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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. What does Pnin miss while getting something to eat in Chapter 1?

2. What does Pnin usually find wrong in the places that he lives?

3. How would Pnin's English be described?

4. As a teacher, how would Pnin be described?

5. In Chapter 3, how does Pnin feel about having to bring the book back to the library?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the library request of Pnin in Chapter 3?

2. Why has Pnin always been a constant mover?

3. How does Laurence Clements feel about Pnin staying in his house?

4. What happens to Pnin at the bus station that has been happening since he was a child?

5. Where is Pnin headed at the beginning of Chapter 1?

6. What happens during Pnin's class that is embarrassing in Chapter 3?

7. Why does Pnin seek out Oleg Komarov in Chapter 3?

8. How does Pnin act when he is drinking? Describe in detail.

9. How well does Pnin speak English? Describe in detail.

10. What does Pnin almost encounter when he comes down the stairs during the Clementses' party in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pnin's situation is almost somewhat hopeless and the reader can't help but feel sad for him. Analyze the theme of Pnin's misfortunes in life. What does the narrator say about Pnin's misfortunes in life? Is Pnin the cause of his own misfortunes? Is his situation with Liza hopeless? Why does Pnin comply with her? Is he the cause of most of his misfortunes?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter Four, the author makes a subtle satire of science. Satire is mainly a literary genre or structure. Examine the use of satire in the novel "Pnin". How does the author use satire with science and why? What point is the author trying to make? How does the use of satire affect the overall tone of the story?

Essay Topic 3

The setting in "Pnin" is important to the tone and shape of the story. Analyze the use of setting in "Pnin". How did Vladimir Nabokov describe his setting? How is the setting almost considered a character in the story? How is Pnin's social environment considered a part of the setting?

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