The Disk by Jorge Luis Borges (1950)
The story revolves around a man who discovers that he has been living in a simulated reality created by a more advanced civilization. He realizes that his entire life has been a simulation and that the world he knows is just a complex computer program designed to mimic reality. As he delves deeper into this discovery, he becomes obsessed with finding a way out of the simulation and back into the real world. However, every attempt he makes to escape only leads him further into the labyrinthine structure of the simulated reality. The story explores themes of identity, free will, and the nature of reality, raising questions about the existence of a higher truth beyond the confines of the simulated world.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1950 · Genre: Fantasy, Fable, Philosophical Fiction · 1,011 words
First lines
The DiskI am a woodcutter. My name does not matter. The hut where I was born and where I shall probably soon die stands at the edge of the forest. It is said of the forest that it stretches as far as the sea, which rings the whole earth and on which wooden huts like mine wend their way. Never having seen this sea, I don't know. Nor have I ever seen the other side of the forest. When we were boys my elder brother made me vow that between us we would chop down the entire woods until not a single tree was left. My brother died, and what I seek now and what I shall go on seeking is something else. To the west runs a stream that I know how to fish with my hands. In the forest there are wolves, but wolves do not scare me, and my axe has never been untrue to me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Disk is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1950 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: 1950 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fable, Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 1,011 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Disk 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 The Disk?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Theme Of The Traitor And Hero by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Generous Enemy by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Garden Of Forking Paths by Jorges Luis Borges
- Afterword by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Leveller by Jorge Luis Borges
- Laudatores Temporis Acti by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Fantasy — The story involves mythical elements such as Odin's disk, which is said to have only one side, and references to Norse mythology.
- Fable — The narrative has a moral undertone, exploring themes of greed and the consequences of one's actions.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story delves into existential themes, questioning reality and the nature of power and identity.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and references to Saxon England provide a historical backdrop to the narrative.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Metaphysical Novel · Short Story Collection · Existentialism · Absurdism · Paradox · Time Travel · Memory · Reality · Illusion · Fictional Reality · Metafiction