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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. Life itself, rather than religion is described by Hafiz as the way to finding God in the poem "The _____ of Existence".

2. One of the major themes of the poems in the seventh chapter is discerning _____ from counterfeit.

3. The poem "So Many _____" is used by Hafiz to represent all the blessings of God that go unclaimed.

4. The poem "A Hunting Party" makes the suggestion that the search for spiritual nourishment should take place ______.

5. Hafiz describes the situation of an insect and uses it to teach about compassion towards the weak in the poem "Courteous to the _____".

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the main metaphor which is being used when Hafiz writes, "Looking for a Good Fish"?

2. What is the overall expression found in "A Strange Feather, " according to this translation of Hafiz?

3. Why were Hafiz's poems destroyed by the fundamentalist Islamic leadership?

4. What is the imagery that Hafiz uses in the poem, "Someone Untied Your Camel"?

5. What does Hafiz encourage the reader to do in "Don't Die Again" according to this translation of Hafiz?

6. In "God's Bucket," what does the symbolism of the roaring ocean seem to say, according to this translation of Hafiz?

7. What is the purpose of Hafiz's desire to speak the universal truths in his poems, according to the translator?

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

9. What is the request Hafiz makes of believers in the poem, "Out of This Mess"?

10. What is the message Hafiz tries to tell the reader in "Really Just a Tambourine," according to this translation of Hafiz?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hafiz talks about how it's a mistake to think that humans know of anything after death.

Part 1: Why do you think that death is still the greatest mystery of man?

Part 2: What happens when a person focuses too much on the idea of death?

Part 3: Do you think about the idea of death often?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Hafiz talks about his rejoicing causes him to be overwhelmed by God in his life, bursting with energy.

Part 1: What do you think Hafiz means by his rejoicing making him fall out of the windows of his teacher's house?

Part 2: Do you think that spiritual ecstasy is normal or to be expected?

Part 3: Why do you think Hafiz is so overwhelmed by the teachings of his teacher?

(see the answer keys)

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