The Amphisbaena by Jorge Luis Borges
This work is a short story that explores the concept of identity and reality through the metaphor of a mythical creature with a serpent-like body and a head at each end. The narrative follows a protagonist who encounters the Amphisbaena in a desert landscape, where it is said to possess the ability to move in both forward and backward directions simultaneously. As the story unfolds, the protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with understanding the nature of the Amphisbaena's existence, which appears to be paradoxical and contradictory. The narrative raises questions about the relationship between perception and reality, and whether our understanding of the world is ever truly fixed or absolute.
By Jorge Luis Borges · Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, Classical Literature · 356 words
First lines
The Pharsalia (IX, 701-28) catalogues the real or imaginary reptiles that Cato's soldiers met up with on their scorching march across the African desert. Among them are the Pareas, ‘content with its tail to cleave its track' (or as a seventeenth-century Spanish poet has it, ‘which makes its way, erect as a staff'), and the Jaculi, which darts from trees like javelins, and ‘the dangerous Amphisbaena, also, that moves on at both of its heads'. Pliny uses nearly the same words to describe the Amphisbaena, adding: ‘as though one mouth were not enough for the discharge of all its venom'
What this Textopian page supports
The Amphisbaena 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: Mythology, Fantasy, Classical Literature, Natural History, Philosophy
- Length: 356 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Amphisbaena 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Amphisbaena?
- 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
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Genres
- Mythology — The text explores mythical creatures, specifically the Amphisbaena, and references ancient texts and beliefs.
- Fantasy — The description of the Amphisbaena and its fantastical attributes, such as having two heads and mythical abilities, align with fantasy elements.
- Classical Literature — The work references classical texts and authors, such as Pliny and Brunetto Latini, situating it within a classical literary context.
- Natural History — The text discusses the Amphisbaena in the context of natural history, referencing its supposed biological characteristics and medicinal properties.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Metaphysical Themes · Mythological Creatures · Symbolism · Allegory · Speculative Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Existentialism · Absurdism · Paradoxes · Dualities