Find a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales and pick out one story. In what ways is this story similar to, or different from, "The Feathered Ogre"? In what ways does it contain the elements of brevity, repetition, and rhythm that Calvino valued in the Italian folk tale?

Write an original fairy tale that includes similar elements to those of "The Feathered Ogre," or other fairy tales with which you are familiar. What elements of a story are necessary in order for it to be considered a fairy tale? Include these in your own fairy tale.

As well as being a writer, Italo Calvino was once a resistance fighter against fascism in Italy during World War II. Find out more about this period in Italian history and the role of resistance movements during that period.

Calvino's Italian Folk Tales, in which "The Feathered...