52 pages 1 hour read

Italo Calvino

The Nonexistent Knight

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1959

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Essay Topics

1.

Agilulf’s character, a nonexistent knight in armor, is an example of magical realism. What other examples of magical realism exist in the text, and what purpose do they serve?

2.

There are two instances in the story where female characters are confined to a convent to seek repentance despite their lack of agency in their perceived wrongdoings. Why would the author include two references to this occurrence, and what does it mean in the larger theme of The End of Eras?

3.

The reign of Charlemagne is approaching its late stages, and there are many signs of great societal change both in the army and in the nearby towns and villages. Consider all of the references to the end of eras in the story and analyze what beliefs Calvino intends to convey with this commentary.