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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 Charles' marriage?

2. Shade mentions his wife translating poems into what language?

3. According to Kinbote, who gives Gradus a ride?

4. What does Charles Kinbote do when he finds out where the Shades' are planning to go on vacation?

5. According to Kinbote, what is the best part of Canto Four?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is ironic about Kinbote criticizing Shade for using a title from another work for one of his own books?

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

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

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

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

7. How does Kinbote portray Hazel, and the scene in the barn?

8. Briefly recount Gradus' experience on the day he killed Shade, as told by Kinbote.

9. How does Kinbote respond when a professor tells him he looks like King Charles? Why might he react that way?

10. Briefly summarize the conversation Kinbote overhears between Shade and Mrs. Hurley, and its relevance to "Pale Fire."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The first lines of the poem "Pale Fire" portrays a bird flying into a window. Charles Kinbote interprets these lines as they may relate to John Shade's experience.

How is Charles Kinbote like a bird who flies into a window?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Kinbote's actions to those of Gradus. How are these two characters similar?

Why do you think Kinbote describes Gradus the way he does in the commentary to Line 171?

Do you find this description ironic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, the game of chess reappears in various scenes, and is played by a variety of characters.

Cite specific examples Nabokov uses of the game of chess throughout the novel.

Why do you think Nabokov chooses to incorporate the game of chess into the novel the way he does?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample