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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. Which of the following best describes King Alfin the Vague?

2. Charles Kinbote gave John Shade a detailed drawing of King Charles' castle; what does he want John Shade's wife to do with the picture?

3. Who gives Kinbote information about John Shade's daughter?

4. How many lines are in Canto Four?

5. John Shade vows to further explore what in Canto Two?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John Shade understand life?

2. How does Nabokov immediately create an artificial reality in the foreword to the novel Pale Fire?

3. Briefly describe the supernatural occurrences in Canto Two.

4. What clues do you see that Charles Kinbote may not be what he seems?

5. How does John Shade describe himself as a youth in Canto One?

6. Give some examples of translation as a theme in Canto One.

7. Briefly describe John Shade's vision of the after-life.

8. Briefly describe Fleur.

9. Briefly describe the IPH.

10. What is significant about the bird in Canto One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the assonance and consonance in the poem "Pale Fire." How does Nabokov use these literary tools throughout the poem?

Essay Topic 2

In the commentary to Line 171 Gradus, the assassin, is said to have had a job at a glass factory.

Could this be a figment of Charles Kinbote's imagination, and if so why would Kinbote make up such a job for the assassin?

Why do you think Nabokov chose to have Kinbote give Gradus this job?

Why does Nabokov choose to have Kinbote portray Gradus as a failure at this job?

Does it matter if Gradus really had such a job?

Use specific examples from the text to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Cite specific examples of supernatural events in the novel Pale Fire.

How does Nabokov incorporate both real and phony supernatural events (such as fake seances) into the novel?

Why do you think he chooses to handle these events in such a manner?

What does this accomplish?

(see the answer keys)

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