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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 asks when seeing the birds flying in frenzied patterns whether the one he _______ is everywhere.

2. Rumi lived most of his life in ______ Turkey which at the time was a great meeting place for many different cultures.

3. According to the book, the eye is for _______; the soul for joy. The head is for loving; the legs for running.

4. Rumi describes a ______ that wakes up one day to discover that he is "the entire vineyard, and the orchard too."

5. Fullness _______ the soul, while emptiness frees it, according to the writing of Rumi in the poem.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the question Shams asks Rumi, which leads Rumi to believe that Shams is a great person?

2. What happens after Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, according to the writings of Rumi?

3. What doesn't matter in the midst of an orchard in the spring, according to the writings of Rumi?

4. What does Zuleikha, an Egyptian woman in love with Joseph, do with the shirt that Joseph wears in the story?

5. What do Barks and Rumi have to say about the rhythms and the way that a person breathes in their life?

6. What does Rumi have to say about the road to Mecca when he is describing the idea that some mysteries aren't meant to be known?

7. What will happen after the traveler's legs become tired during the journey?

8. How does breathing help to calm a person, according to Barks' thoughts at the beginning of the section?

9. What is the real work of human beings, according to the writings of Rumi?

10. What are the amazing things prophets have done, according to the writings of Rumi?

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

According to Rumi, anything or anyone that is loved reflects the lover's spirituality as love brings one closer to God.

Part 1: What kinds of love do you think Rumi feels are going to best bring someone closer to God?

Part 2: How do you think love brings one closer to God and closer to spiritual fulfillment?

Part 3: Is it possible for everyone to find love and thus to find spiritual fulfillment?

Essay Topic 3

Rumi refers to God as a human being in the first section of his writing, which might seem to be a strange concept to many readers.

Part 1: Why do you think that Rumi decided that God was a human being?

Part 2: Do you agree that God should be compared to a human being, with all of their flaws and failings?

Part 3: How do you think Rumi should address the idea of God? Is there another way which would work better?

(see the answer keys)

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