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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what year does Tolkien become disturbed by the length of time to publish The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Silmarillion?
(a) 1948.
(b) 1951.
(c) 1949.
(d) 1950.

2. How does Tolkien describe the domestic problems he is having in a letter before he moves to a small house?
(a) Inexcusable.
(b) Intolerable.
(c) Unexpected.
(d) Unpredictable.

3. What is the result of a friendship between the Elves and the Dwarves, as Tolkien explains in Letter #131?
(a) A decline of the arts.
(b) An improvement in the arts.
(c) An improvement in education.
(d) A decline of education.

4. Who is the initial publisher for Tolkien's books when "Publisher Drama" begins?
(a) Collins.
(b) Humphrey.
(c) Allen.
(d) Unwin.

5. Based on the information in the Introduction, how many chapters does the book have?
(a) Five.
(b) Ten.
(c) None.
(d) Fifteen.

6. According to the information provided in Letter #69, how often does Tolkien write to Christopher?
(a) Rarely.
(b) It is not clear.
(c) Occasionally.
(d) Frequently.

7. What is causing the culture of the Elves to suffer?
(a) The limited education.
(b) The psychological effects of their immortality.
(c) The abundance of different cultures.
(d) The lack of resources.

8. In what year are the earliest letters in the book written?
(a) 1914.
(b) 1912.
(c) 1918.
(d) 1916.

9. By what year does Tolkien insist that his books be published with his new publisher?
(a) 1952.
(b) 1951.
(c) 1950.
(d) 1953.

10. 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 predictability of it.
(b) The extensive research done before writing.
(c) The extensive reading of other fiction done before writing.
(d) The unpredictability of it.

11. How many times do the Elves and the Dwarves share an enduring friendship throughout their history?
(a) Three times.
(b) Four times.
(c) Twice.
(d) Once.

12. In general, why do Tolkien and C.S. Lewis meet several times?
(a) To edit each other's manuscripts.
(b) To give each other literary criticism.
(c) To play games.
(d) To discuss sports and politics.

13. In Letter, #6, to what college subject does Tolkien refer?
(a) History.
(b) Astronomy.
(c) Middle English.
(d) English Literature.

14. How many other men are traveling with Tolkien during his conversation about accents?
(a) Three.
(b) Two.
(c) Five.
(d) Four.

15. How old is J.R.R. Tolkien in the first letter?
(a) Twenty-one.
(b) Twenty-four.
(c) Eighteen.
(d) Twenty-three.

Short Answer Questions

1. What words does Tolkien use to replace "Elves"?

2. When does the history of the Elves begin?

3. What book inspired a schoolboy to write to Tolkien, prompting his response in Letter #114?

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

5. What does Tolkien focus on when his books make less than anticipated progress with publishers?

(see the answer keys)

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