I think the way Calvino describes exactitude is what comes to mind when looking at literary arts. Word choice must be of the utmost importance in order to completely capture the feeling of a situation. That is, using precise words to capture the details and nuances of an experience, which is far more often easier said than done. I was struck by how Calvino could so clearly capture experiences in his writings. “The forest on the super highway” completely expanded on in instance a family is going through, distinguishing each character from the others by using unique language for each individual. On the other hand, Calvino’s Mr. Palomar seemed to capture every essence of what one character was feeling throughout many experiences. In each of these works he uses incredibly accurate analogies to describe not only a situation, but the feelings provoked by it. It seems that poems often must utilize the most precision because the words are so few. Each must be carefully chosen for not only its definition or its social/emotional connotations, but its “fit” in the poem as well. This week’s “The Crimson Cyclamen” by William Carlos Williams was an excellent example of how the precision Leopardi implicated. Williams uses words not typically associated with the scene he describes, but in doing this he evokes a feeling in the reader and memorable imagery. 

Thinking about the social aspects of this week, I think both what Lipmann and Calvino may have become more relevant. The persuasive techniques Lipmann describes seem to be used even more today. He may be surprised to see just how petty and distrusted journalism has become. Calvino believes imprecision is caused by over-exposure, as he describes with his analogy about images. Today, people process more words than ever before, which may mean our language is less precise than ever before.