A Crossbreed by Jorge Luis Borges
The story revolves around a man who discovers that he has been replaced by an identical duplicate, and the two men engage in a philosophical debate about their existence and identity. The narrative explores themes of identity, reality, and the nature of self.
By Jorge Luis Borges · Genre: Surrealism, Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy · 841 words
First lines
I have a curious animal, half-cat, half-lamb. It is a legacy from my father. But it only developed in my time; formerly it was far more lamb than cat. Now it is both in about equal parts. From the cat it takes its head and claws, from the lamb its size and shape; from both its eyes, which are wild and changing, its hair, which is soft, lying close to its body, its movements, which partake both of skipping and slinking. Lying on the window-sill in the sun it curls itself up in a ball and purrs; out in the meadow it rushes about as if mad and is scarcely to be caught. It flies from cats and makes to attack lambs. On moonlight nights its favourite promenade is the tiles. It cannot mew and it loathes rats. Beside the hen-coop it can lie for hours in ambush, but it has never yet seized an opportunity for murder.
What this Textopian page supports
A Crossbreed is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Surrealism, Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy, Absurdist Fiction, Allegory
- Length: 841 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Crossbreed by Jorge Luis Borges
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Crossbreed?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Surrealism — The narrative features a fantastical creature that defies natural laws, blending elements of reality and dream-like scenarios.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores existential questions and the nature of identity through the unique creature and its interactions.
- Fantasy — The presence of a mythical crossbreed animal places the story within the realm of fantasy.
- Absurdist Fiction — The narrative presents an illogical and irrational situation, highlighting the absurdity of existence.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Metaphysical Themes · Existentialism · Paradoxes · Time and Space · Reality Distortion · Fictional Universes · Alternate Realities · Speculative Fiction · Mind-Bending Plots