Calvino wrote this essay in an astonishing way. He placed his words just right and he went in great depth to describe what a classic work was, and what it means. I found Calvino’s tone to be informative and matter-of-fact. Calvino starts his essay straightforward. He doesn’t tarry, and he goes straight into a series of definitions to describe classics. He even says, “let us begin by putting forward some definitions.” This introduction and straightforward tone I found to be influential as to how I went about reading this essay. I liked how he didn’t beat around the bush and that he launched straight into what he wanted to say. His tone is unique for this kind of essay, and in it you find that he is extremely passionate about what he is discussing. This passion that he had for classic works is what makes this essay even more powerful. As he goes through his many topics and definitions he presents facts and reasoning. These touches give you a friendly feeling while you’re reading, and help you understand what messages he’s trying to get across to his audience. His essay also comes off as professional, but still seems to have a nonchalant touch to it. It’s comfortable and not overwhelming to the point of being impossible to understand. I also noticed how he sometimes directly addressed his audience by using ‘you’ and ‘your’. These things are what contributed to the tone of his essay.
Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics?" Why Read the Classics? New York: Vintage, 2000. 3-9. Print.
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