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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. Who leads The Enemy in Tolkien's stories?

2. Which poem does Rayner Unwin initially write to Tolkien about?

3. What words does Tolkien use to replace "Elves"?

4. Under what conditions is Tolkien asked to chair an English department in "The Professor"?

5. What does Tolkien explain he uses in developing his fascination with imaginary worlds?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tolkien refer to The Hobbit in his early letters to Christopher?

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

3. What is the power of the pen and how does Tolkien explain it?

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

5. What observation does Tolkien make about his Middle English class to Mrs. E.M. Wright in Letter #6?

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

10. Who is Tolkien traveling with in the story he recounts for Christopher in a letter from April 3, 1944, and what is the point of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the reasons that Tolkien had for writing The Hobbit, The Lords of the Ring, and The Silmarillion. Also, provide an analysis of how his dislike for industrialization factored into his work, the way he used specific characters to represent both sides, and why he thought it was necessary to write fairy tales.

Essay Topic 2

Describe in detail the story that Tolkien tells Christopher about a train ride he has with two other men in a letter from April 3, 1944. Also, include the literary techniques used by Tolkien in the letter and why they display his skill as a writer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the stages of publishing for The Lord of the Rings, including the following:

1) The initial cover images, Tolkien's reaction to them, and how the publishers respond to him.

2) The galleys and what Tolkien realizes while revising his books.

3) The idea of including maps for Tolkien's imaginary world and how he involves Christopher in the process.

4) The varying tones that Tolkien uses in his letters while describing the events that are leading up to the release of his work.

(see the answer keys)

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