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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 Victor's art teacher encourage him to do?

2. How are both of Victor's parents described in Chapter 4 as being?

3. For many years, what language have students not been particularly interested in learning?

4. In Chapter 6, who will replace Pnin's friend as department head?

5. At the party in Chapter 5, what type of game do the guests play after dinner?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Victor Wind fantasize about during school?

3. Where is Pnin living in Chapter 6 and how does he feel about it?

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

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

6. How do Dr. Wind and Liza feel about their son?

7. Who is the artist that Pnin meets while going for a swim in the lake, and what does Pnin wish after meeting him?

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

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

10. What does Pnin give to Victor during their first meeting?

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

Description is the fiction-writing mode for creating a mental image of a story. Examine the use of description in "Pnin". How does the author use narration, dialogue, and imagery to bring his novel to life? What is the best example of the use of description from the novel "Pnin"?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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