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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. What was the first word of Minor's to be pasted onto a page for the printers?

2. Who was the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary in 1915?

3. How long did it take Murray to travel to see Minor?

4. Why did many people write from abroad regarding Minor?

5. Who created the fictitious meeting of Murray and Minor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect did Murray and his workers' reliance on Minor's letters and help have on Minor?

2. What does Murray's Scriptorium represent to present day scholars of the English language?

3. Describe how Minor may have felt when he entered the property at the Broadmoor Asylum.

4. What is controversial about the story of the meeting of Minor and Murray?

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

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

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

8. Explain the significance of Minor's submissions evolving from one slip of paper to large paper bags arriving in Murray's office.

9. What was one of the greatest mistakes Murray made upon arriving at Broadmoor and speaking to the superintendent?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Explore the ways in which religious faith plays an important role in the production of The Oxford English Dictionary, with particular reference to Charles Minor and James Murray.

Essay Topic 3

"The English-speaking world is better off for the death of Charles Merrett." How could this statement be considered to be true? Do you think the author agrees? Why or why not?

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This section contains 834 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample