Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Reaction

Overall I enjoyed reading "Why Read the Classics?" by Italo Calvino. The layout of a definition and then one or two paragraphs that follow is a nice touch to the essay, considering most essays are just a bunch of paragraphs. In the essay, authors and reading were the two main subjects. I enjoyed reading about the different authors that Calvino talked about. One person that he mentioned a few times is "Leopardi" who was the only author from Italian literature that he actually cited in his paper. I feel that Calvino was trying to encourage people to read the classics but also other books. Reading this sentence made me think this, "All that can be done is for each one of us to invent our own ideal library of our classics; and I would say that one half of it should consist of books we have read and that have meant something for us, and the other half of books which we intend to read and which we suppose might mean something to us." (Calvino 9) This essay made me have both an emotional and a logical reaction to it. My emotional reaction was that I like to read and he doesn't say you HAVE to read the classics, but that you can choose other books to call your own classics. My logical reaction was that he talks about all different authors and classics while giving definitions of the word "classics." Italo Calvino did a wonderful job writing this essay.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Authority

Italo Calvino has a lot of authority as a writer and a reader. To write about books being classics and what classics means, then he would have to be an avid reader. Being an avid reader, his vocabulary would expand every time he would read a book. throughout the essay I noticed around ten words he used that I have never heard of. For example, "they are later accretions, deformations or expansions of it." I have never heard of the word accretions before, but I looked it up and it means growth in size or extent. (Accretions) Because Calvino reads a lot, he is able to cite all the different authors he has read. He talks about "Lucretius, Lucian, Montaigne, Erasmus, Quevedo, Marlowe, Goethe, Coleridge, Ruskin, Proust, and Valery." on the seventh page of his essay. Being a writer he can choose what he writes, how he writes, and can quote whoever he wants. In the essay he chose to write about reading the classics, using first, second, and third person. And he decided to quote the Italian author Emil Cioran in his conclusion paragraph. Italo Calvino must enjoyed reading Cioran because using a quote from him is a pretty big honor, considering how popular this essay is.

"Accretions | Define Accretions at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 30 July 2011 .

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Methods

Italo Calvino's essay, "Why Read the Classics?" does not have an introduction paragraph. Instead it has one sentence that gets straight to the point. It says, "Let us begin by putting forward some definitions." (Calvino 3) This introduction sets the scene for the rest of the essay, even though it is only one sentence. After the intro, it goes right into the fourteen different definitions of "classics" which are all different meanings. The definitions allow for one or two paragraphs of explanation. The essay stays in the layout of one definition with one or two paragraphs to follow until the conclusion. Calvino works his way up to his conclusion by saying that he should rewrite his essay three times. "After that I should really rewrite it a third time, so that people do not believe that the classics must be read because they serve some purpose." (Calvino 9) The paragraph following this statement is the conclusion. In the conclusion he talks about citing an Italian author named Emil Cioran. His book isn't considered a classic yet but could be one day. He quotes Cioran to finish off his essay. He says, "'While the hemlock was being prepared, Socrates was learning a melody on the flute. "What use will that be to you?", he asked. "At least I will learn this melody before I die."' I always like when books and essay are ended with a quote from something.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Organization

While reading "Why Read the Classics?" by Italo Calvino, I noticed that the layout of the essay is not the usual one you see. Most essays consist of paragraphs and that's it. This essay has paragraphs but the unusual part is before each of the sections, are a definition. There are a total of fourteen definitions in the essay which all are defining the word "classics." The definition would be first and then like one or two paragraphs would follow. The only part of the essay that is different, is from definitions four through six and thirteen. Number four is different because it has no paragraphs after it. The definition for five has one sentence after it, which is leading into six. And six has a sentence that is leading into seven. Definition thirteen has no paragraph following it. I am glad that the layout of the essay is peculiar because it keeps it interesting. Some essays can be boring with the same layout all the time. The standard introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion can make reading the essays boring so having the definitions before the paragraphs is a nice change. I actually enjoyed reading this essay because of the different layout.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Tone

