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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What point does Tolkien make about his book, The Silmarillion, in Letter #131?
(a) It is not about humans.
(b) The themes of the book are intentionally complex.
(c) It is about humans.
(d) The themes of the book are intentionally simple.

2. How does Tolkien respond to the idea of chairing the English department?
(a) He is insulted.
(b) He is very appreciative.
(c) He does not entirely understand why he was selected.
(d) He thinks it is terrible.

3. Where does the friendship between the Elves and the Dwarves that Tolkien refers to in Letter #131 take place?
(a) The Misty Mountains.
(b) The Shire.
(c) Mordor.
(d) Fangorn Forest.

4. Who provides the main order of the letters included in the book?
(a) Humphrey Carpenter.
(b) Edith Bratt.
(c) J.R.R. Tolkien.
(d) Christopher Tolkien.

5. What is left out of the letters included in "To Unwin about The Hobbit"?
(a) Personal information.
(b) The endings of the letters.
(c) The full names of the people that the letters are addressed to.
(d) Months and dates.

6. As mentioned by Tolkien in Letter #131, when do the Hobbits first come into being?
(a) The Fourth Age.
(b) The Third Age.
(c) The First Age.
(d) The Second Age.

7. How much time has passed between Tolkien's initial idea for drawing maps and when it becomes an issue with a publisher?
(a) Eight years.
(b) Four years.
(c) A decade.
(d) Over a decade.

8. Whom does Tolkien originally ask to draw maps for the imaginary world of The Lord of the Rings?
(a) Christopher.
(b) A friend.
(c) Edith.
(d) A professional illustrator.

9. In describing the power of the pen, what aspect of fiction writing does Tolkien refer to when explaining his own writing process and the way he invents characters?
(a) The extensive reading of other fiction done before writing.
(b) The extensive research done before writing.
(c) The predictability of it.
(d) The unpredictability of it.

10. Who does Tolkien express gratitude to in Letter #6?
(a) Mrs. C.S. White.
(b) Mrs. E.M. White.
(c) Mrs. E.M. Wright.
(d) Mrs. C.S. Wright.

11. What does Tolkien focus on when his books make less than anticipated progress with publishers?
(a) Writing other books.
(b) His family.
(c) His teaching job.
(d) Writing to the publishers.

12. As stated in "The Professor," when are The Lord of the Rings books officially published?
(a) 1951.
(b) 1952.
(c) 1954.
(d) 1953.

13. As stated in the letters included in "Publisher Drama," how many times does Tolkien have the chance to use the poetic invention he makes?
(a) Four times.
(b) Three times.
(c) Twice.
(d) Once.

14. What happens to the wearer of the One Ring in Tolkien's story?
(a) They are given immortality.
(b) They are given mind powers.
(c) They are transformed into a Hobbit.
(d) They are transformed into an Elf.

15. What invention does Tolkien make when writing the poem being discussed with Unwin?
(a) A new genre.
(b) A new word.
(c) A new world.
(d) A new meter.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Tolkien consider the term "Elves"?

2. How many academic articles is Tolkien a writer for, as referred to in "The Professor"?

3. How many other men are traveling with Tolkien during his conversation about accents?

4. What two factors contribute to the main part of Letter #66 to Christopher?

5. What German word meaning "essential" does Tolkien refer to in Letter #6, stating that it is actually viewed as an English word?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 585 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample