View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the spring of 1904 Mabel is diagnosed with what?

2. Eventually the group changed its name to the "Barrovian Society" but often referred to it as what?

3. Some of the pressure was relieved when Ronald received a scholarship titled the "Open Classical Exhibition" to where?

4. In 1917, Edith gave birth to a baby boy, John Francis Reuel; the name Francis as a tribute to whom?

5. Much to Ronald's delight his childhood club survived graduation from King Edward's and continued its activities including what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Mabel worried about providing for her children?

2. How did Edith feel when Ronald was called back to duty?

3. What happens during the summer of 1914?

4. What are the first two languages Tolkien creates? Describe them.

5. What does Ronald do without Edith in his life?

6. What is odd about the Bloemfontein home?

7. Why did Edith live away from Ronald for a period of time?

8. What happens when Mabel and the boys return to England for a visit?

9. Why is Arthur Tolkien in South Africa?

10. When does Mabel arrive in South Africa? What takes place at the time of their wedding?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolkien has a few close friends.

Part 1) Who does he consider to be his close friends? What does he have in common with these individuals?

Part 2) How do these friends influence his life and work? When these friends are lost, for example, due to death, how is Tolkien affected? What does this reveal about him?

Part 3) Who are your close friends? How do they influence you? How do you support one another in various aspects of your life? How might your life change if those friends were no longer in your life?

Essay Topic 2

A myriad of photographs were taken of and by the Tolkien family.

Part 1) What does the author say about these photographs? Why are these photographs useful to the writing of this book?

Part 2) What do the photographs reveal about the Tolkien family life and interests? How does their family life compare to your own?

Part 3) What do these photographs reveal about Tolkien himself? How does this reveal about the connection between Tolkien and the characters he creates, as well as the stories he tells?

Essay Topic 3

World War II changes Tolkien's life?

Part 1) How does World War II change Tolkien's life? How do these changes compare to those that took place during and after World War I?

Part 2) How might similar changes have taken place all over Great Britain and elsewhere in the world? How might the affects of war influenced Tolkien in the writing of his books?

Part 3) How has war changed your own life? How might war influence your own creative ventures?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 892 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample