The Secret Miracle
A man is arrested and sentenced to death for being a Jew during the Spanish Inquisition. He prays for a miracle and is given a chance to write a play that will be performed in heaven after his execution. The play is a comedy, but it is also a reflection of the absurdity and cruelty of the world he lives in.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1939 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Metafiction, Historical Fiction · 4,362 words
First lines
And God made him die during the course of a hundred years and then He revived him and said: "How long have you been here? " "A day, or part of a day," he replied. - The Koran, II 261
What this Textopian page supports
The Secret Miracle is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1939 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: 1939 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Metafiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction
- Length: 4,362 words
- Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Secret Miracle by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Secret Miracle?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Other Death by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Masked Dyer Hakim Of Merv by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Salamander by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Chinese Phoenix by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Elder Lady by Jorge Luis Borges
- Ibn Hakkan Al Bokhari Dead In His Labyrinth by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores deep philosophical themes such as time, reality, and the nature of existence.
- Metafiction — Incorporates self-referential elements and a story within a story, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
- Historical Fiction — Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Prague, integrating historical events into the narrative.
- Fantasy — Includes fantastical elements such as the suspension of time and divine intervention.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Existentialism · Absurdism · Metaphysics · Time and Space · Paradox · Miracle · Faith · Doubt · Spirituality