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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. Which of the following most closely describes Kinbote's depiction by university drama students?

2. In the commentary to Line 181, Shade produces a book by what author and shows it to Sybil Shade?

3. Canto Four contains a metaphor comparing this activity to John Shade's writing process?

4. Which of the following has Shade renounced?

5. What is the name of John Shade's aunt?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kinbote characterize his relationship with John Shade?

2. Provide an example or two of the reflection motif found between the commentary to lines 131 and the commentary to lines 162.

3. Give some examples of translation as a theme in Canto One.

4. What is Kinbote's secret?

5. How is Kinbote critical of Professor Hurley?

6. How are Gradus and Kinbote similar?

7. What events lead to the death of John Shade's daughter?

8. Give a brief synopsis of King Charles' escape.

9. Does it surprise you that John Shade renounces religion yet he wants to believe in the after-life?

10. How does Nabokov immediately create an artificial reality in the foreword to the novel Pale Fire?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Kinbote's actions to those of Gradus. How are these two characters similar?

Why do you think Kinbote describes Gradus the way he does in the commentary to Line 171?

Do you find this description ironic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Charles Kinbote is clearly infatuated with John Shade. What do you think Shade's feeling are towards Kinbote in general?

If you were John Shade, how would you react to Kinbote's commentary on "Pale Fire"?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the assonance and consonance in the poem "Pale Fire." How does Nabokov use these literary tools throughout the poem?

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