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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes King Charles' marriage?
(a) Passive-aggressive.
(b) Serene.
(c) Tumultuous.
(d) Civil.

2. Oswin Bretwit kicks out Gradus when he realizes Gradus is not a Royalist. What does Bretwit assume is Gradus' profession?
(a) An assassin.
(b) A reporter.
(c) A Marxist recruiter.
(d) A spy.

3. John Shade says, "There's nothing wrong with shedding a dismal past to substitute pleasing _________?"
(a) History.
(b) Women.
(c) Imagination.
(d) Poetry.

4. Whose spirit supposedly haunts the barn?
(a) Hazel Shade.
(b) King Alfin the Vague.
(c) The farmer who used to sleep there.
(d) King Charles.

5. What Kinbote thought was an amusement park outside is actually what?
(a) A thunderstorm.
(b) Campers.
(c) Gradus.
(d) Birds.

Short Answer Questions

1. Kinbote recounts a walk with John Shade. On this walk Kinbote unsuccessfully tries to pry from Shade information about which of the following topics?

2. When Gradus attempts to visit Joseph S. Lavender, Lavender asks Gradus if he is a/an ______?

3. Who tells Gradus Disa's estate is empty?

4. According to Kinbote, what is the third method of composing poetry?

5. On what date does John Shade compose lines 797-809?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Disa mirror in Kinbote's life?

2. What is odd about the way Kinbote tells the story of Gradus?

3. What does Kinbote do when he runs into Shade on the way to the doctor's office?

4. How does Kinbote describe the Russian guards who are after the Zemblan Crown Jewels?

5. How does Gradus learn the location of the king?

6. When does Kinbote finally merge with King Charles as written in the Commentary?

7. Why does Kinbote insist on meeting Shade on July 19th?

8. Comment on a few similarities between Charles Kinbote and King Charles.

9. What does Kinbote write about in the commentary as the poem addresses Hazel's death?

10. What does Kinbote relate to the death of Hazel?

(see the answer keys)

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