad's response remains within the parameters established for women by Islam.

Reviewing and referring to the tales you find most telling of her role, characterize Shahrazad's personality and critique her abilities to make her intentions a reality.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,244 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample