Italo Calvino writes his essay in a way that is very straightforward in an effective and informative way. His lack of an introduction initially shows us this; the only introduction he gives is “let us begin by putting forward some definitions,” and then he commences listing off fourteen definitions and provides explanations for them. This method keeps readers interested because it is fast-paced and doesn’t waste their time by providing a lengthy introductory paragraph. Another way he shows this straightforwardness is through the lack of metaphors or descriptions. This shows that Calvino is confident that the content of his essay is able to stand on its own and devices such as metaphors would simply slow down the fast pace of this piece.
Calvino also adds a personal tone to this essay similar to that of Nabokov's by using first-person pronouns throughout the piece. This is very effective in creating a personal relationship between the author and reader because he repeatedly refers to things like “your classic” and “our own ideal library.” Near the end of the essay he actually criticizes himself for leaving things out in his own work. The effect that this has on the reader is that it establishes a personal relationship with the author, which is important for understanding the purpose of this essay.
Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics?" Why Read the Classics? London: Vintage, 2000. 5-8. Print.
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