Italo Calvino is a writer whose work has been variously characterized as postmodernism, neo-realism, fantasy, science fiction, metafiction, and magic realism. Though all these terms are correct, ‘‘The Garden of Stubborn Cats,’’ like the other stories contained in Marcovaldo , fits best into the category of magic realism. The designation of ‘‘The Garden of Stubborn…
Tag: Italo Calvino
The Garden of Stubborn Cats – Setting
Italy During and After World War II Calvino grew up during troubled times in Italy. After World War I, Italy fell under the control of Benito Mussolini. Though King Victor Emmanuel III was technically the head of the nation, he essentially granted Mussolini unlimited powers as prime minister with the hope that the country could…
The Garden of Stubborn Cats – Literary Devices
Magic Realism Although Calvino’s work does not fit neatly into existing categories of literature, ‘‘The Garden of Stubborn Cats’’ is perhaps best described by the magic realism . Magic realism is literature that depicts a realistic setting and characters but also contains some fantastical or inexplicable elements. These fantastical elements are treated by the characters…
The Garden of Stubborn Cats – Themes
The Negative Effects of Progress An important theme that runs through ‘‘The Garden of Stubborn Cats’’ is the negative consequences progress can have on a community. The city in the story is rapidly changing—new skyscrapers appear and buildings become taller and more uniform. As these changes unfold, cats are no longer able to live as…
The Garden of Stubborn Cats – Characters
The Marchesa The Marchesa is an old woman who lives in a tiny villa attached to a garden. Her lot is the last remaining piece of undeveloped land in the quickly growing downtown area, and she is surrounded by high-rise buildings. She is a mysterious figure seldom seen in the neighborhood. Passersby and neighbors have…
The Garden of Stubborn Cats – Summary
‘‘The Garden of Stubborn Cats’’ is one of a series of related stories in Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City , that detail the experiences of a poor worker named Marcovaldo and his family over the course of five years. Each of the twenty stories is set during one season of those five years,…
The Feathered Ogre – Analysis
One of the elements of the fairy tale that gives it lasting and universal appeal is that the events of the story occur within a universe of clearly defined values, in which good always triumphs over evil and virtues are rewarded with material and personal riches. Calvino’s retelling of the Italian folk tale “The Feathered…
The Feathered Ogre – Setting
Collections of Traditional Folk Tales “The Feathered Ogre” was originally published as part of the collection Italian Folk Tales (1956), which Calvino transcribed and retold from the oral tradition. The most famous collection of folk tales is probably that of the Brother’s Grimm, who wrote a comprehensive collection of traditional German folk tales, which have…
The Feathered Ogre – Literary Devices
The Folk Tale “The Feathered Ogre” was originally published in Calvino’s book, Italian Folktales, in which he transcribed stories from the oral tradition in Italian culture. However, even read out of this context, this story clearly resembles the familiar folk or fairy tales children are often told. Because they originate in an oral tradition, folk…
The Feathered Ogre – Themes
Heroism The protagonist of a fairy tale is often a courageous man who risks mortal danger in order to achieve some noble quest. The king’s attendant in this story is heroic in every way. He is the only one ”loyal and courageous” enough to go in search of a feather from the ogre. Along his…