- Humbert describes the pleasure he derives from saying Lolita's name and cites its many variations – Dolores, Lo, Dolly.
- Before Lolita, he had another "girl-child" (1.1.2) lover.
- Humbert refers to himself as a murderer with a good prose style.
- He refers to the reader as "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury" (1.1.4), preparing us to hear his dark tale.