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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. To what can the fifth step of the ladder of love be compared?
2. In Book II, Chapter XII, what does the spirit of wisdom and love also affects?
3. When is a person supposed to start climbing the secret ladder?
4. In Book II, Chapter XII, what is the will described as?
5. What is the focus of Book II, Chapter XVI?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does the author say that people who have never passed through the dark night understand spiritual freedom?
2. Why must the soul become numb to natural desires to receive God's strength and a union with God, according to Book II, Chapter XVI?
3. How does St. John of the Cross use Mary Magdalene as an example of a soul passing through the second night of darkness?
4. How can a soul reach the final step on the secret ladder? What happens on this step?
5. How is this unification achieved with God, according to Book II, Chapter XXIV?
6. What does St. John say happens to the soul after it has become enkindled and starts yearning for God? What would happen if the fire were to go away?
7. What did God do with Job during the dark night that allowed the devil access to his life, as explained by the author?
8. How can the soul experience the presence of God while in the dark night, as described by the author in Book II, Chapter XIII?
9. From where does St. John say the image of the spiritual ladder is derived?
10. What does St. John explain about his poem, "Stanza of the Soul," in Book II, Chapter XXII?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 2
The use of analogies within Dark Night of the Soul is abundant. St. John often re-describes his explanations by comparing the experience with an analogy. By using support from the text, respond with an essay to the following:
1) Name and define at least three analogies used within Dark Night of the Soul.
2) What is the author's purpose in using analogies within his writing? What does the reader gain from reading the analogies?
Essay Topic 3
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?
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This section contains 915 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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