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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After Edith died, what did Tolkien do to keep busy?
(a) He wrote long letters.
(b) He took up new hobbies.
(c) He worked hard.
(d) He played with his grandchildren.

2. Why was there a considerable problem with an American company?
(a) It refused to reprint the saga.
(b) It reprinted the saga incorrectly.
(c) It refused to pay royaltiesto Tolkien.
(d) It reprinted the saga without permission.

3. Why was the publication of THE HOBBIT quite a learning experience for Tolkien?
(a) He had never had anyone read his work before.
(b) He had never had anything published before.
(c) He had no idea of the processes involved with producing a book.
(d) He had never written before.

4. Carpenter refers to Bournemouth as being the anemic English equivalent to what?
(a) The French Riviera.
(b) Miami Beach.
(c) Paris.
(d) New York City.

5. Who looked after Tolkien after his return to Oxford?
(a) His in-laws.
(b) A scout and his wife.
(c) A friend.
(d) His children.

6. The war made things difficult for everyone in Europe and the Tolkiens often took in lodgers and also raised hens for what reason?
(a) To combat the shortage of eggs.
(b) They liked to eat a lot of eggs.
(c) They enjoyed living in the country.
(d) They were asked to protect the hens from enemy fire.

7. How old was Tolkien by the time THE LORD OF THE RINGS was completed?
(a) Almost 40 years old.
(b) Almost 60 years old.
(c) Almost 70 years old.
(d) Almost 50 years old.

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

9. What did Tolkien and Stanley Unwin think of each other?
(a) They were very similar.
(b) The other was quite strange.
(c) The other was rude.
(d) The other was insane.

10. Several years of delays and mishaps occurred until in ________ when Tolkien gave up on Collins and went back to Allen and Unwin.
(a) 1962.
(b) 1942.
(c) 1972.
(d) 1952.

11. John moved to Rome to do what?
(a) Study art.
(b) Study for the Catholic priesthood.
(c) Meet the Pope.
(d) Marry his fiancee.

12. The war hit in what year?
(a) 1935.
(b) 1941.
(c) 1933.
(d) 1939.

13. Why was Bournemouth a strange choice for holidays?
(a) It is a very hot and humid location.
(b) Tolkien was not fond of Bournemouth.
(c) Edith was not fond of Bournemouth.
(d) Tolkien had never been there.

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

15. In writing THE LORD OF THE RINGS Tolkien became frustrated and did not know what?
(a) How to include hobbits into the story.
(b) Where to get rid of Frodo.
(c) How to begin the story.
(d) Where to end the story.

Short Answer Questions

1. The delay in Tolkien's next installment of books could be blamed in part on what?

2. In 1952, Rayner Unwin proposed a new deal to Tolkien for THE LORD OF THE RINGS. What was this deal?

3. Why was Tolkien angry with his publishers?

4. When C.S. Lewis died in 1963, how did Tolkien feel?

5. Why did Tolkien leave Bournemouth?

(see the answer keys)

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