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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 Interloper," which of the following best characterizes the treatment of Julia by the two brothers?

2. In "Museum--On Exactitude in Science," how big are the maps of the Empire?

3. To whom is "There are More Things" dedicated?

4. In "Avelino Arredondo," to what does Avelino belong?

5. In "Dreamtigers," the protagonist can see only little tigers, what kind does he want to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. Name some of the customs and beliefs of the strange group in "The Sect of Thirty."

2. In "The Plot," a gaucho dies in a similar fashion to Julius Caesar. What does this suggest about history?

3. In "Covered Mirrors," what is the narrator's attitude toward mirrors?

4. What does "The Disk" say about greed?

5. In "The Yellow Rose," what is Marino's epiphany?

6. In "The Gospel According to Mark," why do the Gutres want to crucify Baltasar?

7. In "Undr," is there any suggestion that "Undr" or "wonder" really isn't the only sacred word of the Urns?

8. In "The Interloper," do the Nelson brothers have any redeeming qualities?

9. Is there a contradiction to the argument in "Argumentum Ornithologicum"?

10. In "Unworthy," why does Fischbein, a mild-mannered and bookish man, hang around a gang?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on issues of race in Borges' stories. "The Cruel Redeemer Lazarus Morell" seems to point out the evils of slavery. At the same time, Borges will often describe a character simply as a "black man," as if that were the defining characteristic. In "The Improbable Impostor Tom Castro," Ebenezer Bogle is described as "black" and a "genius." Does this juxtaposition suggest a belief that the two terms are usually mutually exclusive? Is Borges, in terms of race, merely the product of his times? Or, is he critiquing the racial views of his times? Use at least two stories in arguing your point.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Borges often portrays characters who switch sides, stand for one cause and then join the opposite one. How do these characters reflect Borges' concept of human identity? Is he merely criticizing a form of human behavior, or is he making a point about the precariousness of the self? Choose at least two appropriate stories and be specific in your answer.

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