Too Difficult Tests?

As the title of this post indicates, I worry that I may be giving tests that are unfair because they are simply too difficult. Perhaps, as the English teacher with a love for literature, I have been biased and not seen the injustice of my tests. I present you with two recent cases; you be the judge:

1) Students were given a month and a half to read Of Mice and Men independently. Then they were given a predominantly multiple choice test to prove whether they read it or not--you know, general plot questions like "Does Lennie like rabbits?" not stuff like "What is the 53rd word on page 62?". There was also a matching section in which students were expected to pair up a character name and a description of said character. Characters even included "Mice," which some students matched with "The strong worker with the mind of a child who likes to pet soft things." Perhaps "Furry animals that Lennie likes to pet" was not specific enough. Anyway, the average grade for my two classes of roughly 30 students each was about a 27% (Yep, we are talking out of 100%). The lowest grade was a zero despite the fact that "Name:" was clearly labeled "5 Points." The only six students who admitted to reading the novella (Yep, it's only about 100 pages long) scored well into the 90s.
Oh yeah, one last thing--the test was open notes. Aren't I cruel! First of all that presupposes that they would actually take notes; however, even that works on the false assumption that reading, oh say, two pages a night wouldn't be too much to ask. Shit, these fucks were too lazy to even read a summary of the book on sparknotes! Assholes!

2) Test on Edgar Allan Poe.
Part I. 25 multiple choice questions worth two points each. Directions: Decide which ELEMENT of the STORY is described below A- Plot B-Setting C- Character D- Theme

Samples
1) The dark and gloomy House of Usher
2) Dupin, the detective who solves the case
3) The moral/lesson that you should expect the unexpected
4) The beginning of the story when Fortunato is lured into the catacombs

Part II: Four short answer questions worth ten points each. Students must write AT LEAST TEN SENTENCES for each answer.
Sample
1) Which was your favorite story? Why? Describe some of the exciting, mysterious, or grotesque events.

And other such very open-ended question.

Oh yeah, writing your name on this one was worth ten points. In addition, the test was open book and if you did not finish it in class you could take it home to work on it. Finally, there was a ten point extra credit question.

One student scored a 45. He left three of the four short answer questions blank. Had he written "I like trucks" or simply "Duh," perhaps I could have given him some points. I didn't take off points for not capitalizing his name either.
Alas, have a I asked too much of this JUNIOR in HIGH SCHOOL? Well, you can at least rest easy with the knowledge that he WILL pass due to his 504/IEP (as discussed in a previous post). Yes, in only two years he will join the working world and be a great benefit to all of society. Just don't ask him to spell "society"...or to capitalize his name...or, just to be on the safe side, to complete task that requires even the most infinitesimal amount of cognitive ability--like breathing and doing something else at the same time.

To return to my initial question: Aren't I such a despot when it comes to grading?!