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Difficulty: MediumAuthor's Purpose and Point of View

Read the following English translation of an excerpt from the short story 'The South' by the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges:

Juan Dahlmann was the secretary of a municipal library on Calle Córdoba, and he felt himself profoundly Argentine. His maternal grandfather had been Francisco Flores, of the Second Line Infantry Division, who had died on the frontier of Buenos Aires, run through by a spear of Indians from Catriel; in the discord of his two lineages, Juan Dahlmann (perhaps due to his Germanic blood) chose the lineage of his romantic ancestor, or of his romantic death. An old sword, a stone-colored photograph of a bearded man, the memory of certain guitar chords, the familiar repetition of verses from the epic poem Martín Fierro, the passing years, and a certain predisposition for nostalgia, all served to foster this voluntary conflict, which was resolved in favor of the Argentine plains.

He had managed to save the empty shell of a ranch in the South that had belonged to the Flores family. One of his constant illusions was the hope of staying there, under the shade of its ancient eucalyptus trees.

In February 1949, something happened to him. Blind to all else, he acquired a copy of Weil's edition of the Arabian Nights. Eager to examine this treasure, he did not wait for the elevator but ran up the stairs. In the darkness, something brushed his forehead: a bat? A bird? On the face of the woman who opened the door, he saw horror reflected, and the hand he ran over his brow came away red with blood. The edge of a recently painted window, which someone had left open, had sliced him open.

Based on this excerpt, which of the following best describes how the author's choice of a third-person limited point of view shapes the reader's understanding of Juan Dahlmann's character?

  1. A
    It provides an objective and historically accurate account of his grandfather's military service and frontier life.
  2. B
    It establishes a detached and critical authorial attitude toward Dahlmann's obsession with local folk culture.
  3. It allows the reader to experience Dahlmann’s internal romanticization of his ancestry and his subjective perception of his heritage.Answer
  4. D
    It highlights the resentment Dahlmann feels toward his paternal ancestors for failing to provide him with an active ranch.

Answer

The correct answer shows that the point of view allows the reader to experience Dahlmann’s internal romanticization of his ancestry and his subjective perception of his heritage.
The correct option is supported because the third-person limited narration focuses closely on Dahlmann's inner consciousness. It highlights how he actively chooses to identify with his maternal grandfather's romantic death and how he holds onto his dream of visiting the ranch, illustrating his subjective reality.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the narration style in the passage.
The story is told in the third person but focuses strictly on the thoughts, preferences, and feelings of Juan Dahlmann, such as his preference for his romantic ancestors and his illusions about the ranch.
To identify that the point of view is third-person limited rather than objective or omniscient.
2
Evaluate how this perspective shapes the reader's understanding of Dahlmann.
The narrative details how Dahlmann actively chooses to resolve his internal conflict in favor of his maternal heritage, presenting his romanticized identity as his personal reality.
To connect the point of view to character development and motivations.
3
Eliminate incorrect options based on textual evidence.
Options claiming the text provides objective history, establishes a detached/critical tone, or reveals resentment are eliminated, leaving the option focusing on Dahlmann's subjective romanticization.
To select the correct option through logical elimination.

Key Concept

Author's Purpose and Point of View
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Author's Purpose and Point of View

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