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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. Besides his complaint in "Later Years", how many other times in the book so far has Tolkien complained about the spelling changes made by the editorial staff of a publishing company?
(a) Three times.
(b) Twice.
(c) Once.
(d) None.

2. Why does C.S. Lewis use the name Numenor in one of his stories?
(a) As a way to generate interest in the story.
(b) As a reference to Tolkien.
(c) As an attempt to write a sequel to The Lord of the Rings.
(d) As an attempt to rewrite The Lord of the Rings.

3. What two months are Letters #146, 147, and 148 written in?
(a) February and March.
(b) June and July.
(c) November and December.
(d) August and September.

4. How many Elves does Tolkien think might be able to manage the Ring of Power in Letter #246?
(a) Two.
(b) One.
(c) None.
(d) Three.

5. What aspect of fiction is detailed in Letter #199?
(a) Inspiration.
(b) Publishing.
(c) Improvisation.
(d) Rewriting.

Short Answer Questions

1. Based on Tolkien's assessment in Letter #246, what drives Frodo to embark on the incredible journey?

2. What book has Tolkien recently completed when he writes a letter to W.H. Auden that is included in "To Anne Barrett of Houghton Mifflin Co."?

3. How do the Belgians describe Tolkien in Letter #165?

4. As explained in Letter #256, how long does Tolkien's current book take place after Mordor has collapsed?

5. What feeling does Tolkien have about knowing the entire story of The Lord of the Rings?

Short Essay Questions

1. When is Tolkien's final letter written and how does he attempt to assemble his work before he passes away?

2. What is the general range in lengths of the letters featured in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien?

3. What does Tolkien think about Frodo's breakdown at the Cracks of Doom being considered a moral failure?

4. Which familiar people does Tolkien continue to write to in the "Later Years," and which recipients are new?

5. According to Tolkien's letter to W.H. Auden, what drives humans towards certain behaviors?

6. What information does Tolkien provide in his remembrance of C.S. Lewis in Letters #257 and #261?

7. How did being a father help Tolkien in writing one of his most well known stories, The Hobbit?

8. How does Tolkien support his assessment of Gandalf's Ring-wearing in Letter #246?

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

10. What observation is made about Tolkien's work that prompts him to evaluate Frodo's heroic status?

(see the answer keys)

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