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 do Hussain Kirsha's modern friends have that he envies?

2. Why do the residents of the alley think they've been suffering during the war?

3. Why does Hamida envy Jewish girls?

4. What does Radwan Hussainy pray for when he learns of Mrs. Kirsha's trouble?

5. Why do patients accept Dr. Booshy's painful cures?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the difference between the way Abbas feels about Midaq Alley and the way Hussain Kirsha feels?

2. What does Hamida hope when the handsome stranger first talks to her - a hope that is the exact opposite of what she says?

3. Why does Radwan Hussainy tell Salim Alwan that he is better off with his sickness than others are with their health?

4. Why does Kirsha come to Radwan Hussainy's home?

5. When Kirsha's wife comes to the cafe to assail him with his wrongdoing, he blames himself. Why does he think he deserves her wrath?

6. Why does Dr. Booshy dislike Mrs. Afify?

7. Why does the news about Dr. Booshy and Zaita being caught robbing graves affect Mrs. Afify?

8. What does Ibrahim Faraj tell Hamida that marriage leads to?

9. Why does Mrs. Kirsha go to Radwan Hussainy to complain of her husband's behavior?

10. Why do Abbas' words of love have an effect on Hamida although she does not care for him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Radwan Hussainy says that evil is a form of weakness or illness, causing people to be unable to recognize the good that is around them. Consider the problem of evil in this story. Is Zaita evil? Is Ibrahim Faraj? Is Hamida? Decide upon your own definition of evil, and analyze at least two characters in light of your definition, using evidence from the text. Then determine whether you agree with Radwan Hussainy's definition.

Essay Topic 2

The story ends as it began, with a description of the alley. Do you think that Mahfouz would agree with the statement, "The more things change, the more they remain the same?" Or would he agree with Sheikh Darwish's statement, "There's never a heart that doesn't change?" In your essay, take one side or the other and defend your position with facts from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Mrs. Afify is superstitious. Describe her superstitions and the role they play in the plot.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 716 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample