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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the stranger seem out of place in Midaq Alley?

2. What does Abbas want to do while he's on holiday?

3. What is the first thing Ibrahim Faraj makes Hamida change?

4. What has Abbas learned while he has been away from the alley?

5. What endeavor do Dr. Booshy and Zaita share?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the character of Radwan Hussainy. How has he managed to live happily while enduring great sorrow and loss? What effect does his advice have on those who ask him for it? What do you see as Mahfouz' purpose in making Radwan Hussainy a central character in his depiction of the alley?

Essay Topic 2

Determine what the main theme of Midaq Alley is, and support your answer with evidence from the book. Where is this theme seen in the book? How is it exemplified? Who does it affect? What role does it have in the plot?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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