The Rukh by Jorge Luis Borges (1970)
The story revolves around a mythical bird that can only be seen by those who are about to die. The protagonist, an old man, becomes obsessed with finding the Rukh and learning its secrets. He believes that seeing the bird will grant him insight into his own mortality and the nature of reality.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1970 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology · 500 words
First lines
The Rukh (or as it is sometimes given, roc) is a vast magnification of the eagle or vulture, and some people have thought that a condor blown astray over the Indian Ocean or China seas suggested it to the Arabs. Lane rejects this idea and considers that we are dealing rather with a ‘fabulous species of a fabulous genus' or with a synonym for the Persian Simurgh. The Rukh is known to the West through the Arabian Nights, The reader will recall that Sindbad (on his second voyage), left behind by his shipmates on an island, found a huge white dome rising in air and of vast compass. I walked all around it, but found no door thereto, nor could I muster strength or nimbleness by reason of its exceeding smoothness and slipperiness. So I marked the spot where I stood and went round about the dome to measure its circumference which I found fifty good paces.
What this Textopian page supports
The Rukh is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1970 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: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology, Travel Literature, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 500 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Rukh 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 Rukh?
- 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
- The Manticore by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Hippogriff by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Griffon by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Elves by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Nasnas by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Basilisk by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves mythical creatures like the Rukh, which are central to fantasy literature.
- Adventure — The story follows Sindbad's adventurous journey involving encounters with fantastical beings.
- Mythology — The text references mythical creatures and stories from Arabian Nights and Persian folklore.
- Travel Literature — The narrative includes elements of travel and exploration, as seen in Sindbad's voyages and Marco Polo's accounts.
Tags
Fantasy · Philosophy · Mythology · Symbolism · Metaphysics · Mystery · Fable · Paradox · Reality · Illusion · Dreams · Psychological Insight