For this blog, I am going to write about Italo Calvino's tone in his essay called, "Why Read the Classics?" I would say the tone is informative and very straightforward. He also uses a little of persuasion and encouragement. What I mean by straightforward is that instead of having an introduction for his topic, he just comes right out and says, "Let us begin by putting forward some definitions." (Calvino 3) After he said this statement, Calvino goes right into explaining the meaning of classics and all about classic literature. I believe that is a very effective way of writing an essay because it makes the readers think. Instead of just reading the essay, we have to think about what he is saying and make us draw our own conclusions to the essay. For a small part of the essay, Calvino persuades and encourages us to read and to enjoy it. He told us on page nine that we should "invent our own ideal library" and remember the books that meant something to us and keep reading so you can add to your collection. Most essays people write, they use third person, but Italo Calvino used first and third person throughout the whole essay. He mainly uses the pronouns: I, we, he, she, and it.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Passage

Throughout the lecture, "Why Read the Classics?" by Italo Calvino, a couple of passages captured my attention. The main passage was under the first definition, "The classics are those books about which you usually hear people saying: 'I'm rereading...', never 'I'm reading...'" (Calvino 3) This means that the books have been around for awhile and that most people have already read them. The passage is, "What this shows is that reading a great work for the first time when one is fully adult is an extraordinary pleasure, one which is very different (though it is impossible to say whether more or less pleasurable) from reading it in one's youth." (Calvino 4) I think that adults find the classics more interesting because they are more mature and know and understand the dialect. Teens and young adults may have a different perspective because they are not used to reading the different ways the books are written. It takes some getting used to but after awhile it becomes better. Another passage that caught my eye was under definition number nine, "Classics are books which, the more we think we know then through hearsay, the more original, unexpected, and innovative we find them when we actually read them." (Calvino 6) A lot of the time people make inceptions about the book which they think are right but once they read the book they find out that there is so much more to it. The passage is, "it is no use reading classics out of a sense of duty or respect, we should only read them for love." (Calvino 6) This means that you should not read books because you are forced to, but because you want to read them.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Rhetorical Devices

After reading Italo Calvino's, "Why Read the Classics?" the first time, I reread it a second time to find the rhetorical devices used. The main rhetorical device used was simile, but a little bit of personification was used. A simile is a comparison between two things using like or as. Personification is giving human like characteristics to an inanimate object. I found a total of three different examples of similes and one example of personification. The first simile is, "which means that the introduction, critical apparatus, and bibliography are used like a smokescreen to conceal what the text has to say." (Calvino 5) Calvino is comparing the different parts of writing to a smokescreen, which causes you to not see. Another simile is, "the ideal would be to hear the present as a noise outside our window." (Calvino 8) He is comparing the present time to a noise outside using as. The last simile is, "hear the classics as a distant echo." Again Calvino is comparing classics to a sound using as. The one example of personification I saw was, "it establishes a personal relationship with the reader." Calvino is saying that the writing is having a relationship with the reader which is not possible for an inanimate object.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Calvino's "Why Read the Classics?" Thesis

Italo Calvino, who was an Italian journalist in the 1900s, wrote an influential lecture called, "Why Read the Classics?" Instead of telling people to spend more time reading, Calvino defines the word "classics." He gives fourteen different definitions to understand what it means. One example is, "The classics are those books about which you usually hear people saying: 'I'm rereading...', never 'I'm reading...'" (calvino 3) While reading this lecture, one particular passage caught my eye. "All that can be done is for each one of us to invent our own ideal library of our classics; and I would say that one half of it should consist of books we have read and that have meant something for us, and the other half of books which we intend to read and which we suppose might mean something to us." (Calvino 9) This passage popped out because it helps me create the thesis of this lecture. The implicitly stated thesis is that Italo Calvino is telling the readers to find books that after reading them, they can consider them their own classics. People should not read the classics just to read them. Classics are meant to inspire people and make them feel it means something to them.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." Lecture.

