Ambiguity; uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language.

Splitting; division of a character into two personalities.

Synesthesia; the production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.

Suspense; a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

Atmosphere; the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or work of art.

A scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

Dream; a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.

Reality; the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

Sacrifice; an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.

Flowery War; ritual war practiced in the Aztec civilization.

A member of an indigenous people of central Mexico.

Nightmare; a frightening or unpleasant dream.

Ambiguity: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.

Splitting: A literary device where a character is divided into two or more personalities or exists in multiple realities.

Synesthesia: A literary device where one sense is described in terms of another.

Suspense: A state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

A scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

Atmosphere: The overall feeling or mood of a story or scene.

Environment: The setting or surroundings of an event or story.

Reality: The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

Illusion: A false idea or belief.

Time: The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

Space: A continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied.

The Aztec civilization represents the protagonist's true reality, contrasting with the illusion of the modern world. It highlights themes of sacrifice and ancient rituals.

The accident serves as a trigger, transporting the protagonist between two realities. It blurs the line between the modern world and the ancient Aztec world.

Sacrifice was a central part of Aztec religious practice. In the story, it represents the protagonist's impending doom and the brutal reality of the Aztec world.

Cortázar juxtaposes modern and ancient cultural elements, such as motorcycles and Aztec rituals, to disorient the reader and challenge their perception of reality.

The 'Guerra Florida' was a ritual war practiced by the Aztecs to obtain prisoners for sacrifice. It reflects the violent and spiritual aspects of their culture.

The hospital represents a modern, sterile environment that contrasts sharply with the raw, visceral world of the Aztec jungle, highlighting the clash of civilizations.

The story hints at the historical conflict between indigenous civilizations like the Aztecs and European colonizers, showing the displacement and erasure of indigenous realities.

'Moteca' refers to a potential sacrificial victim, highlighting the protagonist's role in the Aztec ritual and his impending death.

By portraying the modern world as a dream and the Aztec world as reality, the story questions the notion of progress and the superiority of modern civilization.

The jungle represents a primal, untamed space that contrasts with the structured environment of the city, symbolizing the protagonist's loss of control and return to a more primitive state.

The sacrificial stone was a central element in Aztec religious rituals, representing the offering of human life to appease the gods and ensure cosmic balance.

The story collapses time, merging the modern and ancient worlds, to highlight the enduring power of indigenous cultures and the cyclical nature of history.