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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. What is the name of the powerful wizard who came to Alaeddin when he was fifteen?

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, Abu Hasan holds a great celebration in the City of ______ of Al-Yaman.

4. How many times did Khalifah cast his fishing net in Khalifah The Fisherman of Baghdad?

5. Where do Ma'aruf and Fatimah live in Ma'aruf The Cobbler And His Wife Fatimah?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does the constant questioning of Sindbad the Seaman's identity throughout Sindbad The Seaman And Sindbad The Lands change the view of the nature of his character to listeners?

4. What lesson does Shahrazad teach the king through her story in Sindbad The Seaman And Sindbad The Lands?

5. What is the moral lesson about in The Angel of Death With The Proud King And The Devout Man?

6. How does Abu-al Hasan make his way into the upper echelons of the Caliph's palace in The Sleeper And The Waker?

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

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

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

10. In the Conclusion, King Shahryar's legacy began bloody and ended in peace and prosperity thanks to the gifted storyteller, Shahrazad. Through her stories and her love she changes the heart of the king and her stories live on through the generations. What kind of a reminder can this conclusion offer to humanity on the whole?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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