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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 Library of Babel," what is the central shape that the library is based upon?"

2. In "The Mirror of Ink," what happens to the ruler from prying too deeply into a vision?

3. In "The End," what instrument does the black man play outside Recabarren's bar?

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

5. In "Emma Zunz," what does Emma pretend to be in order to complete her revenge?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In "The Dead Man," why does Bandeira allow Otalora to sleep with his woman and enjoy a sense of power?

4. In "Hakim The Masked Dyer of Merv," Hakim's sect abhor mirrors and copulation. What is the significance of this abhorrence?

5. In "Death and the Compass," how does Scharlach defeat Lonnrot?

6. In "The Wait," what does Villari do when his assassins actually show up? Why does he do this?

7. How can the story "Tlon, Uqbar, and Orbis Tertius" best be described?

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

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

10. In "The Cruel Redeemer Lazarus Morell," describe Lazarus' moral character.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "The Circular Ruins," a man dreams a son into existence. At the end of the story, the man discovers that he was likewise the creation of someone's dream. How does this story reflect Idealist philosophy, where reality is based on thought and the mind? What does the story say about Borges' view toward his own literary creations? Does it suggest a possibility about all of our lives? Note and explain at least one other story, in addition to "The Circular Ruins," that also reflects Idealist philosophy.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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