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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Tolkien think drives humans towards certain behaviors?
(a) They are driven by circumstances as well as other things.
(b) They are driven by their education and culture.
(c) They are driven by the people around them.
(d) They are driven exclusively by circumstances.

2. How heroic does Tolkien think Frodo is in Letter #246?
(a) He does not think that Frodo is a hero.
(b) He thinks that Frodo is only heroic in two situations.
(c) He thinks that Frodo is mostly a hero, but not fully.
(d) He thinks that Frodo is a hero.

3. Overall, what is the length of the longest letters included in the book?
(a) Over ten pages.
(b) Over twenty pages.
(c) A few hundred words.
(d) A few thousand words.

4. How does Tolkien categorize the attempts made to change his spellings in Letter #236?
(a) Somewhat misguided.
(b) Largely misguided.
(c) Intentionally offensive.
(d) Unintentionally offensive.

5. What year does Tolkien write a long letter to Jane Neave that is included in "Later Years"?
(a) 1961.
(b) 1960.
(c) 1962.
(d) 1963.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which new names are among the recipients of the 1960s letters included in "Later Years"?

2. In what year does Tolkien write about a piece of fan mail that boosts his spirits in "The Final Letters"?

3. Which two characters have a dynamic that Tolkien thinks has a great effect on the events in The Lord of Rings?

4. Why does Tolkien think his new position at the university will be better received in Letter #182?

5. How does Tolkien describe his work for a dictionary?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tolkien disprove the misconception that his success was made overnight in Letter #159?

2. In what way does Tolkien think that his story will help both existing parents and future parents?

3. What important announcement does Tolkien make to Christopher Bretherton in Letter #253 about his connection to childhood?

4. What is Tolkien's initial reaction when he is warned about his friendship with C.S. Lewis and what happens to change his mind?

5. What changes have occurred in Tolkien's career as a professor by Letter #182 in 1956?

6. How does Allen & Unwin respond to Tolkien's opinion of the cover images?

7. What problem of Sauron does Tolkien describe in his letter to Auden as an example of human behavior?

8. What suspicions are confirmed by Tolkien about a woman's used book in 1965?

9. What previously unmentioned career achievement does Tolkien reveal to Christopher Bretherton in Letter #253?

10. Which literary device does Tolkien not appreciate and how does he view the intended audience of fairy tales?

(see the answer keys)

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