Why does Dickens use parallelism?
When Charles Dickens wrote the opening sentence to A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” he was employing a literary tool called parallelism that seeks to balance the sound, meaning, or meter of a sentence for deliberate effect.
What are the two cities Charles Dickens is referring to?
A Tale of Two Cities is an 1859 historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.
Why does Charles Dickens use irony in A Tale of Two Cities?
Dickens uses verbal irony to show his disdain for the Christian influence on the French monarchy. Verbal irony is when the words that a character says are the opposite of their meaning. Sometimes, sarcasm is used as a form of verbal irony.
What is a good example of parallelism?
In English grammar, parallelism (also called parallel structure or parallel construction) is the repetition of the same grammatical form in two or more parts of a sentence. I like to jog, bake, paint, and watching movies. I like to jog, bake, paint, and watch movies.
Why is it important to use parallelism in the sentence?
Why is it important to use parallel structure? Lack of parallel structure can disrupt the rhythm of a sentence, leaving it grammatically unbalanced. Proper parallel structure helps to establish balance and flow in a well-constructed sentence; the alignment of related ideas supports readability and clarity.
Why is Madame Defarge’s death ironic?
It is ironic that Dr. Madame Defarge’s end is also filled with irony. She goes to Lucie’s lodging, seeking evidence to imprison Darnay’s wife and sentence her to death; instead, she herself dies when her own gun discharges and kills her instantly.
What are the benefits of parallelism?
Parallel sentences have several advantages. First, they are impressive and pleasing to hear, elaborate yet rhythmic and ordered, following a master plan with a place for everything and everything in its place. Second, parallelism is economical, using one element of a sentence to serve three or four others.
What does Charles Dickens say at the end of Tale of Two cities?
Charles Dickens ends his book A Tale of Two Cities with the lines: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Who are the parallel doubles in A Tale of Two Cities?
Moreover, doubles concept is complicated with parallels between the characters. For instance, the Marquis Evremonde and Madame Defarge might not seem to be the ideal doubles or opposites Dickens was aiming for, but they do serve great examples of parallel doubles in society.
Who are the male characters in A Tale of Two Cities?
Furthermore, the male characters, Carton and Darnay provide the perfect examples of complementary opposites.
How are doppelgangers used in A Tale of Two Cities?
Another interesting perspective, which comes from the use of doppelgangers in the case of Carton and Darnay, is that one individual is given the chance to live two lives and see his life twice with alternate endings.