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. How does Ireneo Funes become paralyzed?

2. Who is Jaromir Hladik?

3. In "Death and the Compass," why do the police believe the rabbi was murdered?

4. In his anger, how does the Irishman injure John Vincent Moon?

5. Which Shakespearean character is compared with Fergus Kilpatrick?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Englishman in "The Form of the Sword" receive the scar on his face?

2. Why does language frustrate Ireneo Funes?

3. How do the stranger and the black man feel about their rivalry?

4. How does Jaromir Hladik complete his play?

5. In "The Form of the Sword," what symbolism is evident in the scar on the Englishman's face?

6. Why does the Englishman in "The Form of the Sword" hide his identity in the story?

7. In "The Form of the Sword," how does the Irishman rescue John Vincent Moon?

8. How is "Three Versions of Judas" designed to deceive the reader?

9. In "Theme of the Traitor and Hero," why are the details of Ryan's great-grandfather's death obscured?

10. What does the house in "Death and the Compass" symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of information as presented in "Ficciones." According to Borges, what role does information play in society? How do individuals seek to control information? Can information be suppressed?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,317 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample