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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 also believes that a reader should _________, even if they don't mean it at first.

2. A _______ asks a man who is calling to Allah whether he has ever gotten a reply and then chastises the person for continuing to pray.

3. __________ in the presence, at the price of one's life, is a bargain, according to one of the poems of Rumi.

4. Rumi asks the reader to make a __________, abhorring spiritual windowshoppers who are not giving fully of themselves.

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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 as the result of surrendering to love, according to the writings of Rumi?

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

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

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

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

9. What does Rumi have to say about the gamble of love and what does he urge the reader to do?

10. What does Rumi say that he doesn't regret in his life, according to one of his poems?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rumi continues to use metaphors in the poems, helping to show the reader how they are akin to other beings and plants in the world.

Part 1: Why do you think poets rely on metaphors to help them with their messages?

Part 2: Do you think it's better to use metaphors or to speak directly to a reader?

Part 3: How do you think the metaphors affect a reader? How did the metaphors affect you as you read them?

Essay Topic 2

The new moon is used as a metaphor for patients and allowing for slowness in creation.

Part 1: Why do you think patience is so valuable when you are trying to create a stronger spiritual connection?

Part 2: Do you agree that patience is important in your life? How so?

Part 3: What do you think you could do in order to cultivate more patience in your life?

Essay Topic 3

The spirituality in these poems is apparent, even if it's not clear there is a specific dogma to which Rumi ascribes.

Part 1: Why do you think spirituality was so important to Rumi when he was writing his poems?

Part 2: Do you think that spirituality informs all writing or just poetry?

Part 3: How do you think the poems might have changed without the introduction of spirituality?

(see the answer keys)

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