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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. Which word did Murray have so much trouble with that it had to be sent to Dr. Minor?

2. What did the act of sending the rules to Minor symbolize to him?

3. Describe Minor's routine for writing his first book.

4. When Murray sees the superintendent of Broadmoor, he thinks that the man is _________________.

5. Why didn't Minor attend the great dictionary dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author give as the chief purpose behind Minor's self-mutilation? Was it achieved?

2. What is controversial about the story of the meeting of Minor and Murray?

3. In what ways could Murray be seen as a voice of reason and motivation for Minor to stay on task to the Oxford English Dictionary?

4. What effect did Murray and his workers' reliance on Minor's letters and help have on Minor?

5. Explain the significance of Minor's submissions evolving from one slip of paper to large paper bags arriving in Murray's office.

6. What showed the great essence of teamwork between Murray and Minor?

7. What is relevant about the fact that Minor was a fan of Huxley, particularly his idea of agnosticism?

8. What was the overarching reason why Murray decided to visit Minor?

9. What can one infer from the fact that Minor had many people who wrote letters to Broadmoor, inquiring about his health and well-being?

10. Describe how Minor may have felt when he entered the property at the Broadmoor Asylum.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The title of the book and its chapter titles are somewhat surprising considering that this is a non-fiction book about the making of a famous dictionary. Why are the titles surprising? Discuss what effects the author may have aimed for in choosing these titles.

Essay Topic 2

"Structure is equally important to non-fictional works as it is to fictional works." Explore this idea with reference to the text.

Essay Topic 3

While Minor and Murray are the central figures in the text, secondary figures are also an important element of the book. Explore the ways in which three of these secondary figures are shown to have had an important influence on the events of the two protagonists' lives.

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