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

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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?

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

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

8. 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?

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

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

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

Choose the tale that you feel is the most powerful/poignant one, within one of the following realms of appreciation:

1. Your personal life/impression.

2. The king and his situation within the novel at that moment.

3. The general adult audience of the times.

4. The general adult audience now.

Essay Topic 3

In The Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman, Kamar and Budur not only played great human/mortal part to make their life together possible, but a string of seemingly unforeseen events also play a part in their stories/lives, which gives the listener the feel that both human intention and fate play a part in people's lives. How do other characters in other tales continue to bring this concept home to the king of the interconnectedness between fate, human decisions, and devotion to Allah?

Please choose from these stories:

1. Hatim and The Tribe of Tayy

2. The Hermit

3. Sindbad the Seaman and Sindbad the Landsman

4. The Tale of the Birds and the Beasts and the Carpenter

(see the answer keys)

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