In chapter two of Book The First, Dickens begins to establish a tense and obscure tone. Dickens depicts the tone of this chapter through a detailed description of the treacherous journey on the road to Dover, the fear of highway robbers, and the distrust among the travelers and towards Jerry Cruncher. It seems that this particular tone will become consistent throughout the story not only because of issues that France and England are facing, but also the unexplained answer of Jarvis Lorry that will probably to lead to greater issues. Based on the this tone, A Tale of Two Cities is an example of a Gothic novel. With this in mind, what particular passages do you guys believe depict the tone of this chapter? Did you guys notice any other tones?
Monday, June 25, 2012
Tone in A Tale of Two Cities
In chapter two of Book The First, Dickens begins to establish a tense and obscure tone. Dickens depicts the tone of this chapter through a detailed description of the treacherous journey on the road to Dover, the fear of highway robbers, and the distrust among the travelers and towards Jerry Cruncher. It seems that this particular tone will become consistent throughout the story not only because of issues that France and England are facing, but also the unexplained answer of Jarvis Lorry that will probably to lead to greater issues. Based on the this tone, A Tale of Two Cities is an example of a Gothic novel. With this in mind, what particular passages do you guys believe depict the tone of this chapter? Did you guys notice any other tones?
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This chapter certainly does establish a very ominous tone. Dicken's descriptions are chillingly appropriate.
ReplyDelete"There was a steaming mist in all the hollows....a clammy and intensely cold mist, it made its slow way through the air in ripples that visibly followed and overspread one another, as the waves of an unwholesome sea might do."
Dickens keeps us on our toes. The reader anticipates a drastic and tumultous event before the characters' horizon. When it arrives, it will be, "dense enough to shut out everything from the light" (pg 7).
Comment above posted by Karina Enriquez
ReplyDeleteMost definitely! His effective use of tone truly helps make the story so much more imaginable and enjoyable for me. I agree that there is bound to be events that will be laid before Jarvis Lorry and the passengers. Do you think this tone will continue to prevail throughout the story and lead to a tone that is polar opposite based on the fact that this is in time frame of the French Revolution?
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