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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 is the best definition of Nabokov's term "poshlust"?

2. Why is Nabokov's "Invitation to a Beheading" the inspiration for Nafisi to form the study group?

3. At the beginning of Chapter 18, what does Nafisi ask the reader to imagine?

4. Why does Nafisi see a parallel between Humbert and contemporary Iranian society?

5. What object becomes popular in Iran?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nafisi refer to two photographs in the first chapter?

2. What is the relationship between the imaginary rain shower and the meeting of Nafisi's class?

3. What is the role of literature in Part 1, Chapter 20?

4. What factors cause Nafisi to resign from her position at the university?

5. Why does Nafisi believe the scene where Humbert picked up Lolita at summer camp is the heart of Nabokov's novel?

6. Why does Nafisi ask her children about their memories of Iran?

7. According to Vera Nabokov, what is the beauty in "Lolita" and why is it missed by critics?

8. According to Nafisi, what is life like for a "normal Iranian citizen"?

9. Why does Nafisi consider Humbert to be a seducer of the readers of "Lolita"?

10. Why does Nassrin say she has been caught in the middle of tradition and change her entire life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Nafisi uses language with strong sensory connections. Choose taste, touch, sight, smell, or hearing and write an essay that discusses the use of that sense in each of the four sections of the book. Why is this sense used? Is the sense always used by the same individual? Is it always used in the same way?

Essay Topic 2

"Reading Lolita in Tehran" is divided into four parts, and each part centers around a novel. The book's title emphasizes only one novel, "Lolita." "Lolita" is the emphasis for the first section of the book. Why do you think that "Lolita" was mentioned in the book title instead of the other novels discussed? Was this a good choice? If not, which of the other novels would have been more suitable and why?

Essay Topic 3

America is presented as both reality and symbol, as a concept and a country. Describe the various ways America is interpreted and understood by those in Nafisi's classes and the Iranian government. How do those interpretations compare to Nafisi's personal memories and descriptions of America? What elements of America are emphasized? What elements of America are omitted? Why are there omissions?

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