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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Lovers have to ________________, but they will find something of infinite value, according to the writing of Rumi.

2. Rumi asks the reader to welcome all __________ in one's life, even the ones which are negative.

3. Barks talks in his commentary about the mysterious "________" in the poem, though he defines it differently.

4. Barks writes in the commentary that Rumi was asked once why we wrote so much since he valued ___________.

5. Rumi says that he does not regret love or passion, but owners everyone's __________, according to the writing.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rumi have to say about the gamble of love and what does he urge the reader to do?

2. What do the Sufis think about love and about its ability to help people, according to the book?

3. What does Barks suggest is the identity of the 'you' in Rumi's poem, as it is not clear who this person is?

4. What happens as the result of surrendering to love, according to the writings of Rumi?

5. When Shams asks about if the drop stays still in the ocean, what does he tell Rumi to do?

6. What are the differences that Rumi says do not exist in the garden of mystic lovers?

7. What does the teacher say about speaking scripture, according to the writings of Rumi?

8. What does Rumi try to do in order to find his lover again, according to the writings of Rumi?

9. What does Barks ask a reader to do in relation to being in a state of spirituality?

10. How does Rumi describe the idea of love in the last section of these poems?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rumi compares himself to a seeker who thinks he needs to get into somewhere special, only to realize that he is actually trying to get out.

Part 1: Why do you think Rumi uses the metaphors of animals so often in his poems?

Part 2: How do you interpret the idea of knocking on a door, only to realize one needs to be let out, not let in?

Part 3: How do you think a person can begin to release themselves from the inside of their journey?

Essay Topic 2

Rumi is a man who asked a lot of questions, if the poems are to be believed as being his life retold.

Part 1: Why do you think it's important to ask a lot of questions?

Part 2: How do you think a person might learn in life if they don't ask any questions?

Part 3: Are you a person who likes to ask a lot of questions? Why do you ask a lot of questions or why don't you?

Essay Topic 3

According to Rumi, anything or anyone that is loved reflects the lover's spirituality as love brings one closer to God.

Part 1: What kinds of love do you think Rumi feels are going to best bring someone closer to God?

Part 2: How do you think love brings one closer to God and closer to spiritual fulfillment?

Part 3: Is it possible for everyone to find love and thus to find spiritual fulfillment?

(see the answer keys)

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