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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 "Emma Zunz," why did Emma's father commit suicide?

2. In "The Cult of the Phoenix," what objects are involved in their rituals?

3. "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," can best be described as which of the following?

4. In "A Survey of the Works of Herbert Quain," what work of Quain's is actually successful?

5. In "The Shape of the Sword," John Vincent Moon is a traitor to what ideology?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "The Zahir," what is a possible reason for the narrator becoming obsessed with the coin?

2. In "The End," does the black man who plays his guitar and continually waits outside the bar get what he has been waiting for?

3. In "The Aleph," what is the narrator's attitude toward Carlos Argentino?

4. In "Ibn-Hakam-Al Bokhari, Murdered in his Labyrinth," according to Unwin, why did Sa'id truly steal the treasure, and what are the implications of this motivation?

5. In "The Widow Ching--Pirate," Ching becomes a pirate, but does she have any virtuous qualities, even in this criminal profession?

6. Describe the significance in "The Shape of the Sword," of the last lines: "I denounced the man who protected me: I am Vincent Moon. Now despise me."

7. In "House of Asterion," is there anything sympathetic about Asterion?

8. In "The Cruel Redeemer Lazarus Morell," describe Lazarus' moral character.

9. In "A Theologian in Death," what is Melancthon's doctrine and what are the implications of this doctrine?

10. In "The Writing of the God," why does Tzinacan decide to stay in his cell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the style of Borges. Is it spare? Baroque? Academic? Opaque? Etc. Think, for instance, of "The Approach to Al Mu'tasim," which is written as a book review of the book "The Approach to Al Mu'tasim." Is his style mostly consistent throughout his stories, or are there any significant changes? Is his style appropriate for his subjects? Does his style itself often mirror the themes of the stories? Use at least three different stories to illustrate your point .

Essay Topic 3

Borges often portrays characters who switch sides, stand for one cause and then join the opposite one. How do these characters reflect Borges' concept of human identity? Is he merely criticizing a form of human behavior, or is he making a point about the precariousness of the self? Choose at least two appropriate stories and be specific in your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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