In class on Tuesday, Professor Sexson instructed the class to focus on finding facts what we perceive as painfully obvious in Nabokov’s Pale Fire. To accomplish this task, I have chosen to piece together the clues as a scientist by first focusing on the main characters/topics featured in the novel and the facts that correlate with them. The most obvious for me include Mr. Shade, Dr. Kinbote, Sybil Shade, Judge Goldsworth, and the poem.
Mr. Francis Shade: Mr Shade is a famous American poet. He was born on July 5, 1898 and died July 21 1959. He had a favorite shagbark hickory tree. (see line 49 and pg. 89). He was a humble looking man (26). He wrote of winter on a summers day (13).
Dr. Kinbote: Is Mr. Shade’s friend and wrote the commentary for the poem “Pale Fire”. He moved in as Mr. Shades neighbor on February 2 1959 to New Wye Appalachia and worked as a Professor with Mr. Shade at Wordsmith University. He is a strict vegetarian that does not like his food handled by anyone else (pg 20) and is a fond admirer of Mr. Shade.
Mrs. Shade (Sybil): Is Mr. Shade’s wife and his confidant in the poem “Pale Fire”.
Judge Hugh Warren Goldsworth: Owns a house next door to the Shades that he rents out to Dr. Kinbote. His literary work consisted of legal works and an album of histories/pictures of the people that he sent to prison or condemned to death. He left Kinbote with detailed instructions/commentary and household articles. He also owned a black cat that came with the house (82-85). The house also had many doors to the outside and is referred to by Kinbote as the “Goldsworth Castle” (97).
Poem: The poem is in 4 Cantos by Mr. Shade. It was written on 80 index card with Canto One and Four both being 166 lines (13 cards), Canto 2 and 3 both being 334 lines (27 cards). The poem is 999 lines total and was labeled with the date that each card was created. The drafts that were unutilized by the poet were all burned in the incinerator minus 12 cards.
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