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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In 1972, Tolkien was awarded what?
(a) An honorary Doctorate of Letters.
(b) An honorary Doctorate of the Arts.
(c) An honorary Doctorate in Medicine.
(d) An honorary Doctorate of Music.

2. People began to call when?
(a) When he was in meetings.
(b) At all hours of the day and night.
(c) At night.
(d) In the morning.

3. The review praised the work which was what?
(a) A blessing.
(b) A disaster.
(c) A nuisance.
(d) A mixed blessing.

4. How did Stanley Unwin surprise Tolkien?
(a) By showing no interest in publishing his books.
(b) By showing interest only in publishing one book.
(c) By not responding to his messages.
(d) By showing interest in accepting both of the books.

5. Christopher recovered from his ailment, returned to school and eventually did what?
(a) Went to Oxford.
(b) Went to Harvard.
(c) Went to Trinity College.
(d) Went to Cambridge.

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

7. What is one of the great mysteries about THE HOBBIT?
(a) No one knows where Tolkien's ideas came from.
(b) No one is quite sure when the book was started.
(c) No one is quite sure if the story was ever completed.
(d) No one knows who actually wrote it.

8. How does Tolkien feel about his fame?
(a) It greatly puzzles him.
(b) It embarrasses him.
(c) It worries him.
(d) He enjoys it.

9. What did this infection do to Tolkien?
(a) It killed him.
(b) It severely injured him.
(c) It paralyzed him.
(d) It left him brain damaged.

10. What happened when Tolkien's fans rose up against this company?
(a) The company filed bankruptcy.
(b) The infringement ended up being a blessing in disguise.
(c) The company gave all the unsold books to Tolkien.
(d) The company paid Unwin.

11. After reading through Tolkien's completed manuscripts, what did Unwin do?
(a) He chose a few of them to publish.
(b) He rejected all of them in favor of another book written as a sequel to The Hobbit.
(c) He chose most of them to be published.
(d) He threw them away.

12. Why did the maps have to be redrawn?
(a) The originals were too boring.
(b) The originals contained too many colors.
(c) The originals were too light.
(d) The originals were too sloppy.

13. Where did Priscilla remain?
(a) At school.
(b) At home.
(c) In the States.
(d) In a hospital.

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

15. This company eventually apologized to Tolkien and offered to do what?
(a) Pay him royalties on volumes sold.
(b) Pay a fine.
(c) Give him their extra copies.
(d) Collect all the books they had sold.

Short Answer Questions

1. The first book review was written by whom?

2. Why did Tolkien's relationship with Lewis deteriorate further?

3. The reviews from other critics were mixed. Were they better than Tolkien had expected?

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

5. Letters and cards from fans started pouring in by the __________ and Tolkien soon found himself completely overwhelmed.

(see the answer keys)

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