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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 writes in the commentary that Rumi was asked once why we wrote so much since he valued ___________.
(a) Music.
(b) Dance.
(c) Truth.
(d) Silence.

2. Rumi also believes that a reader should _________, even if they don't mean it at first.
(a) Pray.
(b) Sing.
(c) Talk.
(d) Discuss.

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

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

5. Rumi stops his list of things which he uses to describe a friend within his poem in order to ______________.
(a) Sing.
(b) Dance his dance.
(c) Pray.
(d) Keep a bird from flying away.

Short Answer Questions

1. The poet describes himself as being someone who wants little and who needs only a _____________.

2. Rumi asks the reader to accept _________, as everything comes from a higher place, according to his writing.

3. The robe of the teacher creates _________, according to Rumi, and the teacher also creates new life.

4. Rumi became joyous, and then died, and then became a fool, according to his writing, and then became scattered _________.

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. Why does the poet say that it is not necessary to grieve, according to the writings of Rumi?

2. What does Barks ask a reader to do in relation to being in a state of spirituality?

3. Why does the poet ask Shams and the Sun to help him in his poems, according to the writings of Rumi?

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

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

6. What do the Sufis think about love and about its ability to help people, according to the book?

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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