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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 Chapter 5, whom does Pnin run into while getting ready to go for a swim?

2. What does Victor, the son of Liza Wind, fantasize about to escape the boredom of his everyday life at school?

3. What is the name of the school that Victor attends?

4. Who arrives early to the housewarming party to assist Pnin with the preparations?

5. Why did Liza decide to send Victor to a particular school in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might Pnin's teaching position be in jeopardy at the college?

2. How popular are Pnin's classes and how stable is his teaching position?

3. What happens to Pnin while traveling to the cabin in Chapter 5?

4. Why is Pnin somewhat sad after visiting with Betty Bliss?

5. What has happened with Dr. Eric Wind and Liza in Chapter 4?

6. Who runs St. Bartholomew's? Describe in detail.

7. What are a few examples of what the students at Waindell College do at the beginning of every year?

8. What is Pnin worried that he might have broken at the end of Chapter 6?

9. Who are a few of the people who are attending the party in Chapter 5 with whom Pnin is acquainted?

10. What do Roza Shpolyanski and Pnin talk about at the party in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the Clementses and their relationship with Pnin, comparing their first impressions of Pnin to how they end up feeling about Pnin. What kind of people are the Clementses? How does Pnin know them? What do Pnin and Joan bond over? What are some examples from the book that demonstrate the Clementses beginning to like Pnin?

Essay Topic 2

In "Pnin", one of the writing styles that the author uses is his choice of narrator. Explore the different styles of narrators for fiction writing, particularly analyzing the third-person narratives used in "Pnin". How important is the narrator to the story? What are the different types of narrators? Why does the particular type of narrator that Vladimir Nabokov chose for "Pnin" such a good choice? When does the narrator reveal himself to the reader? What is so unique about this type of narrator? How?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Liza and her overall affect on Pnin's life. What kind of person is Liza? Did she truly ever love Pnin or was she always using him? Why can't Pnin see Liza for what she truly is? How does Pnin behave when he is around Liza? Is Liza a good influence on Pnin?

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