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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. The poems "God Just Came Near", "The Sun Never Says", and "The Seed Cracked Open" use imagery from ______ to describe the connection to God.

2. Hafiz deals with the issue of men listening to their worst selves in the poem "______ Deals".

3. Hafiz uses the image of the ocean's defying gravity to symbolize a life in the supreme safety of "God's ______".

4. In the poem "_____ Man" Hafiz describes the work of refining character without breaking it.

5. Hafiz grew up in simple surroundings as the son of a _______ who died when Hafiz was only a teenager.

Short Essay Questions

1. What do people think was the source of Hafiz's wisdom in relation to the words that he chose to write?

2. What does Ladinsky have to say about his interpretation of Hafiz and what he did with the translation?

3. In "I Rain," to what is Hafiz's poetry compared within the actions of nature and weather?

4. What happens to Hafiz in "I Hold the Lion's Paw," according to this translation of Hafiz?

5. What does Hafiz believe about the power of God and his power in the world of men?

6. What is the shame of which Hafiz speaks in "Why Just Ask the Donkey"?

7. What does Hafiz send with the animals in order to spy on God in "The Ear that was Sold to a Fish"?

8. What is the story which is being told in the poem, "The Difference Between," according to this translation of Hafiz?

9. What is the symbolism which is being used in "Please," according to this translation of Hafiz?

10. What does Hafiz reveal about himself in "Mismatched Newlyweds," according to this translation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hafiz brings up the idea of meditation as a way to connect with God in a more intimate way.

Part 1: Why do you think Hafiz is so interested in using meditation in his life?

Part 2: Do you think you would ever try to incorporate meditation in your life?

Part 3: How do you think your connection to God might change with the introduction of meditation?

Essay Topic 2

Hafiz uses a poem to describe the idea of burning something away which is destructive.

Part 1: Do you think that burning something away is always destructive?

Part 2: How do you feel about the idea of destroying something else?

Part 3: What do you think happens when a person burns away things in their life which do not serve them?

Essay Topic 3

Some say that Hafiz was directly connected with God and was able to speak his words as a result.

Part 1: Do you agree that Hafiz was directly connected with God?

Part 2: Why do you think that Hafiz was able to talk in such a spiritual manner in his poetry?

Part 3: Do you feel that Hafiz is imparting wisdom that is new to the world?

(see the answer keys)

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