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Ada, or Ardor Trivia Quiz

First published in 1969, "Ada, or Ardor" got mixed reviews - readers either loved or hated it. Since then, it has quietly gained a reputation as one of Nabokov's best works, a truly epic achievement. If you've read 'Ada,' test your memory with this quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by panderson. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
panderson

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
75,996

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
243

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Ada, or Ardor' opens with the following: 'All happy families are more or less dissimilar; all unhappy ones are more or less alike,' says a great Russian writer in the beginning of a famous novel...' What is this famous novel being alluded to at the beginning of 'Ada'? Hint

'Eugene Onegin,' by Pushkin

'Fathers and Sons,' by Turgenev

'Anna Karenina,' by Tolstoy

'Crime and Punishment,' by Dostoevsky

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the name of the family estate that provides the setting for the early love affair between Ada and Van? Hint

Lepidoptera

Eden Estate

Ardis Hall

Zenopia

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Question 3 of 10

3. The character Lucette is a dogged pursuer of Ada and Van, spying on them during their romantic interludes. How does Lucette meet her tragic death? Hint

She drowns herself

She is murdered in a fit of rage by Van

She shoots herself

She dies of 'acute hystomania.'

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the title of Van's treatise on the nature of time, expounded in Part IV? Hint

The Texture of Time

The River Runs Straight

Time's Arrow

Spirals in the Sand

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Question 5 of 10

5. The treatise on time written by Van is published after his death. Which character sees the manuscript through to publication? Hint

Ronald Oranger

Sebastian Salazar

Daniel Quinty

Ada

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following best describes the relationship between Ada and Van? Hint

They are father and daughter

They are cousins

They are siblings by blood and cousins by marriage

They are mother and son

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Question 7 of 10

7. Tough one: in 'Ada,' people use a device called a 'sonorola.' By what name do we call this device in real life? Hint

Typewriter

Automobile

Radio

Violin

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 'Ada,' Earth's history is reflected in a corrupted form. For example, Russians in 'Ada' have been driven to North America by invading Tartars, occupying what we know in real life as Canada, under the territorial protection of the United States. By what name is this North American-Russian homeland known in the novel? Hint

Estoty

Novosibirsk

Amerika

Caucassia

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Question 9 of 10

9. In Part V, Ada and Van live in this country - the same country in which Nabokov spent his last years. What country is it? Hint

France

The United States

England

Switzerland

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Question 10 of 10

10. Lastly, an easy one: Ada and Van share the same last name. What is it?

Answer: (a Dutch-sounding name.)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Ada, or Ardor' opens with the following: 'All happy families are more or less {dissimilar;} all unhappy ones are more or less alike,' says a great Russian writer in the beginning of a famous novel...' What is this famous novel being alluded to at the beginning of 'Ada'?

Answer: 'Anna Karenina,' by Tolstoy

Count Tolstoy is almost an invisible character in the novel - Nabokov pays homage to Tolstoy's style and works throughout 'Ada,' although Tolstoy would certainly have not approved of the incest theme!

2. What is the name of the family estate that provides the setting for the early love affair between Ada and Van?

Answer: Ardis Hall

The word 'ardis' is similar to 'ardor.' From the Greek for 'the point of the arrow,' ardis also anticipates Van's later treatise on the nature of time.

3. The character Lucette is a dogged pursuer of Ada and Van, spying on them during their romantic interludes. How does Lucette meet her tragic death?

Answer: She drowns herself

Lucette commits suicide, unable to cope with having been the voyeuristic witness to Ada and Van's illicit affairs.

4. What is the title of Van's treatise on the nature of time, expounded in Part IV?

Answer: The Texture of Time

Anyone who has read Nabokov's autobiography, 'Speak, Memory,' will recognize Van's view of time as being identical to that of Nabokov himself. See p. 139 of 'Speak, Memory': 'I confess I do not believe in time.'

5. The treatise on time written by Van is published after his death. Which character sees the manuscript through to publication?

Answer: Ronald Oranger

6. Which of the following best describes the relationship between Ada and Van?

Answer: They are siblings by blood and cousins by marriage

It is revealed well into the novel that Ada and Van are both the result of an affair between Marina and Demon. This makes them brother and sister, in addition to being cousins by marriage.

7. Tough one: in 'Ada,' people use a device called a 'sonorola.' By what name do we call this device in real life?

Answer: Radio

Antiterra contains many aspects of our 'real' world, but distorted as though its history took a left turn somewhere. The word 'sonorous,' meaning 'noisy,' is a favourite of Nabokov's, appearing in many of his works.

Answer: Estoty

Together, Estoty and the United States make up 'Amerussia,' governed by a man named 'Abraham Milton.'

9. In Part V, Ada and Van live in this country - the same country in which Nabokov spent his last years. What country is it?

Answer: Switzerland

Indeed, Nabokov wrote 'Ada, or Ardor' while living in Montreaux.

10. Lastly, an easy one: Ada and Van share the same last name. What is it?

Answer: Veen

'Veen,' as in V.N., Vladimir Nabokov...? hmm...

Source: Author panderson

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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