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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 Shahrazad plead for the king's mercy?

2. In the story The Angel of Death With The Proud King And The Devout Man, what does the king who was stopped by the man in rags do so that people could admire him?

3. In the story of The Lady And Her Five Suitors, how many days do the locked-up men go without food or water?

4. What does the Maghribi wizard pose as in Alaeddin: Or, The Wonderful Lamp?

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. 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?

2. In the tale of Ma'aruf The Cobbler And His Wife Fatimah, Shahrazad demonstrates the difference between a good wife and a wicked one. How could this relate to Shahrazad's goals in the long run between herself and the king?

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

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

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

6. Consider the saying "One cannot fully escape the past." How is this saying proven in Ma'aruf The Cobbler And His Wife Fatimah?

7. In what ways in Judar And His Brethren does Shahrazad personify evil throughout her story?

8. What in How Abu Hasan Bake Wind does Shahrazad imply about shame?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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