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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. Rumi states, in "The Prophets" no one knows if the _______ will sink or reach the harbor.

2. According to the book, the eye is for _______; the soul for joy. The head is for loving; the legs for running.

3. Rumi realizes that in all of his searching, he has actually been waiting to be _________ as opposed to brought inside.

4. Every day, Rumi says, people wake up with _________, but they need to continue to walk their spiritual path.

5. The ________ breath brings a presence, through the head to the heart, with a mantra, "God alone is real."

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Zuleikha, an Egyptian woman in love with Joseph, do with the shirt that Joseph wears in the story?

2. What does Barks have to say about Rumi as being a True Human Being? What does Barks say this means?

3. What is the real work of human beings, according to the writings of Rumi?

4. Describe the metaphor Rumi uses when it comes to the black sky and the moon.

5. What happens to the reed when it is cut, according to the writings of Rumi?

6. What does Rumi say has happened since he has been knocking on a door?

7. What is the question Shams asks Rumi, which leads Rumi to believe that Shams is a great person?

8. Where do human beings sit, according to the writings of Rumi, when they are in a prison?

9. What are the amazing things prophets have done, according to the writings of Rumi?

10. What will happen to a person's present life when they are going on a spiritual journey, according to the writings of Rumi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rumi often gives the reader warnings about paying attention to the world around them, lest they miss something more important or beautiful.

Part 1: Do you think you are able to focus on the things which are important in your own life?

Part 2: Why do you think Rumi wants the reader to focus on everything around them?

Part 3: How do you look at the world? Do you focus on tiny details or can you focus on the big picture?

Essay Topic 2

Rumi refers to God as a human being in the first section of his writing, which might seem to be a strange concept to many readers.

Part 1: Why do you think that Rumi decided that God was a human being?

Part 2: Do you agree that God should be compared to a human being, with all of their flaws and failings?

Part 3: How do you think Rumi should address the idea of God? Is there another way which would work better?

Essay Topic 3

Rumi compares himself to a seeker who thinks he needs to get into somewhere special, only to realize that he is actually trying to get out.

Part 1: Why do you think Rumi uses the metaphors of animals so often in his poems?

Part 2: How do you interpret the idea of knocking on a door, only to realize one needs to be let out, not let in?

Part 3: How do you think a person can begin to release themselves from the inside of their journey?

(see the answer keys)

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