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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. Where did Priscilla remain?

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

3. Tolkien wrote to Stanley Unwin to tell him what?

4. After reading through Tolkien's completed manuscripts, what did Unwin do?

5. Christopher recovered from his ailment, returned to school and eventually did what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Tolkien feel about having Allen and Unwin publish THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Why?

2. Of what did Lewis warn Tolkien?

3. What did Tolkien do when he became eager to cut ties with his publishers? How did they react?

4. What happened when Oxford took notice of the book?

5. How did Tolkien's personality and feelings begin to change at this time? What might have caused this?

6. What did Tolkien think about writing a sequel to THE HOBBIT? Why? What was his plan for the sequel?

7. How did Tolkien feel as the time drew nearer for the book to be published?

8. What ended Tolkien's focus on the new book and his Oxford professorship?

9. What do Stanley Unwin and Ronald Tolkien think of one another?

10. Why was the publication of THE HOBBIT quite a learning experience?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolkien was desperate to have THE SILMARRILION published.

Part 1) What is THE SILMARRILION? Why was he so desperate to have it published? Why does this desperation reinforce in Tolkien's character? What does it also reveal?

Part 2) What did others think about this work? Why did they feel this way?

Part 3) What in your own life is important? Why is it important? What does this reveal about you?

Essay Topic 2

The story of THE HOBBIT is based on Tolkien's life.

Part 1) Describe THE HOBBIT. How is it based on Tolkien?

Part 2) Why does Tolkien use himself and his life when creating his work? How is Tolkien's life, personality, and character found in his other work?

Part 3) What aspects of your own life and character would you incorporate into a story? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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