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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. In a poem in Chapter 2, Book 2, what does the king discover about himself after the girl he loves receives medical attention?

2. Rumi advises people to accept help from holy scriptures and then:

3. Which of the following is NOT a title of one of Rumi's works?

4. While acknowledging that scriptures can be good, Rumi also notes that too many people:

5. Who is Kharraqani?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Sheik, what is Rumi's ruling philosophy?

2. How does Rumi use his story of a poor man who is healed to explain the nature of God?

3. What is the primary moral of the "Town and Country" story?

4. Explain what the Mathnawi is.

5. In the story where the king is in love with a girl, what ailment has afflicted her?

6. In one of Rumi's stories, how does a wise man end up helping a poor man by showing "tough love?"

7. What does King Solomon want from the Queen of Sheba?

8. In the story where a king falls in love with a girl, and the girl becomes ill, what does the king learn about himself after a doctor arrives on the scene?

9. According to Rumi, what limitations does one individual experience when trying to comprehend what another person is feeling?

10. What is the outcome for each of three fish in one of Rumi's poems?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ayaz is a character that appears repeatedly throughout many of Rumi's poems. How does Ayaz evolve through Rumi's writings? In what ways is Ayaz similar to Rumi? To Rumi's friends? How does Rumi use Ayaz to explain to the reader some of his own life experiences?

Essay Topic 2

Using Rumi's poems to support your analysis, explain the poet's ideas regarding the following:

1. Tough love.

2. Making sacrifices.

3. Learning a lesson even when it's too late.

Essay Topic 3

Who was Rumi? Who was Coleman Barks? Why do Rumi's poems resonate so well with Barks? Draw parallels between the 13th-century mystic poet and the contemporary scholar translating his poems.

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