Jan 2, 2010

The Aleph | Topics for Further Study

Research the philosophical puzzles known as the paradox of Zeno and Pascal’s sphere. How do stories such as ‘‘The Aleph’’ dramatize these paradoxes in narrative form?

During his lifetime, Borges wrote extensively of other authors and gave numerous interviews where he shared his opinions on literature. Read some of his essays or interviews to learn about his tastes. To what degree are his tastes reflected in ‘‘The Aleph,’’ in terms of both style and content?

Part of what makes ‘‘The Aleph’’ a success is Borges’s setting it in an everyday...