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. What talent does Ireneo Funes possess?

2. How does John Vincent Moon anger the Irishman?

3. What does Ryan publish?

4. When is "The Secret Miracle" set?

5. From what illness does Nils Runeberg suffer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What secret does the Sect of the Phoenix keep?

2. How is Fergus Kilpatrick both a traitor and a hero?

3. Why does Ireneo Funes suffer from insomnia?

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

5. In "The End," why do the black man and the stranger fight?

6. How does Erik Lonnrot discover the location of the fourth murder?

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

8. In "Theme of the Traitor and Hero," what coincidences raise Ryan's suspicion?

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

10. Who is the traitor scheduled for execution in "Theme of the Traitor and Hero"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different narrative modes and their importance in expressing themes in literature. How does point of view affect a reader's vision of a story? When is a particular narrative mode ineffective? Why does Borges occasionally switch modes within a story?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Borges' use of time. How does he use verbal imagery to describe the concept of time? What relationship does Borges' create between time and space? How does he use the alteration of time to express his themes?

Essay Topic 3

How does Borges use the themes of violence and revenge in his work? What satisfaction do his characters receive from violence and revenge? What positive and negative consequences do these characters experience?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,260 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample