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Angels:
Read every single word of the instructions at least twice, and DON’T WRITE on this.
For homework you read two selections of Medieval literature. One is from Europe and
the other is from Persia.
This assignment (both stories together) counts 40 points. Short answer and paragraph
questions (8-10 of F’s F and 8 and 9 of Thousand and One Nights) count more than
multiple choice questions.
“Federigo’s Falcon”
1. Before you begin reading, look up any of the words below that you don’t already
know and define them:
renowned, virtuous, revenue, endure, presumption, compel, oblige, deign,
console, diminish
2. Please read all the definitions at the bottom of the pages, and look up any unfamiliar
words
3. Read the definition of irony below.
4. Read pages 822-827
5. Answer questions 1-10 on your own paper.
Literary Term
The term irony is used to refer to situations or statements that turn out to be different than
we would expect.
Please answer all questions in your own words, in complete sentences, except where
the question says to list.
1. The phrase “spending far beyond his means” on p. 823 means
a.
b.
c.
d.
throwing parties he could easily afford
living cheaply on a modest income
spending way more money than he had to spend
conserving his money carefully
2. How does Federigo react to the change in his economic circumstances?
a. He blames it on Monna Giovanna.
b. He gets depressed.
c. He turns to crime.
d. He accepts it with patience.
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3. Why does Monna Giovanna hesitate to ask Federigo for the falcon?
a. She is afraid it will hurt her little boy.
b. Federigo is poor, and the falcon is his only means of support.
c. The falcon is the best falcon ever, and Federigo’s only pleasure.
d. None of the above.
e. Both b and c
4. How does Federigo feel about feeding his falcon to Monna Giovanna?
a. It breaks his heart, but he has no choice.
b. He doesn’t want to do it, but he does it anyway.
c. It doesn’t seem to bother him at all.
d. He’s glad to do it. He didn’t like the falcon anyway.
e. both a and b
5. When Federigo learns that Monna Giovanna wants the falcon for her son, Federigo
a. cries because he has killed his beloved falcon for no reason
b. throws her out of his house
c. cries because he can’t give her what she wants
d. blames fate
e. both c and d
6. Why does Monna Giovanna decide to remarry?
a. She can’t afford to live alone.
b. She wants the companionship.
c. He brothers pressure her to do it.
d. She hopes to improve her status in the community.
e. She loves Federigo and hasn’t stopped thinking about him since he fed her his
falcon.
7. Look up the word “pretense” at dictionary.com. What does Monna Giovanna do on a
false pretense? Why do you think she does it?
8. In a complete sentence or two, explain why this story is ironic.
9. “Federigo’s Falcon” is based on the concept of courtly love. Courtly love was a set of
ideas about romantic relationships that was popular in the Middle Ages, when marriages
were arranged by parents, people died young, and life was generally miserable for most
of the population. Whether courtly love was actually practiced by real people or existed
mainly in stories remains a mystery. Courtly love featured the following points:
 the lover is afflicted with a consuming passion
 the female love object is placed on a pedestal—she is portrayed as an ideal, like an
angel
 the male is excessively courteous, considerate, and heroic
 the male has to prove his love, often through a trial or series of trials, such as killing a
dragon or going on a crusade
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In a short paragraph of at least four sentences, explain how each of these points is
illustrated in “Federigo’s Falcon,” citing a specific example from the story for each
point.
10. According to the standards of medieval courtly love, Federigo’s feelings for Monna
Giovanna are standard operating procedure. What do you think of Federigo and his love
for Monna Giovanna? Write a paragraph of six to ten complete sentences in which you
analyze Federigo’s attachment for Monna Giovanna. Is it healthy? Reasonable?
Realistic? Cite at least two specific examples from the text to support your response.
From 1000 Nights in a Night
1. Before you start reading, please look up any of the words below that you don’t
already know and define them: concoct, intrigue, enthrall, relent, anecdote, invoke,
stature, menacing, blasphemous, prompt, wretch, mutiny, vanquish, requite,
cunning, adversary, indignant, submissive, jest, implore, resolute, stealth, draught,
hasten, enraptured, consummate, repellant, envious, bounteous, ominous, rash (the
adjective, not the noun), repent, lamentation
2. Look up any other words in the course of your reading that are unfamiliar to you, and
please read all definitions found at the bottom of the pages.
3. Read the definitions of the literary terms below.
4. Read pages 784-792. Refer to the definitions of the words listed above as you read.
5. Answer questions 1-13
Submit answers to questions 1-13
The theme of a story is a central idea. Themes are often universal concepts—ideas that
appeal to all people everywhere. Some examples of themes are friendship, death,
injustice, love (in all its forms), identity, and truth. Other themes reflect struggles, such
as fate v. free will and good v. evil.
A moral is a lesson that a story teaches. It differs from theme in that it has an ethical
value, whereas a theme may be morally neutral.
Simile: a comparison using “like” or “as.”
Please answer in your own words, in complete sentences, unless otherwise indicated.
1. Explain in your own words the meaning of the term “oral tradition.”
2. What story frames the stories that make up the collection called The Thousand and
One Nights?
3. The first three times the fisherman casts his net, he catches
a. an enormous fish, a large earthen vessel, and a dead donkey
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b. bones, a dead donkey, and a large earthen vessel
c. a copper bottle, a large earthen vessel, and a dead donkey
d. an enormous fish, a dead donkey, bones, and broken glass
4. Which of the choices below is a simile?
a. “he stood rooted to the ground with parched tongue”
b. “his nostrils were two inverted bowls”
c. “His legs towered like the masts of a ship”
d. “you have wrung my soul with terror”
5. Why does the fisherman call the jinee an “ungrateful wretch”?
6. How does the fisherman get the jinnee back into the bottle?
a. by trickery
b. by stealth
c. by force
d. none of the above—he bribes him
7. As it is used in the second paragraph of “The Tale of King Yunan and Duban the
Doctor,” vain most likely means
a. proud
b. effective
c. honest
d. useless
8. King Sinbad acts rashly twice, showing he the sort of person who never learns from
his mistakes. Besides killing the bird that saves his life, what other thoughtless thing
does he do?
9. The term irony is used to refer to situations or statements that turn out to be different
than we would expect. For example, it is ironic when a cosmetologist has bad hair. Or, if
your boyfriend tells you your dress is the ugliest thing he ever saw, and you say
“Thanks,” you’re being ironic.
Why is the king’s execution of Dr. Duban ironic? (The best answer is not that the doctor
saved his life.)
10. Dr. Duban gets revenge on the king by
a. poisoning the pages of a book
b. poisoning his dinner
c. poisoning his polo stick
d. cursing him as he dies
11. What theme do all three stories share in common?
a. injustice
b. the corrupting force of power
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c. the transitory nature of friendship
d. intellect is stronger than force
12. Which of the following morals do we see in the stories from The Thousand and One
Nights?
I. Women must be submissive to men.
II. No good deed goes unpunished
III. Kill falcons, not humans.
IV. Show mercy to others that they might show it to you.
a.
b.
c.
d.
I and II
II and III
IV only
I and IV
13. From reading these stories, we can infer (assume) that the Persians valued
a. kings
b. wealth
c. cleverness
d. physical strength