View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where was the Shebli found when no one in Baghdad could guess where he was?

2. Whom did the hoopoe say the peacock had to crush?

3. According to the story "A Sinner Enters Heaven, who is the only one that can show the end of Wisdom?

4. Whose head did Abraham try to cut off?

5. What is the real reason that the nightingale said he could not go on the journey to find the Simorgh?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the birds ask the hoopoe about regarding the Way?

2. What happened in China in regard to the Simorgh?

3. What was the problem with love according to the hoopoe?

4. What must the francolin do with his Self?

5. Why could the dervish and the princess not be together?

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

7. Describe the parrot's plumage.

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 happened between Nimrod and the mosquitoes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the stories detailed the different ways to deal with the Self. Choose three of the stories that dealt with the conquering of the Self and analyze the usefulness of the story in overcoming the negative influence that the Self had over the possessor.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Attar's writing also used hyperbolic language. The problem with Attar's use of the hyperbole is that it is meant to be used to indicate depth. Find three examples of hyperboles from the text and discuss the meaning that Attar meant in regard to using it.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 692 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample