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

2. Rumi decided to answer that he wrote so much because no ________ came from the radiance inside of him.

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

4. Rumi stops his list of things which he uses to describe a friend within his poem in order to ______________.

5. The ________ speaking scripture brings the dead students of scripture to life, according to Rumi.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the differences that Rumi says do not exist in the garden of mystic lovers?

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

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

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

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

6. What does Rumi tell the reader to do in order to start their own spiritual journey, like Moses or Joseph did?

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

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

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

10. What is essential in the windows of one heart to another, according to the writings of Rumi?

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

Rumi tells the reader they must work as hard in the spiritual world as they do in the material world.

Part 1: Why do you think Rumi feels the spiritual world is so important in the life of the reader?

Part 2: How can one work as hard in the spiritual world as they do in the physical world?

Part 3: Do you think that you are working as hard in the spiritual world as you do in the material world?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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