Italo Calvino

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces the author Italo Calvino. The paper presents a brief background of Calvino's life and discusses several of his literary works. The paper contends that much of Calvino's writings, especially "Castle", is indicative of the 'nouveau roman', the new novel, popular in Europe during the 1950s and 1960s that tried different ways of altering the normal narrative approach. The paper examines the metaphorical use of tarot cards in Calvino's work, specifically citing examples from "The Waverer's Tale" and "Castle of Crossed Destinies".

From the Paper:

"Historians differ on the origin of tarot cards. Most believe that Egypt was the first to use similar images and symbols. Tarot is also represented from the early Greek, Roman, Norse and Indian cultures to the Italian and French medieval courts. The first clear reference to tarot is based on an Italian sermon from about 1500 A.D. (Pratesi). Regardless of origination, it is agreed that many civilizations-ancient to modern-have commonly used the tarot to divine the future. It is not unusual, then, to see references of these cards in literature. Writers integrate it into their plot; poets use it as imagery. Italo Calvino's Castle of Crossed Destinies provides an excellent example of tarot not only used within the plot, but as a narrative metaphor. He weaves his narration around a group of medieval travelers staying at a castle who find themselves incapable of speaking."

More papers on Italo Calvino:

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• Analytical Essay # 5488 : "Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler"
• Comparison Essay # 23052 : "Borges and Calvino"

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