Cerberus by Jorge Luis Borges (1949)
The story revolves around a man who encounters a three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld. The dog's heads are named Ate, Echidna, and Cerberus. As the man tries to pass, he notices that one of the heads is asleep while another is distracted by a butterfly. He takes advantage of this distraction to slip past the sleeping head and escape into the underworld.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1949 · Genre: Mythology, Literary Criticism, Philosophy · 413 words
First lines
If Hell is a house, the house of Hades, it is natural that it have its watchdog; it is also natural that this dog be fearful. Hesiod's Theogony gives it fifty heads; to make things easier for the plastic arts, this number has been reduced and Cerberus' three heads are now a matter of public record. Virgil speaks of its three throats; Ovid of its threefold bark; Butler compares the triple-crowned tiara of the Pope, who is Heaven's doorman, with the three heads of the dog who is the doorman of Hell (Hudibras, IV, 2). Dante lends it human characteristics which increase its infernal nature: a filthy black beard, clawed hands that in the lashing rain rip at the souls of the damned. It bites, barks, and bares its teeth.
What this Textopian page supports
Cerberus is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1949 CE.
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: 1949 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mythology, Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Folklore, Comparative Religion
- Length: 413 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cerberus by Jorge Luis Borges
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Cerberus?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mythology first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Phoenix by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Norns by Jorge Luis Borges
- Sirens by Jorge Luis Borges
- A Patio by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Nymphs by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Duration Of Hell by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Mythology — The text explores various mythological interpretations and representations of Cerberus across different cultures, including Greek, Roman, Norse, and Hindu mythologies.
- Literary Criticism — The work analyzes and compares literary references to Cerberus, discussing interpretations by authors such as Hesiod, Virgil, Ovid, and Dante.
- Philosophy — The text delves into philosophical themes such as the nature of time and memory, as illustrated by the symbolic interpretation of Cerberus' heads.
- Folklore — The narrative includes elements of folklore, discussing legends and tales surrounding Cerberus and similar mythological creatures.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Mythological Themes · Symbolism · Metaphysics · Existentialism · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Fictional Universes · Paradoxes · Time and Space · Reality Distortion · Dreamlike Narratives