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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. Who is cited as experiencing a life having been accessed by the devil?
2. When is a person supposed to start climbing the secret ladder?
3. The soul must endure periods of trial, testing, and what else to reach its final state of union with God as described by St. John?
4. What can the devil sense is going on during the dark night, as written in Book II, Chapter XXIII?
5. What does the author call things that stop the human soul from seeking God?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is the author discussing in the second stanza of his poem from the prologue that is further explained in Book II, Chapter XV?
2. In Book II, Chapter XI, what does the author say the soul will want to do after it has received the love for God?
3. What does St. John say happens to the soul after it has become enkindled and starts yearning for God? What would happen if the fire were to go away?
4. How does a purifying fire of love affect the souls of humans and angels in relation to a closeness with God as described by the author?
5. In Book II, Chapter XIX, what happens on the first three steps of love on the secret ladder?
6. What does St. John explain about his poem, "Stanza of the Soul," in Book II, Chapter XXII?
7. In Book II, Chapter XII, how does the desire of God influence understanding and love on a believer passing through the dark night?
8. From where does St. John say the image of the spiritual ladder is derived?
9. In Book II, Chapter XXIII, what does the devil know about what is happening to a soul during the dark night and what does the devil do about it?
10. What does St. John say happens on the fourth step of love of the secret ladder? Why does the soul not want favor from God?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The concept of the dark night was originally expressed in St. John's poem "The Stanzas of the Soul" which he expounds upon in Dark Night of the Soul. Answer the following questions with support from the text:
1) How does "The Stanzas of the Soul" influence the way Dark Night of the Soul is written?
2) How does the imagery of the poem aid the reader in understanding Dark Night of the Soul?
3) How does the poetic imagery of the poem portray the dark night differently than the text in Dark Night of the Soul?
Essay Topic 2
The sensual, natural part of man must be put to rest for the soul to achieve unification with God's love, according to Dark Night of the Soul. Please answer the following with support from the text:
1) How does St. John compare the sensual part of a man to that of a house at rest?
2) Why is it required for a man to put the sensual part of himself to rest before being able to enter into unification with God?
3) How does the sensual part of a man make him a "prisoner"?
Essay Topic 3
The use of analogies within Dark Night of the Soul is abundant. St. John often re-describes his explanations by comparing the experience with an analogy. By using support from the text, respond with an essay to the following:
1) Name and define at least three analogies used within Dark Night of the Soul.
2) What is the author's purpose in using analogies within his writing? What does the reader gain from reading the analogies?
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This section contains 986 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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