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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. Regardless of how The Hobbit is viewed, it was intended to be what?

2. Carpenter refers to Bournemouth as being the anemic English equivalent to what?

3. When did Tolkien finish the manuscript?

4. The first book review was written by whom?

5. Living in Bournemouth had what kind of an effect on Edith?

Short Essay Questions

1. Of what did Lewis warn Tolkien?

2. What happened when the money began pouring in?

3. How is Ronald like Bilbo Baggins?

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

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

6. Describe one of the great mysteries about The Hobbit.

7. How did the money Tolkien made from this book affect him?

8. How did Edith die?

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

10. Is this deal a good idea for Tolkien? Why or why not?

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

Tolkien and Edith have four children.

Part 1) Who are their children? How does the birth of these children affect the Tolkiens and their relationship with each other? How influential are the Tolkiens in the children's lives?

Part 2) How important do these children become in Tolkien's life? Why? How important are these children to Tolkien's work? Why?

Part 3) How influential are your parents in your own life? How do you also influence and change them? How does this compare to the Tolkien family?

Essay Topic 3

By and large, Edith was unhappy when Ronald was immersed in his work at Oxford.

Part 1) Why does this unhappiness occur? How does Edith deal with this unhappiness? What does this reveal about her?

Part 2) How does her early life with Ronald compare to her life throughout their marriage? What role does Ronald play in her unhappiness? Is he entirely to blame? Why or why not?

Part 3) Should they have married? Why or why not? Would they have still married if they had known their marriage would be as it was? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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