Genre
Autobiography
Setting and Context
Russia, during Nabokov's childhood, until the outbreak of World War One. Subsequent settings are Cambridge, England, for Nabokov's university career, and America where he ultimately settled
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Nabokov and he is narrating from his own point of view at various times and ages in his life
Tone and Mood
The tone is varied from light-hearted, during his childhood, then foreboding as war is approaching. There is also loneliness, fear and suspicion
Protagonist and Antagonist
Nabokov is the protagonist. The main antagonist in his life seems to be World War because it forces changes in his life that he is not ready to make
Major Conflict
The War is the major conflict in the book, and at first it is not really a factor for Nabokov because he is not aware of the politics of his country, he is a kid growing up in it. Once he has moved to Cambridge University, he is able to view the conflict in a more detached way until he graduates when he is treated with suspicion because now he is not a student he is a suspicious foreigner.
Climax
Emigration to the United States is the climax of Nabokov's early life and therefore of the book as well.
Foreshadowing
Nabokov's graduation foreshadows the subtle shift in the way that he is treated in Britain. Now he is not a student he is greeted with more suspicion and this is foreshadowed by the end of his university career.
Understatement
Nabokov admits that his young relationship with Colette was very intense. This is an understatement since the two young people considered elopement.
Allusions
Nabokov alludes to many of the political and artistic characters in Britain during the war years.
Imagery
The imagery is varied in accordance with the stage in his life he is describing. The imagery in France, for example, is filled with sunshine and impressionist-style descriptions giving the reader a very pleasant visual image, as well as auditory and olfactory ones.
Paradox
The same people who were comfortable around Nabokov whilst he was a student are suddenly uncomfortable and suspicious of him once he has graduated and his status has shifted.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between the way in which the British viewed "foreigners" in their country during the war years, and the way in which they came to view Nabokov.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"The university" is the phrase that is used to describe all of the people within the university.
Personification
N/A
