Calvino makes several arguments for stasis over change in "Without Colors," "At Daybreak," and "The Aquatic Uncle." Describe and respond to these arguments.

Discuss the portrayal of women in Calvino's stories. How are these women individual characters with distinct personalities, and in what ways are they one-dimensional representations of ideas of beauty and love?

Why is Qfwfq often locked in conflicts and rivalries with other male characters?

Why do the New Ones' perceptions of the dinosaurs change over time in "The Dinosaurs"? Are the true dinosaurs lost to time forever?

Discuss the nature of signs and symbols in relation to the things they represent in "A Sign in Space" and "The Light Years." What role do signs and symbols play in communication?

Describe how the settings of Calvino's stories symbolically represent aspects of the human characters, such as the insular nature of the people...