Reality and Fiction: How Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar Distinguish and Unite the Two

Indianapolis, IN

This presentation analyzes the literary elements composing two Argentine short stories, La muerte y la brújula by Borges and La noche boca arriba by Cortázar, that play with the concept of reality and fiction. By employing the use of repeticion, simbolism, irony, parallels between space and time, and similarities between protagonists and antagonists both authors articulate how reality and fiction can be one in the same. Although both short stories pertain to different settings and plots, both authors utilizes many of the same conventions to create a dichotomy between the real and imaginary. Either through the use of clues, character development, or scenery these works force the reader to question their own and the character's existence. Thus this presentation dissects the elements that allow these authors to articulate such abstract and conflicting ideas through the use of story-telling.