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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. According to Kinbote in the commentary, the queen resembles______.

2. At his hotel Gradus receives orders from headquarters telling him to do what?

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

4. Kinbote fills in a blank space in "Pale Fire" with what name?

5. What ailment troubles Gradus when he arrives in New Wye?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Why does Kinbote embrace organized religion?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Make a list of names Charles Kinbote attributes to people and places in Zembla.

What do you notice about these names?

What do these names tell us about Kinbote, and potentially about Zembla?

Why do you think Nabokov chose to name these places the way he did?

Essay Topic 2

In the foreword, Kinbote suggests that the novel be read in a unique way.

How does he feel the novel should be read?

Why does he think it should be read this way?

What are your immediate thoughts on the narrator after he suggests this?

Why do you think Nabokov chooses to have Kinbote make this suggestion?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the way Charles Kinbote portrays himself vs. the way he is viewed by others. Based on his actions, how would you describe the "real" Charles Kinbote? Based on your description of Kinbote, and the difference in the way he is perceived by others compared to his view of himself, write an essay commenting on Nabokov's choice to have a person like this narrate the story instead of writing the novel with a third-person omniscient narrator describing Kinbote, his treatment of "Pale Fire" and his relationships with the other characters in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample