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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. From what did Tolkien's depression prevent him?
(a) Going out with friends.
(b) Working.
(c) Talking to Edith.
(d) Sleeping.

2. Bilbo Baggins is the son of who?
(a) Bella Turnhook.
(b) Donna Toop.
(c) Belle Tourneau.
(d) Belladonna Took.

3. In 1971, Edith was taken to the hospital with what?
(a) Headaches.
(b) A herniated disc.
(c) Cancer.
(d) An infected gall bladder.

4. Who often retired to Bournemouth?
(a) Many elderly Danish couples.
(b) Many elderly British couples.
(c) Many elderly American couples.
(d) Many elderly French couples.

5. Michael attended Trinity College, and went on to become what?
(a) A professor.
(b) A member of Parliament.
(c) An anti-aircraft gunner.
(d) A lawyer.

6. It was frustrating for the publishers to see Tolkien focused on every minute detail rather than what?
(a) Focusing on individual characters.
(b) Working on character development.
(c) Working on the book as a whole.
(d) Focusing on the plot.

7. Who was Tolkien not sure he wanted to publish his book?
(a) Allen and Unwin.
(b) Any publisher.
(c) His son, Christopher.
(d) Haughton and Miflin.

8. What other plan of Tolkien's also had to be put aside?
(a) The author's plan to have removable maps.
(b) The author's plan to create a map for each page.
(c) The author's plan to have life size maps.
(d) The author's plan for having invisible lettering on the maps.

9. As the story of THE HOBBIT moved along, some of what crept in?
(a) Tolkien's family.
(b) Tolkien's mythology.
(c) Tolkien's poetry.
(d) Tolkien's other stories.

10. How was Tolkien doing at Oxford?
(a) Well.
(b) Not well.
(c) Horribly.
(d) Fairly well.

11. What was the place Tolkien had always considered to be his true home?
(a) Oxford.
(b) Bournemouth.
(c) London.
(d) South Africa.

12. In many ways, Bilbo Baggins is who?
(a) T.S. Eliot.
(b) P.T. Barnum.
(c) J.R.R. Tolkien.
(d) C.S. Lewis.

13. What grave mistake did Stanley Unwin make?
(a) He teased Tolkien.
(b) He sent a copy of his son's letter to Tolkien
(c) He did not tell Tolkien of his son's idea.
(d) He ignored Tolkien.

14. The delay in Tolkien's next installment of books could be blamed in part on what?
(a) His ill health.
(b) The man's perfectionism.
(c) The war.
(d) His family concerns.

15. As the time drew near for the book to be published of what was Tolkien afraid?
(a) The critics' reaction.
(b) His publisher.
(c) His book.
(d) His friends.

Short Answer Questions

1. Edith was expected to have what, regarding her illness?

2. Rayner said that because Tolkien was not willing to do any editing or split the books into several volumes, Unwin should do what?

3. The war hit in what year?

4. Did Tolkien believe that the work was flawless?

5. Rayner Unwin wanted Tolkien to send THE LORD OF THE RINGS posthaste. Why was Tolkien reluctant?

(see the answer keys)

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