Dear Andrew and Ed.,
There is definitely a theological theme in Pale Fire, beginning with the middle names of Shade (Francis) and Kinbote (Xavier). If Kinbote is Shade gone mad, then his use of this name could be seen as another attempt at "commentary".
I recall the word "preterist" in the poem - - and isn't there a priest (more pederast than preterist?) posing as one of the fingers of Shade's hand? I believe those fingers are Shade's recollection of sexual shame and the people associated with it. Perhaps Kinbote has attempted to turn the priest's sexual ecstasy into the religious sort? Perhaps "Starover" (Old Believer) Blue (lublyu?*) is somehow implicated? Aren;'t astronomers in a sense the descendants of priests?
Carolyn
* (I) love