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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. Without Edith, Ronald focused his entire life around what?

2. Tolkien replied that he felt the club they had created had come to an end. What is Smith's reply?

3. What was Ronald's group of friends and fellow students unofficially named?

4. Whose words inspired Tolkien to write his great epic work?

5. Carpenter is expected, but is greeted with some puzzlement. Why?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens during the summer of 1914?

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

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

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

6. Why is Ronald allowed to contact Edith? What did Ronald learn about Edith?

7. What did Tolkien create with Eric Valentine Gordon?

8. How do both Mabel and Arthur feel about returning to England?

9. How does the Tolkien family end up in Leeds?

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

After Edith's death, Tolkien moves back to Oxford.

Part 1) Describe the Tolkien's lives prior to Edith's death. How had it changed from earlier in their marriage? How did this change occur?

Part 2) Why does Tolkien decide to move back to Oxford after Edith's death? How has her death affected him? How does this effect compare to the effects made by his close friends who had passed away?

Part 2) Describe Tolkien's life after Edith's death. How does this part of his life compare to the rest of his life?

Part 3) How would you like to spend the last days of your life? Where would you like to spend this time? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Ronald graduates from Oxford University.

Part 1) How does he prepare for attending Oxford? Who aids him in this preparation? How is his success at Oxford foreshadowed?

Part 2) How does his time at Oxford improve and nurture his writing and love for language and learning? How does he, in turn, benefit Oxford?

Part 3) How important does his life at Oxford become at various points throughout his life?

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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