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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. According to Kinbote, who gives Gradus a ride?

2. Who is Kinbote's primary source of information on John Shade's daughter?

3. According to Kinbote, what is the best part of Canto Four?

4. Shade refers to a book by which of the following authors in Line 384?

5. According to Kinbote, what does "Ex" stand for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kinbote do when he runs into Shade on the way to the doctor's office?

2. What does Kinbote relate to the death of Hazel?

3. How does Kinbote summarize Canto Four?

4. Briefly recount Gradus' experience on the day he killed Shade, as told by Kinbote.

5. Give a brief account of the events involving Disa and King Charles after the revolution.

6. How does Kinbote describe the Russian guards who are after the Zemblan Crown Jewels?

7. What is ironic about Kinbote criticizing Shade for using a title from another work for one of his own books?

8. When does Kinbote finally merge with King Charles as written in the Commentary?

9. Comment on a few similarities between Charles Kinbote and King Charles.

10. What is significant about the way Shade relates his name to the word "ombre" a French word that connotes shadows and darkness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an argument supporting the claim that Charles Kinbote is in fact the assassin. Use examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

In the foreword, Kinbote suggests that the novel be read in a unique way.

How does he feel the novel should be read?

Why does he think it should be read this way?

What are your immediate thoughts on the narrator after he suggests this?

Why do you think Nabokov chooses to have Kinbote make this suggestion?

Essay Topic 3

In the commentary to Line 171 Gradus, the assassin, is said to have had a job at a glass factory.

Could this be a figment of Charles Kinbote's imagination, and if so why would Kinbote make up such a job for the assassin?

Why do you think Nabokov chose to have Kinbote give Gradus this job?

Why does Nabokov choose to have Kinbote portray Gradus as a failure at this job?

Does it matter if Gradus really had such a job?

Use specific examples from the text to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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