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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. Kinbote reflects on the absurdity of what?
(a) Gradus.
(b) Gerald Emerald.
(c) Sybil Shade.
(d) Psychoanalysis.

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

3. Kinbote fills in a blank space in "Pale Fire" with what name?
(a) His own.
(b) John Shade.
(c) Zembla.
(d) King Charles.

4. According to Kinbote, who gives Gradus a ride?
(a) Gerald Emerald.
(b) Jim Coates.
(c) Sybil Shade.
(d) John Shade.

5. Gradus misinterprets a coded message from headquarters. What does he think his orders are?
(a) To dress in a red coat and hat.
(b) To wait in Geneva for a shipment of salmon.
(c) To follow the king to America.
(d) To wait in Geneva for further instructions.

Short Answer Questions

1. Joseph S. Lavender is a collector of what?

2. In this section (Lines 597-608), Charles Kinbote spies on a conversation between John Shade and whom?

3. Kinbote claims the Russians are good at what sport?

4. Kinbote has an auditory hallucination of John Shade's voice telling him to do what?

5. According to Kinbote, what does "Ex" stand for?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What happens when Gradus and his commanders try to send coded messages?

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

5. What is significant about the way Shade relates his name to the word "ombre" a French word that connotes shadows and darkness?

6. Why does Kinbote embrace organized religion?

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

8. What does Kinbote think about John Shade's lack of religion?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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