Directions: Read the story, and then answer the questions that follow.
Appointment in Samarra
Adapted from the short story by W. Somerset Maugham
In a crowded marketplace in Baghdad, a young servant was admiring colorful bolts of fabric. Suddenly, a hooded female figure bumped into him. When the servant looked into the eyes of the dark figure, terror filled his heart. Quickly, he pushed his way through the crowd and fled.
Pale and trembling, the servant returned home and said, “Master, just now when I was in the marketplace, I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when I turned, I saw that it was Death! She made a threatening gesture. Quickly now, lend me your horse and I will ride away from this city and go to Samarra, where Death will not find me.”
The master was fond of the servant and agreed to lend him his swiftest steed. The servant dug his spurs in the horse’s flanks and rode as fast as the horse could gallop.
Later that afternoon, the master went down to the marketplace. He saw Death standing in the crowd. “Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning?” he asked.
“That was not a threatening gesture,” responded Death. “It was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad for I had an appointment with him tonight…in Samarra.”
71. Which of the following best summarizes the theme of the story?
a. Beware! You never know when Death will call on you!
b. You cannot escape your fate, no matter how hard you try.
c. Death comes to everyone sooner or later.
d. You can escape your problems if you just have faith.
72. What type of conflict is present in this story?
a. Person vs. Society c. Person vs. Supernatural
b. Person vs. Technology d. Person vs. Environment
73. Which of the following is not a setting in this story?
a. Samarra b. Somerset c. Baghdad d. a marketplace
74. The protagonist of the story is –
a. a merchant b. a servant c. Death d. a woman in the market
75. The point of view of “The Appointment in Samarra” is -
a. 1st person b. 2nd person c. 3rd person limited d. 3rd person omniscient
76. This story includes:
a. personification b. a surprise ending c. irony d. All of these.
77. What does the servant hope to do by going to Samarra?
a. destroy Death b. hide from Death c. start a new life d. steal from the merchant
78. The character of Death could best be described as –
a. sarcastic b. frightening c. passive d. aggressive
79. Which of the following is not a character in this story?
a. a merchant b. a servant c. Death d. the master
80. Which event from the story is an example of situational irony?
a. The master sends his servant to Baghdad for provisions.
b. Death is expecting to see the servant in Samarra.
c. The servant borrows the merchant’s horse to leave for Baghdad.
d. The master approaches Death without fear.
Character Identification
Match the character to the description from the poem. Each name may be used more than once.
A = Dædalus B = Icarus C = Minos D = Minerva E = Perdix
11. He was “Homesick for homeland.”
12. He “blocks escape by land or water.”
13. His “dominion does not include the air.”
14. “He turned his thinking Toward unknown arts.”
15. He “stuck his thumb into the yellow wax.”
16. “His cheeks were wet with tears.”
17. She protected all who had “inventive wits.”
18. He “is fearful Of all high places.”
19. “the blue sea hushed him.”
20. He was “clever, With an inventive turn of mind.”
Sequence of Events
Arrange the following events in the proper order.
21. Dædalus buried Icarus. A. 1st
22. Minerva changed Perdix into a partridge. B. 2nd
23. Dædalus hurled Perdix from the high temple of Minerva. C. 3rd
24. Icarus flew near the sun. D. 4th
25. Perdix invented the compass. E. 5th