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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3, Allen & Unwin.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What book inspired a schoolboy to write to Tolkien, prompting his response in Letter #114?
(a) The Hobbit.
(b) Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.
(c) The Silmarillion.
(d) The Lord of the Rings.

2. In describing the power of the pen, what aspect of fiction writing does Tolkien refer to when explaining his own writing process and the way he invents characters?
(a) The extensive reading of other fiction done before writing.
(b) The predictability of it.
(c) The unpredictability of it.
(d) The extensive research done before writing.

3. During the time these letters are written, what term do the British typically use to label Americans?
(a) Yanks.
(b) Westerners.
(c) Colonists.
(d) City folk.

4. How many improvements does Tolkien indicate he has made to the manuscript for Farmer Giles of Ham?
(a) Only a few.
(b) Too many to count.
(c) Numerous.
(d) None.

5. How long is Tolkien separated from Edith, making his affection for her grow stronger?
(a) Four years.
(b) One year.
(c) Three years.
(d) Two years.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Tolkien describe the domestic problems he is having in a letter before he moves to a small house?

2. What German word meaning "essential" does Tolkien refer to in Letter #6, stating that it is actually viewed as an English word?

3. What two factors contribute to the main part of Letter #66 to Christopher?

4. In general, why do Tolkien and C.S. Lewis meet several times?

5. How often does Tolkien write to Edith during the time they are separated?

(see the answer key)

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