27 pages 54 minutes read

Jorge Luis Borges

Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1939

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Essay Topics

1.

How does the concept of rewriting a classic work of literature from scratch challenge traditional notions of creativity and originality?

2.

Intertextuality is an important component of “Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote.” How does Borges use references to outside texts to convey deeper meanings about literature analysis?

3.

Consider the form of the story, as a piece of literary criticism. Why did Borges choose to write the story using this form, rather than a more “traditional” narrative? What sort of benefits and drawbacks does this approach produce?