View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the butterfly net in particular always invite?

2. With what is the aristocratic Nabokov house stocked?

3. How does the Nabokov family frequently travel from St. Petersburg to Paris?

4. What are two events that Nabokov remembers watching outside his mother's window?

5. What game does the whole family often play on the estate?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Nabokov's autobiography begin?

2. In 1910, the Nabokov brothers acquire teeth braces. How does their father reward them for dealing with the dental sessions?

3. How do the Nabokovs travel from St. Petersburg to Paris?

4. What does he learn about himself, regarding Russian poets?

5. Who is Kirill?

6. What is the process Nabokov goes through to create a poem?

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

8. What happens after the revolution to Nabokov's family?

9. Why might be the reason for the Nabokov's leaving Europe?

10. Why is the couple allowed to be on their own.

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

The second chapter focuses on Nabokov's mother.

Part 1) Describe Nabokov's mother.

Part 2) Compare Nabokov and his mother.

Part 3) What is Nabokov's relationship like with his mother?

Essay Topic 3

With what is Nabokov fascinated, in fact, obsessed? Give examples from the text to support your response. How do the members of his household encourage this obsession?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 913 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample