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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Immortal," the troglodyte who recites poetry to Marcus is what writer?

2. In "Death and the Compass," what character flaw leads Lonnrot to his death?

3. In "The South," what is Dahlmann challenged to do outside a bar?

4. In "The Shape of the Sword," John Vincent Moon is a traitor to what ideology?

5. In "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," who or what is Al-Mu'tasim supposed to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Funes, His Memory," is Funes's prodigious memory a good thing or a bad thing?

2. In "The Zahir," what is a possible reason for the narrator becoming obsessed with the coin?

3. In "Averroes' Search," how is Borges' attempt to write of Averroes similar to Averroes own difficulties?

4. In "The Man on the Threshold," why do the people pretend that they do not know what happened to Glencairn when the investigator asks them?

5. In "A Theologian in Death," what is Melancthon's doctrine and what are the implications of this doctrine?

6. In "Man on the Pink Corner," why does Rosendo disappear and then come back when challenged by the Yardmaster?

7. In "House of Asterion," is there anything sympathetic about Asterion?

8. In "The South," how does Dahlmann feel about his imminent death in a knife fight?

9. In "The Secret Miracle," does Hladik really gain anything in the year of frozen time that God grants him?

10. In "The Garden of Forking Paths," why does Dr. Yu work for the Germans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the concept of forbidden knowledge in Borges' stories. Are there certain things man should not know? Is it dangerous to try to play the Divine? Think of stories such as "The Writing of the God," "A Theologian in Death," "The Chamber of Statues," and "The Mirror of Ink." Choose at least one of these stories, and up to three in supporting your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Borges, a cerebral author, often focus on lowlife characters? He often frames stories of knife fights, gangsters, murder, prostitution, etc., with academic musings. What is the effect of this seeming disconnect? Does this rough subject matter undercut the intellectualism? Or does the intellectual frame suggest that there might be more to these earthy stories? Perhaps they strike a perfect balance. Use specific stories in developing your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Labyrinths are included in many of Borges' stories. Indeed, "Labyrinths" is the title of one of his collections of stories. How are these physical structures significant to his work? Consider the essence of a labyrinth: a series of mazes, designed to confuse and entrap men. How do labyrinths fit into the stories themselves? How are labyrinths symbolic for Borges' artistic intentions? Be sure to cite specific stories in your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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