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

2. According to the author, what sort of life did Minor live at Broadmoor?

3. After the publishing of the first installment, where was all of Murray's work done?

4. Who came first to the Broadmoor Asylum?

5. When did Minor send a note to the Broadmoor staff?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think it is the author's opinion that electroshock therapy affected Minor?

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

3. Why could Minor more easily understand Murray's directions in comparison to others?

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

5. What was revealed about Minor's character in regards to his response to Murray's letter for help on the Oxford English Dictionary?

6. What was one of the greatest mistakes Murray made upon arriving at Broadmoor and speaking to the superintendent?

7. Was it good that Minor began to view the asylum as his home?

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

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

10. The author compares Murray to a general on a battlefield. Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of Chapter 3, The Madness of War, is taken up with Charles Minor's exploits around and during wartime. From this chapter, how do you think the author feels about war? Give examples to back up your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Does the author associate much stigma with mental illness in the text? Give examples in your answer and explore what effects, in the author's view, mental illness might have had on the production of The Oxford English Dictionary.

Essay Topic 3

Despite the fact that this a work of non-fiction, there are elements of foreshadowing in the way the author tells the story. Explain how this occurs and discuss their effect.

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