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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. After the miser's death, he appeared to his son as __________.

2. On what mountain peak did the Simorgh live?

3. What did the hoopoe say that the partridge's jewels really were?

4. Why did the "indecisive bird" claim that he could not go on the journey to the Way?

5. What did the miserly bird claim to love?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did a "cowardly bird" protest going on the quest for the Simorgh?

2. Why did the hoopoe compare the finch to Moses?

3. How did the hoopoe define a lover while he was advising the birds?

4. What reason did the nightingale give for not wanting to go on the journey to find the Simorgh?

5. Describe the parrot's plumage.

6. What did Socrates say to his student about burying him?

7. What must the francolin do with his Self?

8. What was the "glance of Solomon"?

9. What was the meaning behind the story "A Pauper in Love with the King of Egypt"?

10. What was the hoopoe's response to the partridge's excuse for not wanting to go on the quest for the Simorgh?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the history of Farid Ud-Din Attar. Address several of the following: Who was he? Why was he important? What were his typical writings about? What was the relevance of the book The Conference of the Birds? What did Attar prove in writing the text? What did the text cost him? Who was Attar influenced by? Why was Attar influenced by Sufism?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the actual conference of the birds. What was the purpose of the conference? What did the birds learn about the journey that they were to go on? Why does this journey parallel one that can be seen in anyone's life?

Essay Topic 3

Attar uses the imagery of a dog many times throughout the book. Discuss the different ways that Attar uses the imagery/referencing of a dog. Are the references negative or positive? What does Attar hope to teach through the dog's usage? Find at least three examples of where Attar used the imagery/referencing of a dog and explain the usage according to the text.

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This section contains 747 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample