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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. Which of the following helped Minor become comfortable at Broadmoor?

2. Part of the difficult process of writing the dictionary included the envelope of ______ being properly applied and analyzed.

3. What addiction did Eliza have after being in touch with Minor?

4. What style of building was Broadmoor?

5. How did Minor feel about the rules being sent to him by Minor?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it important, in relation to Minor's past, that the author states that people admired Minor for his meticulous work?

2. What was revealed about Minor's character in regards to his response to Murray's letter for help on the Oxford English Dictionary?

3. In what ways could Murray be seen as a voice of reason and motivation for Minor to stay on task to the Oxford English Dictionary?

4. It is suggested that Murray's letter to Minor was a token of forgiveness. Why?

5. What does the author give as the chief purpose behind Minor's self-mutilation? Was it achieved?

6. Why could Minor more easily understand Murray's directions in comparison to others?

7. What is relevant about the fact that Minor was a fan of Huxley, particularly his idea of agnosticism?

8. Was it good that Minor began to view the asylum as his home?

9. What was miraculous about Mrs. Merrett deciding to see Minor at Broadmoor?

10. Do you think it is the author's opinion that electroshock therapy affected Minor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's use of symbolism in the text. Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Minor's and Murray's respective childhoods and what parallels the author draws between their formative years and their later exploits in life.

Essay Topic 3

Does the author associate much stigma with mental illness in the text? Give examples in your answer and explore what effects, in the author's view, mental illness might have had on the production of The Oxford English Dictionary.

(see the answer keys)

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