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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. For what was Tolkien known, regarding his personality?

2. Where did Tolkien work when he returned to Oxford?

3. While at Leeds Tolkien met up with Eric Valentine Gordon. How did he know Eric?

4. The first language Tolkien produced to his own satisfaction was _____________, a complex language based on the Finnish vocabulary.

5. Meanwhile Mabel and the boys would live where?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Tolkien do when he returned to Oxford?

2. What became a concern for Ronald and Edith, prior to their wedding?

3. What is odd about the Bloemfontein home?

4. How does Father Francis feel about Ronald's engagement to Edith?

5. What did members of Exeter College think of Ronald when he came in second place?

6. What did Tolkien create with Eric Valentine Gordon?

7. Why is Arthur Tolkien in South Africa?

8. What does Ronald think of Exeter College?

9. What happened in January of 1913?

10. How does Mabel feel about Bloemfontein? How does she act in regards to her feelings? Why does she act this way?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolkien and his work become overnight sensations.

Part 1) How does this occur? What events have led to this success? Was this type of success predicted earlier in his life? Explain.

Part 2) Describe the type of behavior displayed by those interested in Tolkien and his work. What does this reveal about these Tolkien fans? How does Tolkien feel about this kind of attention? How does it affect him?

Part 3) How might Tolkien's fame and life after he and his work became part of pop culture reflect the lives of celebrities today? How might this explain the struggles faced by celebrities today? How would you feel if you had been Tolkien? How might this fame have affected you?

Essay Topic 2

Tolkien was a perfectionist in many ways.

Part 1) Describe Tolkien's creative process. How does this reinforce his perfectionist tendencies? Is he a perfectionist outside of his work? Why or why not?

Part 2) How did he perfectionist behavior affect others, such as his family, friends, and publishers?

Part 3) How did his desire for perfection add challenges to the process of creating and publishing his work? How did it also benefit him in the long run? Should he have been such a perfectionist? Why or why not?

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)

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