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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. According to St. John, what strong desire does a new Christian experience?

2. What does the author say the devil uses against beginners who have pride?

3. What is the name of the sin that occurs when a beginner hears another being praised and wants the praise for himself?

4. In Book I, Chapter VIII, what does the first night purify?

5. During the dark night according to the author, when attachments are stripped away, a Christian might feel as if what is happening?

Short Essay Questions

1. As described in Book II, Chapter, I, can a person who has passed through the night of darkness still be afflicted with other periods of darkness? Why?

2. What are the symptoms of the sin of pride, according to St. John?

3. How must a believer react when first realizing he has entered the dark night, according to Book I, Chapter X?

4. In Book I, Chapter XI, what is the Christian's new desire upon being ignited with the spirit of love?

5. What are some of the benefits described in Book I, Chapter XIII of a soul that has been purified by the dark night?

6. What does St. John say causes the sin of wrath and how does a believer allow this to become a sin in his life?

7. How does the author compare the use of fire to the purification process a person experiences during the dark night?

8. How does a soul feel while experiencing the dark night and what happens during any period of rest in the dark night in Book II, Chapter VII?

9. In Dark Night of the Soul, what is spiritual sloth?

10. In Book II, Chapter V, what reasons are given for the dark night to be named "dark" and not "light"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The concept of the dark night was originally expressed in St. John's poem "The Stanzas of the Soul" which he expounds upon in Dark Night of the Soul. Answer the following questions with support from the text:

1) How does "The Stanzas of the Soul" influence the way Dark Night of the Soul is written?

2) How does the imagery of the poem aid the reader in understanding Dark Night of the Soul?

3) How does the poetic imagery of the poem portray the dark night differently than the text in Dark Night of the Soul?

Essay Topic 2

The length of the dark night of spirituality and how much pain a soul has to endure is different for every person. Using supporting examples, please respond with an essay to the following:

1) Why does the duration of the dark night and the amount of pain experienced by a soul vary from person to person?

2) Who has the final say in the duration and intensity of the dark night?

3) What is the fate of a soul who is chosen to have extremely intense darkness?

Essay Topic 3

The seven deadly sins recognized by the Catholic Church are said to be an evil influence in a beginning Christian's life. St. John wrote how a new believer was strongly influenced by these sins in Dark Night of the Soul. Write an essay answering the following with support:

1) What are the seven deadly sins that plague a beginning Christian's life as described by St. John?

2) How do these sins influence the way a person acts in relationship to one's faith in Christianity?

3) How are these sins overcome in a person's life?

(see the answer keys)

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