A STEP BEYOND

TESTS AND ANSWERS

TEST

_____ 1. The Lord of the Rings is

A. Frodo
B. Gandalf
C. Sauron

_____ 2. The Hobbit

A. was originally published as a children's book
B. is Tolkien's most important book
C. is about the corrupting effect of power

_____ 3. Smaug the dragon is a symbol of

A. the destructive forces of nature
B. greed
C. the evils of technology

_____ 4. Which of the following are considered by some
readers to be references to Christianity in The Lord of the
Rings?

I. Lembas
II. Gandalf's staff
III. The Blessed Realm

A. I, II, and III
B. II and III only
C. I and III only

A. potential for evil that Frodo must struggle against within
himself
B. dangers of showing mercy to evildoers
C. power of the Ring to corrupt even those with the best
intentions

_____ 6. The Ring represents the

A. dangers of nuclear weapons
B. corrupting effect of absolute power
C. power of the council of wizards

_____ 7. Tom Bombadil and Treebeard

A. add humor to The Lord of the Rings
B. are representatives of the natural world
C. are unwitting victims of evil

_____ 8. Tolkien's only well-developed female character is

A. Eowyn
B. Galadriel
C. Arwen

_____ 9. The hobbits

I. are Tolkien's invention
II. represent the potential for greatness in ordinary people
III. represent disadvantaged minorities in today's society

A. I and III only
B. II only
C. I and II only

_____ 10. Tolkien would most likely agree with which of
these statements about war?

A. War is sometimes necessary to combat evil.
B. War offers an opportunity for man to display his
heroism.

C. Wars should never be fought, for any reason.

11. Would Tolkien agree with the phrase "Power corrupts,
absolute power corrupts absolutely"? Give evidence to
support your answer.

12. Discuss how Tolkien uses the imagery of stars and
shadow as symbols for good and evil.

13. Discuss two ways that Tolkien draws your attention to
language in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

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