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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. The poet describes _________ appearing at the footsteps of his teacher, in one of his poems in this section.
(a) Gold pieces.
(b) Books.
(c) Puddles.
(d) Flowers.

2. Rumi's poem begins by stating that this state of being is the only _______ of which he knows.
(a) Water.
(b) Peace.
(c) Truth.
(d) Death.

3. The poet describes himself as being someone who wants little and who needs only a _____________.
(a) Piece of cheese.
(b) Half a loaf of bread.
(c) Prayer.
(d) Song.

4. Rumi says to give up wanting what others hand and says that the day is a __________ day, according to his writing.
(a) Sad.
(b) Self aware.
(c) Joyous.
(d) Truthful.

5. What season does Rumi say it always is within the human soul, according to his writing?
(a) Autumn.
(b) Spring.
(c) Winter.
(d) Summer.

Short Answer Questions

1. Barks talks in his commentary about the mysterious "________" in the poem, though he defines it differently.

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

3. The poet speaks of happiness for an unknown reason, and it becomes easy to ______, though the joy is inexplicable.

4. What is the game that Rumi and Shams played, according to Barks, which brought them closer together?

5. _________ are the wandering Sufis who laugh and love at everything, but they are in turmoil inside.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the three ways in which Rumi could write, according to Shams?

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

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

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

5. What happened to his crying when the poet was brought to life, according to the writings of Rumi?

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

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

8. What does the fragrance bring back to Rumi, when he's lost a connection to a loved one, according to the poem?

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

10. What happens during the chess game between Shams and Rumi, according to Barks?

(see the answer keys)

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