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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Barks points out that Shams believed that Rumi wrote in _________ ways when he wrote to teach others.
(a) Two.
(b) Three.
(c) Ten.
(d) Four.

2. Barks compares humans talking about God to fish talking about the _________, in his commentary.
(a) Sea.
(b) Air.
(c) Bible.
(d) Sun.

3. Rumi speaks in the poem mentioned in #157 about a _________ bringing him back to this lost connection.
(a) Storm.
(b) Cloud.
(c) Fragrance.
(d) Book.

4. Rumi describes love as many things which come to his heart, like a thousand ____________ in one grain.
(a) Pieces.
(b) Ideas.
(c) Wheat plants.
(d) Truths.

5. Barks points out the use of the word "_______" in one of the poems to be intended for the end of a vigil.
(a) You.
(b) This.
(c) She.
(d) That.

Short Answer Questions

1. The poet has to ask Shams and _________ to help him, since he is partly within himself and partly outside of himself.

2. The spiritual journey discussed by Shams and Rumi is one in which one needs to break down the self to find the basic roots of _________ in humanity.

3. When asked how long he would remain in pain, Rumi answered that he was a _________ and his friend was the whole night.

4. The poet asks the reader to give everything, not to dull the drum's noise with a __________.

5. The __________ of the world around Rumi will become his clothes and his jewels, according to the teachings of Rumi's teacher.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Barks suggest is the identity of the 'you' in Rumi's poem, as it is not clear who this person is?

2. What happens as the result of the spiritual journey that Shams and Rumi discuss?

3. What does the teacher say about speaking scripture, according to the writings of Rumi?

4. What does Rumi try to do in order to find his lover again, according to the writings of Rumi?

5. What are the differences that Rumi says do not exist in the garden of mystic lovers?

6. What are some of the things Rumi says are a part of a friend of all things?

7. How does Rumi describe the person named David in his writings and poems?

8. What happens as the result of surrendering to love, according to the writings of Rumi?

9. How does Rumi describe the idea of love in the last section of these poems?

10. What does Rumi think that cow might experience when they are in Baghdad?

(see the answer keys)

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