View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Rumi describes love as many things which come to his heart, like a thousand ____________ in one grain.

2. Shams points out that what everyone is actually worshiping is ___________, rather than a higher being.

3. The poets asks for a __________ to climb into the Friend, and the response is that this item is in the person's head.

4. The poet says the he would die into _______, as clouds might disappear into the sun, according to his writings.

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. When Shams asks about if the drop stays still in the ocean, what does he tell Rumi to do?

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

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

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

10. What happened as a result of Zuleikha loving Joseph so much that he became everything to her?

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 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?

Essay Topic 3

The story of Shams and Rumi is one which plays out from one page to the next in this book, a story of friendship and the sharing of knowledge.

Part 1: Why do you think Shams and Rumi got along as well as they did?

Part 2: Why do you think Rumi still felt the need to be competitive with Shams?

Part 3: Do you think all relationships are competitive on some level? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 742 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample