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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 would change throughout Nabokov's childhood, depending on the prevailing advice of the family's current medical consultant?

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

3. To what simple rule does Nabokov's mother ascribe?

4. To what does Nabokov compare existence?

5. What is seen as a dreaded event?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is wrong about the books that young Vladimir finds in the attic?

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

3. How does Nabokov's autobiography begin?

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

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

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

7. Explain the process used to create this book.

8. What does the Russian revolution do to most of Russia's writers and artists?

9. What is cause is Vladimir's passion?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This autobiographical work ends with the family leaving on a boat for the United States.

Part 1) What might be the reason they decide to immigrate to the United States?

Part 2) What struggles might the family encounter? Why?

Part 3) Will Nabokov be successful in the United States? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Nabokov lives a bourgeois, aristocratic life.

Part 1) What evidence from the text suggests this?

Part 2) When and why does this lifestyle end?

Part 3) How does Nabokov handle this change in lifestyle?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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