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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. On what holiday did Dr. Minor arrive in London in the opening of Chapter 4, Gathering Earth's Daughters?

2. According to Chapter 5, which dictionary far surpassed all that came before it?

3. Who took over Furnivall's place as editor of the Oxford English Dictionary?

4. Who killed Merrett?

5. On what notable holiday did the making of the Oxford English Dictionary begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reasons did Minor become the most famous contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary?

2. Many critics found the Oxford English Dictionary to be racist and sexist. Explain how the author suggests this may have happened.

3. How did Minor's branding of a deserting Irish soldier become connected to his excessive guilt about his own perceived "wrongs"?

4. Why does the author suggest Oxford finally conceded to the switch from Furnivall to Murray for the position of editor?

5. What can be appreciated about the Oxford English Dictionary being called "The Big Dictionary"?

6. How might the fact that the killer was of a learned professional background NOT have been surprising to readers?

7. Did the "Battle of the Wilderness" push Minor past his mental capacities to function normally in social settings or public? If so, how does the author make this clear?

8. What can be surmised about the author's intention by naming his first chapter, " The Dead of Night in Lambeth Marsh"?

9. What effect could the tragic death of his daughter have had on Murray's diligence in working on the Oxford English Dictionary?

10. In regards to Trench's speech, what did he view each word as having? What must be charted for each word?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the ways in which religious faith plays an important role in the production of The Oxford English Dictionary, with particular reference to Charles Minor and James Murray.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the links the author draws between various vices such as sex, drugs, and alcohol and their influence on the events of the story.

Essay Topic 3

How does the author show that The Oxford English Dictionary was a completely different undertaking than any of the dictionaries that had come before it? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.

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