Pnin Literary Elements

Satirical Fiction

Russian emigre community, early 1950s

The narrator is un-named and narrates in the third person, but at the end of the novel is revealed to be the person who will be taking Pnin's job now that he has been let go

The tone is actually depressing because Pnin cannot seem to get any kind of break at all; however, there is also a tone of humor in the way in which he is presented.

Pnin is the protagonist; the narrator is the antagonist

There is conflict between Liza and Pnin as she wants him to contribute money to raise the son she had told him was his but whom he has never met.

The narrator reveals themself to be the person who has Pnin's job now he has been fired

The fact that Dr Hagen is leaving, and that he is the only person in the department who doesn't dislike Pnin, foreshadows the fact that Pnin is going to be fired.

The author often says that Pnin is not concerned which is an understatement because not only is he not concerned, but he is also oblivious to the fact that there is anything to be concerned about.

no examples in this novel

Much of the imagery is auditory; our impression of Pnin is that he has little grasp of English and so we imagine his unwieldy accent and thick speech which also produces a visual image as well.

Pnin is perennially happy even though he seems to get the sticky end of the lollipop from life most of the time.

There is a parallel between the way in which the novel has been banished to the periphery of Nabakov's novels, and is a literary outcast because it cannot seem to assimilate into the typical Nabakov style of writing, and the way in which the book's protagonist is an outcast socially because of his inability to assimilate or understand his new culture.

The University is used to encompass all of the people existing within it.

no specific examples