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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. In what year did Pnin leave his home country?

2. What does the librarian tell Pnin in Chapter 3 that he refuses to take any responsibility for?

3. What is Laurence Clements, a fellow professor of Pnin's, most popular course at college?

4. How does Pnin feel about Betty Bliss?

5. What was Liza's profession when she met Pnin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Pnin a professor at in Chapter 1?

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

3. What subject does Pnin have no desire to teach?

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

5. What poem does Pnin discuss with his class in Chapter 3?

6. What other people occupy Pnin's coach on the train in Chapter 1?

7. How does Pnin meet and marry Liza?

8. What does Pnin discover from the librarian that is surprising to him in Chapter 3?

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

10. What does Pnin have a fascination with, like many Russians, that gets him lost?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The beginning of "Pnin" is somewhat lighthearted and even humorous, and then the tone of the novel changes somewhat by the end. Examine the use of tone in the novel "Pnin", describing how it changes throughout the novel. How does the author set the tone in "Pnin"? How is this tone important for the overall mood of the story? What is the tone in "Pnin"? Does this tone seem to go well with the story?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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