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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. What does Tolkien focus on when his books make less than anticipated progress with publishers?

2. Which one of the following does Tolkien vigorously discuss in his letters?

3. When does the history of the Elves begin?

4. As Tolkien explains in Letter #131, what motivates The Enemy in his stories?

5. Who is the person that Tolkien thanks, and is the recipient of Letter #130?

Short Essay Questions

1. What stipulation does Tolkien have in working with Allen & Unwin on publishing The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and what request do they have for him?

2. What is the similarity between the Elves and the Machine, and what is the main difference between both sides, according to Tolkien in Letter #131?

3. What request does Allen & Unwin have about Farmer Giles of Ham and how does Tolkien respond?

4. What inspires a schoolboy to write to Tolkien about The Hobbit in Letter #114 and what advice does Tolkien give in return?

5. In what way does Tolkien realistically depict his job as a professor in 1952?

6. What are the Stages of History that Tolkien describes in Letter #131?

7. How does Tolkien write about being given the position of chairing the English department at the university?

8. What is the One Ring of Power in Tolkien's stories?

9. How are the letters for "To Unwin about The Hobbit" chosen and what information is left out of them?

10. How old is Tolkien when the earliest letters begin and what is his situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolkien's writing style is a combination of different techniques that is very effective in delivering exciting fiction that can be enjoyed on many levels.

1) Explain the use of vivid descriptions in both Tolkien's letters and his fictional works.

2) Describe Tolkien's advice for writing fiction in a way that maintains the reader's attention throughout the work and analyze how this can be applied to contemporary creative writing.

3) Explain Tolkien's opinions about allegory and its use in writing fiction, as well as your own view about the literary device and its uses.

3) Analyze Tolkien's thoughts about fairy tales and the importance of their place in literature.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Tolkien's views on parenting in Letter #246. Include the reasons why he thinks people either fear or are reluctant to become parents and the many benefits of having children that he writes about.

Essay Topic 3

In Letter #246, Tolkien evaluates Frodo's heroic and moral qualities in The Lord of the Rings.

1) Describe Mrs. Eileen Elgar's observation of Frodo's actions and Tolkien's response to it.

2) Explain why Tolkien considers Frodo to be a non-hero, including the supporting logic he uses as well as your thoughts on his viewpoint.

3) Analyze Frodo's breakdown and the moral implications of it as well as the conclusions Tolkien makes from the event.

(see the answer keys)

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