51 pages 1 hour read

Elif Shafak

The Forty Rules of Love

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Part 2

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2: “Water, The Things That Are Fluid, Changing, And Unpredictable”

Part 2, Chapter 1 Summary: “Rumi, Konya, October 15, 1244”

Rumi awakes from the dream he always has—the same one that matches Shams’s visions. He is comforted by his wife, Kerra, before he decides to take a walk to clear his mind. He thinks about his two grown sons and adopted daughter and notes that in spite of this, he feels a void deep inside.

Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary: “Shams, Konya, October 17, 1244”

Shams arrives on the outskirts of Konya, where he meets a cattle driver. The two have a conversation about Rumi and the cattle driver explains how Rumi’s sermons bring joy to his life after hardship. He invites Shams to go to one of Rumi’s sermons but Shams decides that he wants to explore the city before he sees Rumi.

Part 2, Chapter 3 Summary: “Hasan the Beggar, Konya, October 17, 1244”

Hasan relays the intricacies of life as a leper—the constant pain and disintegrating body as well as the culture of begging. He discusses how alms are given so that he might pray for other people, especially during Ramadan. On this particular day, Hasan intends to attend a sermon by Rumi but quickly finds himself disillusioned by the scholar; his opulent dress and speaking of suffering (when Hasan supposes Rumi has never really suffered like he has) turns Hasan off and he leaves the sermon early.

Related Titles

By Elif Shafak

Study Guide

logo

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

Elif Shafak

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

Elif Shafak

Plot Summary

logo

The Architect's Apprentice

Elif Shafak

The Architect's Apprentice

Elif Shafak

Study Guide

logo

The Bastard of Istanbul

Elif Shafak

The Bastard of Istanbul

Elif Shafak

Study Guide

logo

The Island of Missing Trees

Elif Shafak

The Island of Missing Trees

Elif Shafak

Study Guide

logo

Three Daughters Of Eve

Elif Shafak

Three Daughters Of Eve

Elif Shafak