Sunday, July 21, 2013

What are eight examples of metaphor in A Tale of Two Cities?

As in all great works of litearture, A Tale of Two Cities
contains many figures of speech, not the least of which is metaphor.  Here are some
 examples:


  1. In the opening chapter, Book the
    First, Chapter I, Dickens compares the kings of England and of France as "those two of
    the large jaws."  The queens of England and France are metaphorically described as "the
    other two of the plain and fair faces."

  2. Chapter III of
    Book the First is entitled "The Night Shadows."  While a description of how people
    appear to Mr. Lorry as he rides in the Dover mail carriage, this phrase is also a
    metaphor for the inscrutableness of human nature; that is, the idea that "every human
    creature is constituted to be that profund secret and mystery to every
    other."

  3. The title of Chapter VII of Book the Second,
    "Monseigneur in Town," is metaphoric for the French aristocracy who have become so
    effect that they are no longer able to feed themselves.  For, the hands are too delicate
    and cannot perform the task of bringing a cup of chocolate to his
    lips.

  4. In Chapter XII of Book the Second ironically
    entitled "The Fellow of Delicacy" a misappropriated metaphor for Mr. Stryver, Mr. Lorry
    speaks in metaphor when he tells Styver, "you know there really is much too much of
    you!"  The metaphoric phrase compares Mr. Stryver's lack of finesse to "too much,"
    suggesting too much crassness on Stryver's part to not understand Mr. Lorry's delicate
    innuendoes that Lucie does not wish to marry him.

  5. Chapter
    XIII of Book the Second entitled "The Fellow of No Delicacy" is an ironic metaphor for
    Sydney Carton, who declares his love to Lucie Manette with great care in contrast to
    Charles Darnay's rather banal declaration of love for her when he speaks with Dr.
    Manette. 

  6. In this chapter, Carton himself speaks in
    metaphor, comparing his insecurity to  "my
    degradation."

  7. He tells Lucie "I have had unformed ideas"
    in a comparison to his uncertainty. 

  8. He continues, saying
    that he has shaken off sloth and "fighting out the abandoned flight."   His "abandoned
    flight" is a metaphor for his inability to grasp fully his deep feelings for
    Lucie.

  9. In Chapter XIV Jerry Cruncher is referred to as
    "An Honest Tradesman" and he refers to himself as "a resurrection
    man."

  10. "The Echoing Footsteps" of Chapter XXI of Book the
    Second is the marching revolutionaries and those that will affect Lucie and her
    family.

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