2. 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?

3. 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?

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

5. 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?

6. In The Angel of Death With The Proud King And The Devout Man is described a wealthy man and a poor one. What are the fundamental differences in the reasons for why each man personally lived his life?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Tale of Ma'an Son of Zaidah and The Badawi is an especially poignant tale in which Shahrazad seems to be asking her king, "What do your people think of you? Are you sure you want to continue doing this?" In an essay, explain why this question is especially important to both Shahrazad's survival, as well as her king's development of conscience for the future.

Essay Topic 2

As the reader may have noticed from the beginning, the style of The Arabian Nights possesses unique characteristics in many ways. One is in regard to the fact that frame stories are used consistently throughout the entire piece. In an 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 author.

2. The character of Shahrazad.

3. Sindbad.

Please feel free to use any historical information you may now know about the history and background of certain stories in The Arabian Nights. Do create an introductory theme to your essay, tying all evidences together under one argument.

Essay Topic 3

Shahrazad is clearly an ingenious, persistent, and indelible character in The Arabian Nights and to the people of Persia, both in the book and through the book. Identify the stories she tells that you would find most poignant and pertinent to the People of Persia at the time this book was originally published. Write an essay arguing for the stories that may have been the most important and memorable for the people of the times, and why.

Draw hypotheses and conclusions specifically regarding:

A. What you have learned about Islamic culture/religion.

B. The ages of the stories.

C. The morals offered up in each story.

D. The way by which the stories are told (i.e. fables, humor-based, character sympathy, etc.).

(see the answer keys)

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