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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 "Ragnarok," what happens to the Gods who reappear?

2. In "Unworthy," what does the rest of the gang call Fischbein?

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

4. In "Pedro Salvadores," Pedro belongs to which party?

5. In "Shakespeare's Memory," what do Shakespeare's memories do for Hermann?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Borges and I," who are the two Borgeses, and what is the relationship between them?

2. In "Everything and Nothing," who ultimately tells Shakespeare he is like him, and why does he say this?

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

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

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

6. In "The Rose of Paracelsus," why doesn't Paracelsus turn the ashes of the rose into a rose for the young man?

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

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

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

10. In "A Weary Man's Utopia," is the society described by the old man really a "utopia"?

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

In "The Library of Babel," a librarian frantically and hopelessly tries to organize the books in a seemingly infinite library and looks for a book that will summarize all the others. Is this story merely a work of imaginative fiction, or a possible metaphor for the actual world? What is Borges implying about the nature of human knowledge? Make sure to discuss "The Library of Babel," but also include at least one more story that touches on this common theme of Borges. Be specific.

Essay Topic 3

What seems to be Borges' stance toward religion in these stories? Think of the many stories that deal directly and indirectly with theological disputes. Think also of the many stories that have some form of a god as a character. Use at least three different stories to illustrate your point.

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