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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. With what is young Vladimir obsessed?

2. Of what descent is Nabokov's mother?

3. At the time the family moves, where are Nabokov and his brother?

4. How many years does Mademoiselle spend with the family?

5. What is Nabokov's favorite medium?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is known about the chapters prior to the writing of this book?

2. Where do they head to from Paris? What do they do when they get there?

3. Why does Mademoiselle want to leave the family?

4. How does Nabokov describe the final years in Europe?

5. How is Nabokov's experience at Cambridge?

6. How does Nabokov meet Mademoiselle after she leaves Russia?

7. When does Nabokov begin to write poetry?

8. Vladimir and his brother, Sergey, go through a series of nurses and governesses. Describe some of his memories of these women.

9. What jobs does Nabokov's father hold throughout his career?

10. What memory leads to an important memory about his father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nabokov and his brother go through a series of nannies, governesses, and tutors.

Part 1) Choose four of these individuals. Describe them, and explain how the children benefit from their services.

Part 2) How does Nabokov, similar to many children, treat the nannies, governesses, and tutors?

Part 3) How does Nabokov's relationship with these individuals reveal his opinion of hired help and those in lower social classes?

Essay Topic 2

Nabokov seems to have a close relationship with his father.

Part 1) Describe their relationship.

Part 2) Compare and contrast Nabokov's relationship with his father and his relationship with his mother.

Part 3) What are possible reasons for the differences in the two relationships?

Essay Topic 3

Part of this autobiography observes the beginnings of Nabokov's literary talents.

Part 1) How do we first catch a glimpse of his talent as a writer?

Part 2) What is his process for creating his writing, at this stage in his life?

Part 3) How might the encouragement he receives from his family affect his writing career later in life?

(see the answer keys)

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