Borges and I

“Borges and I” defies easy genre categorization, blending elements of a short story, essay, and poetry. At its core, it is a piece of prose as it adheres to the conventions of written language that closely resemble everyday speech rather than the structured patterns of poetry. However, Borges incorporates poetic elements commonly found in prose poetry. Prose poetry combines the literary techniques of poetry with the formatting of prose, devoid of traditional line breaks or meter. In this way, “Borges and I” weaves together vivid imagery, symbolism, metaphor, and more, akin to a poetic composition. For instance, when Borges describes “the laborious strumming of a guitar” (Paragraph 2), he employs imagery to convey how he perceives his inner identity, a stark departure from his written works and instead found in the realm of experiences like music.

Borges also classifies the story as a parable, a brief narrative featuring human characters that conveys a broader message about human behavior or the human condition. Traditionally, parables have been a prominent form of storytelling in the Western world, most notably in the Christian Bible, where they serve as vehicles for spiritual teachings.