Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges – Themes and Motifs: Time and Memory

Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges – Themes and Motifs: Time and Memory

• This in-depth literary analysis explores the philosophical treatment of time and memory in Borges’s landmark collection Ficciones, written in Spanish.
• A detailed examination of two central themes in Borges’s short stories, focusing on their role as profound philosophical concepts that challenge perceptions of reality, identity, and human limitation.

Key features:

• Analysis of non-linear, fragmented, and circular conceptions of time, with reference to stories such as “El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan”.
• Exploration of time as a limiting force and its contrast with the eternal, illustrated through “El Aleph”.
• Discussion of memory as unreliable and selective, highlighting its impact on personal identity.
• Close reading of “Funes el memorioso” to demonstrate the burdens of perfect recall.
• Examination of recurring motifs including mirrors and labyrinths, and their connection to time and memory.

Includes an accompanying worksheet to reinforce and practise key concepts.