Jane Eyre So Far

Right now I am reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Right away I liked the book because Charlotte set the scene like I was really there. For example, "Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view to the right hand; to the left were clear panes of glass protecting, but not separating, me from the drear November day." (Bronte 12) From this one quote, I felt like I was sitting there reading next to Jane Eyre. So far I have been introduced to five characters. They are: Jane Eyre, Mrs. Reed, John Reed, Bessie, and Miss Abbot. Jane Eyre is the protagonist and narrator of the story. She is a lonely orphan who is living with her hateful aunt. Mrs. Reed is Jane's cruel aunt, who raises her at Gateshead Hall until Jane is sent away for school. John Reed is Mrs. Reed's son and Jane's cousin. John treats Jane like garbage by beating her and making fun of her. "I wonder if he read that notion in my face; for, all at once, without speaking, he struck suddenly and strongly." (Bronte14-15) Bessie is the Reed's nurse maid is in charge of taking care of the children. Of all the people at Gateshead Hall, Bessie is the kindest and the biggest influence on Jane so far. Bessie reports to Miss Abbot who is the main housekeeper.

Brontë, Charlotte, Susan Ostrov. Weisser, and George Stade. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Print.

Wuthering Heights Favs

For this blog I am going to write all of my favorites about Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The different categories I chose were favorite characters, favorite scenes and favorite quote. My favorite character in this novel would have to be Ellen (Nelly) Dean. I chose her because she was telling the story and was an awesome person. Nelly was kind, loving, and knew how to treat others right. When Hareton was born, Hindley gave him to Nelly for her to take care of. She practically raised him. One of my favorite scenes in the novel is when Catherine and Heathcliff went to Thrushcross Grange to spy on Edgar and Isabella. "We thought we would just go and see whether the Lintons passed their Sunday evenings standing shivering in the corners." (Bronte 47) They were almost successful until the Linton's guard dog, Skulker, was let loose. Skulker chased after them and bit Catherine's ankle, which caused her to have to stay at Thrushcross Grange for five weeks. My favorite line in Wuthering Heights is "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire." (Bronte 80) I like this quote because it shows that Catherine is struggling with love because she loves both Heathcliff and Edgar. Even though Edgar is better for her, her true love is Heathcliff, whom she could never have.

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Random House, 1943. Print.

Wuthering Heights ? 6

I am still reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I just found out that while Catherine was being nursed back to health, she became pregnant. I believe we still read this novel because of two things, the writing and the story line. Emily Bronte uses words that people never use in this century. For example, "she grew like a larch." A larch is a tree with tough, durable wood. (Bronte 185) It is very interesting to read the way she writes and describes things. The story line can be confusing at times but for the most part it is pretty clear. In the story line, you are able to see all the different social issues around that time, some of which still exist today. One of the common issues is jealousy. Heathcliff is jealous that Edgar married Catherine so he married Isabella to get revenge on him. Basically the novel is about a young girl and boy who fall in love but cannot have each other. This shows that people cannot always have what they want. Heathcliff wanted to marry Catherine but she married Edgar. Catherine wanted to marry Heathcliff but she said, "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now." (Bronte 80) From this novel , we can learn that love is not always the easiest thing to deal with and love can actually keep you away from the one you truly love.

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Random House, 1943. Print.

Wuthering Heights ? 4

I think that the hero in Wuthering Heights is Heathcliff. Heathcliff came into the story when Mr. Earnshaw brought him home from Liverpool. He was a dark haired gipsy who was starving, dirty, and homeless. After being at the Earnshaw's for awhile, Heathcliff and Catherine become inseparable. "Miss Cathy and he were now very thick." (Bronte 38) Catherine fell in love with him because he is strong and they are so much alike. Heathcliff is the hero because he became a different person after being adopted by the Earnshaw's. He found a love interest in Catherine but later married Isabella Linton out of spite. Heathcliff did not marry her for love but only to make Edgar jealous. Heathcliff represents a couple of different abstract ideas such as, evil and strength. He represents evil because he spends a lot of his time plotting revenge on Edgar. One time when visiting Catherine, he realizes that Isabella is infatuated with him so he marries her to make Edgar jealous. Heathcliff also represents strength because he had to be strong to withstand the beatings at Wuthering Heights. Staying strong was the only thing he could do to not go crazy when Catherine married Edgar.

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Random House, 1943. Print.