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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 Other Duel," though Cardosa and Silveira have a long-standing feud, what do they both do?

2. In "August 25, 1983," what hotel room does Borges go to?

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

4. What is the event in "The Elderly Lady"?

5. In "Brodie's Report," who are the Yahoos?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "The Book of Sand," what are the stages of the narrator's view toward the book?

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

3. In "The Duel," what is the nature of the duel between Clara and Marta?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Pierre Menard's project worthwhile? Is he a fool? A visionary? Does his project say something about the nature of interpretation and meaning? Your answer should display a thorough familiarity with "Pierre Menard, Author of Quixote." Be specific in why his project is worthy or not.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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