I Stand Simply for the Thing I Am
I Stand Simply for the Thing I Am is a collection of short stories by Jorge Luis Borges. The book includes tales about identity, memory, and reality. One story in particular, "The Aleph," explores the concept of infinity through a magical object that allows the protagonist to see all things at once. Another story, "The Circular Ruins," deals with dreams and the nature of reality. Overall, the book is known for its philosophical themes and surreal imagery.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1967 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 10,789 words
First lines
Indiana University, March 1980
Borges stands for all the things I hate. . I stand simply for the thing I am. For this poetry reading, Borges' poems and prose pieces were read in English by Scott Sanders and Willis Barnstone, and in Spanish by Luis Beltrán, Miguel Enguídanos, and Jorge Oclander. Following each reading, Borges commented on his work.
What this Textopian page supports
I Stand Simply for the Thing I Am is listed on Textopian as a novella by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1967 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: 1967 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Metafiction, Mythology
- Length: 10,789 words
- Structure: 1 section, 105 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for I Stand Simply for the Thing I Am by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering I Stand Simply for the Thing I Am?
- How does this novella by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- But I Prefer Dreaming by Jorge Luis Borges
- This Is Not A Story by Denis Diderot
- Time Is The Essential Mystery by Jorge Luis Borges
- Alter Ego by George William Russell
- Light by Frederic Manning
- Which Is True by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
Genres
- Poetry — The work is primarily composed of poems, reflecting on themes of identity, existence, and the human condition.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text explores philosophical themes such as the nature of self, reality, and the passage of time.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and thematic depth align with the conventions of literary fiction, focusing on introspection and existential questions.
- Metafiction — The work includes self-referential commentary and blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Tags
identity · existentialism · philosophy · self-discovery · literature · poetry · metaphysics · human experience · truth · individualism · introspection · reality