View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the student searching for in "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim"?

2. What is The Secret Mirror?

3. Which town does Dr. Yu Tsun believe the British intend to attack?

4. Who is Richard Madden?

5. What is the name of the god of the temple in "The Circular Ruins"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the satire present in "An Examination of the Work of Herbert Quain."

2. What revelation does the narrator have about Uqbar and Tlon at the end of the story, "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius"?

3. What is the irony prevalent in "Pierre Menard, Author of Don Quixote"?

4. Why do some players of the Babylon lottery end up in jail?

5. How does the Babylon lottery cause an uprising?

6. Describe the second dream from "The Circular Ruins."

7. Why does Dr. Yu Tsun murder Dr. Albert?

8. In "The Circular Ruins," what fear does the protagonist have for his son?

9. What opinion does Pierre Menard have of Cervantes' "Don Quixote"?

10. Describe Dr. Yu Tsun.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the philosophy of idealism. How does Borges express the tenets of idealism in "The Circular Ruins"? What power does Borges attribute to the human mind?

Essay Topic 2

How does Borges use the theme of betrayal in his work? According to Borges, what are the long- and short-term effects of betrayal? What lesson does Borges teach about betrayal through "The Form of the Sword"?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of dreams and alternate reality in Borges' work. What abilities are Borges' characters given in these alternate states? How does Borges use alternate states to express his themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,238 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample