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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. There were many requests for Tolkien to be a professor __________.

2. Tolkien said Unwin looked a lot like who?

3. What was taking a toll on Edith?

4. In writing THE LORD OF THE RINGS Tolkien became frustrated and did not know what?

5. What happened when Oxford finally took notice of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Tolkien feel about splitting the book into three volumes? Upon what did he insist?

2. Describe Edith regaining of good spirits.

3. About what did Tolkien write to his son, Christopher?

4. Why was the story of THE HOBBIT written?

5. Is this deal a good idea for Tolkien? Why or why not?

6. How did Edith die?

7. What did Tolkien do when he became eager to cut ties with his publishers? How did they react?

8. What happened when the money began pouring in?

9. How did Tolkien feel about having Allen and Unwin publish THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Why?

10. What did Ronald do soon after Edith's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

World War I greatly affects Tolkien.

Part 1) What happens during this war to affect Tolkien and his family? How might this compare to how the war affected others throughout the world?

Part 2) How might the events surrounding World War I have influenced Tolkien's work? Explain. How might the war have affected other aspects of life during this time? How might these changes in everyday life have had an influence on Tolkien's work?

Part 3) How has this war affected us today? How different would our world be if World War I had never occurred?

Essay Topic 2

Tolkien was desperate to have THE SILMARRILION published.

Part 1) What is THE SILMARRILION? Why was he so desperate to have it published? Why does this desperation reinforce in Tolkien's character? What does it also reveal?

Part 2) What did others think about this work? Why did they feel this way?

Part 3) What in your own life is important? Why is it important? What does this reveal about you?

Essay Topic 3

By and large, Edith was unhappy when Ronald was immersed in his work at Oxford.

Part 1) Why does this unhappiness occur? How does Edith deal with this unhappiness? What does this reveal about her?

Part 2) How does her early life with Ronald compare to her life throughout their marriage? What role does Ronald play in her unhappiness? Is he entirely to blame? Why or why not?

Part 3) Should they have married? Why or why not? Would they have still married if they had known their marriage would be as it was? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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