The Arabian Nights

1. Identify the MAJOR CONFLICT of the play. This is between two characters or a character and a group of characters or force.

The major conflict of this play is between Sheherazade and the bitter King Shahrvar

2. Identify what these characters REPRESENT.

Sheherazade represents patience and understanding. The King represents anger and confusion

3. Identify the TURNING POINT of the major conflict. This is the point of no return. At this point in the story the protagonist and the antagonist are destined to reach the climax of the story.

The turning point that brought major conflict was when the King told Vizeir to bring him his daughters, Sheherazade and Dinarzade, to be made into his next wives. At this point in the story Sheherazade has no choice other than to tame the King’s spirit or die.

4. Identify the CLIMAX of the major conflict. This is the height of the conflict. There is no where else for it to go and it breaks open, explodes, or dies. Be as specific as possible. Write the scene number and describe the specific moment.
The climax was on the 1001 night when Sheherazade tells the King she has run out of stories and must be executed. Instead the King realizes he stopped wanting to kill Sheherazade a long time ago. With the final story Sheherazade tells the King she has freed him of his anger and freed herself of the threat of death.

5. Identify the RESOLUTION of the conflict. The conflict comes to a conclusion. Be as specific as possible. Write the scene number and describe the specific moment.

The resolution of The Arabian Nights could be where the King realizes how lonely and sad Vizeir must be waiting to hear news of his daughter’s death, with no hope of seeing her alive again.

6. Identify the FINAL ACTIONS of the two figures involved in the major conflict. Then explain its significance.

The King: The King is moved with remorse for his actions and no longer desires to kill his wife. He again found a set or morals and faith. This leads him to want to return Sheherazade and her sister to their father. When she declines the offer to leave and tells the kind she has his children he is overcome with love and joy.

Sheherazade: Sheherazade is offered her freedom and instead reveals she has mothered the King’s children and has grown to love him. She chooses to stay and be the King’s wife.

7. Identify each of the characters' (in the major conflict) over all OBJECTIVES. This is a want that drives them all the way through the play. Keep this active and playable for an actor. Think of action verbs.
Sheherazade wants to bring understanding. The King wants a life where understanding is not necessary.

8. Identify the SUBJECT of the play. Force yourself to one word.

The subject of The Arabian Nights is learning.

9. Identify the IDEA of the play.

The idea of The Arabian Nights for me was that through examples and an open mind you can find peace and come to terms with circumstances in your life that may make you feel like you have lost all control.

10. Write a short paragraph, 75 to 100 words that describes what the play is ABOUT to you and what it conveys. This is your interpretation of the over all meaning of the play FOR YOU.

For me The Arabian Nights showed the King, a person who had dealt with extreme loss, guilt, and betrayal. The King’s could not find peace and could not handle his emotions and began externalizing his problems by not letting there be a chance for him to be hurt again. This caused him to bury himself in grief and misery. Sheherazade comes into the story as an understanding girl. She sees the lesson in all stories and fully accepts marriage to the King as her story. This conveys two strong messages to me. One, that no matter how hard life is, or how overwhelming a situation might be we can rebuild ourselves to be a good person again and learn from the mistakes of life instead of creating a end all solution. The King did this by learning from Sheherazade’s stories and taking the lessons to heart. The other would be that no matter what life wants of us, and whatever situation we are put in to find the good in it. Sheherazade shows so excellently that given her hopeless looking situation she decided to not be fearful and instead use her opportunity to save her people and her King.