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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book 1, The Tavern : Chapter 2, Desire & New Silk.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Coleman Barks is famous for what?
(a) Teaching a Rumi poetry class at Baylor University.
(b) Translating Rumi's work in to Russian.
(c) Translating Rumi's work in to English.
(d) Teaching a Rumi poetry class at Colorado State University.

2. In the poems where Rumi includes a frog as one of the main characters, there is a deep friendship that develops between this frog and a:
(a) Bird.
(b) Mouse.
(c) Cat.
(d) Fish.

3. After Shams went away the first time, how did he return?
(a) Rumi promised a promotion if he came back.
(b) He accompanied a group of nomads.
(c) He came back via boat.
(d) Rumi sent out searchers to bring him back.

4. When did Coleman Barks first become interested in Rumi's poetry?
(a) 1985.
(b) 1969.
(c) 1952.
(d) 1976.

5. In Rumi's string metaphor, the string connects two animals by their what?
(a) Ankles.
(b) Wrists.
(c) Necks.
(d) Ears.

Short Answer Questions

1. The poem in Book 1, Chapter 2 about a man who accidentally soils himself includes lessons on which of the following?

2. Rumi's short-story format found in some of his poems is characterized by:

3. What elevates Rumi's poems beyond a simple collection of ideas?

4. Over time, what has Coleman Barks been able to do with Rumi's poems?

5. Which readers might feel left out reading Rumi's poems?

(see the answer key)

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