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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 "Juan Murana," what is the name the aunt uses for the knife that kills the landlord?

2. In "Parable of the Palace," why does the Emperor execute the poet?

3. In "Undr," though the people are barbarous, they claim to be what?

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

5. "Brodie's Report" can best be described as which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "The Other," how does the elder Borges most successfully prove to the younger Borges that he is not dreaming their encounter?

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

3. What is the message about scientific precision in "Museum- On Exactitude in Science"?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick one of the following objects: knives, mirrors, coins, mystic books. Discuss how this item is used as a leitmotif in Borges' stories. What is the significance of the item, both literally and metaphorically? Why does Borges choose this precise object? All of the above choices abound in "Collected Fictions." Choose at least two stories to investigate for your chosen item.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Borges is an amazingly erudite writer who saturates his stories with his learning, scholarly investigation, and complex philosophical questions. Does he have, at the same time, a sense of humor? How seriously does Borges take himself? Does he poke fun at his own intellectualism? Consider, for instance, "A Survey of the Works of Herbert Quain," where a writer is essentially mad that his play is understood and enjoyed by a wide audience. You can use this story for your essay or choose your own, and you are encouraged to use more than one. Be specific in developing your argument.

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