Analysis of Means of Expression in A Tale of Two Cities

Zhang Dandan
Abstract: As a masterpiece of critical realism, A Tale of Two Cities reveals the actual
situation of different classes in Paris and London around the Great French Revolution. Skilled
in diversified expression, Dickens employs various expressions to narrate this story. This
essay will focus on the effect of different means of expression applied in this book such as
parallel structure, repetition, irony, exaggeration, metaphor, simile, and so on and give readers
a clearer idea of Dickens wonderful writing skills.
Key words: A Tale of Two Cities, means of expression, function and effect

As one of Dickenss only two historical fictions, A Tale of Two Cities contains the least
humor compared to his other great works. With an excellent command of language, Dickens
wields various means of expression in his novel A Tale of Two Cities. Those expressions play
a superior role in constructing the depressed atmosphere and revealing the real situation of the
people in the two cities.
This thesis will focus on the analysis of different means of expression in the fiction in
terms of stylistics.
1. Parallel structure
Parallel structure is one of the most successful figures of speech utilized in A Tale of Two Cities.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times we were all going direct the other way (Dickens,
1) is regarded as classics. With a brief and neat pattern, the enormous amount of information of the
background and social situation of the story as well as the great French revolution is clearly presented,

readability and catchy. When the ruling classes of England and France are introduced, it reads that
there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were
a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France (Dickens, 1). With
parallel structure, a plain comparison of the ruling class between England and France is formed, so
that readers are effortless to cognize them, easily and clearly.
2. Repetition
Repetition is another extraordinary figure of speech in A Tale of Two Cities, stressing the features
and emotions. In chapter A Disappointment of Volume the Second, buzz and blue-flies appear over and
over again. Buzz arose in the court as if a cloud of great blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner
(Dickens, 57); The blue-flies buzzed again (Dickens, 58); The buzz of the great flies was loud
again(Dickens, 60); Buzzing from the blue-flies (Dickens, 61); the great flies swarmed
again(Dickens, 65); as if the baffled blue-flies were dispersing in search of other carrion.(Dickens,
73) Dickens compares the audience to the blue-flies and repeat buzz and blue-flies, echoing the
whole process of the trial, offering a terrific opportunity to express the authors emotion.
Apart from the above example, Dickens repeats poor nine times to describe the exact poor thing
and the actual poor condition in the village and repeats tax five times to discuss the various kinds of
tax in detail to stress the huge amount of different kinds of taxes. This repetition not only expresses
authors profound sympathy to the villager but voices his accusation to the ruling class. Mean while,
from the repetition, readers could intuitively sense the villagers difficult living condition and resonate
with the author.
3. Irony
Irony is one of Dickens favorite rhetorical devices and used to be widely used in his works. When
the author plans to say something, he deliberately selects the exactly opposite words to realize a
mocking confusion. Yes. And a beautiful world we live in, when it is possible, and when many other
such things are possible, and not only possible, but done-done, see you!-Long live the Devil.
(Dickens, 31) When Mr. Lorry doubts what Defarge says Dr. Manette may be afraid of other people

and does something to hurt himself, Defarge use beautiful instead of cruel or twisted to modify
the current society. From the background and the context of this sentence, the society in that time is
quite gloomy undoubtedly. Besides, theres no way to wish Devil to live long. This beautiful and
long live the Devil manifests Defarges as well as the authors dissatisfaction and anger to the
society. And another typical example of irony in the book is that Dickens uses three truly noble idea
(Dickens, 91) when to describe Monseigneurs the earth and the fullness there-of are mine (Dickens,
91) idea. As every person knows selfishness can never be noble, the huge contrast actually is an
accusation to Monseigneurs selfishness and arrogance
4. Exaggeration
Exaggeration is to extremely magnify or diminish some images or features on the basis of the
actuality purposefully to strengthen the rhetorical effect. When Sydney tries to say his mind is not very
clear at early morning, he uses the expression with my brains frying and sputtering in my head
(Dickens, 121) Even though that is far too severity from Sydneys real situation, it completely conveys
Sydneys unwillingness of guessing Mr. Stryvers ideal lover. Whats more, when Dickens presents
how venerable and feeble the bankers are, the plot is that Mr. Stryvers leaving the Bank causes such
a concussion of air on his passage through that to stand up against it bowing behind the two counters,
required the utmost remaining strength of the two ancient clerks.(Dickens, 128) The bankers cannot
be too venerable to bear the air, yet this description leaves a deep impression of feeble banker on the
readers.
5. Metaphor, metonymy and simile
In A Tale of Two Cities, metaphor and metonymy is used without trace. Dickens compares the
characters to different animals according to their features. For instance, he calls Miss Manette the
ladybird, Mr. Stryver the lion, Sydney the jackal, the audience of court the blue-flies. These animals
images vividly embody the heroes. And in the following part, Dickens doesnt write the heroes name
but just mention the animal, this expression of metonymy deepens the heroes images and features.

There is only ladybird or lion or jackal etc, yet the readers know exactly who it refers to and its image
is vividly presented.
Besides the metaphor and metonymy, simile also can be seen everywhere in the book. Jerrys hair
is so much more like the top of a strongly spiked wall than a head of hair (Dickens, 10); the feeling
of being a banker is in a confused way, like the presence of pain under an opiate (Dickens, 10) that
are all the examples. When compared the subject to something else, the subject obtains a vivid image
and easily leaves the readers a deep impression.
6. Other means of expressions
Besides what mentions above, there are a lot more means of expressions appearing in the book A
Tale of Two Cities.
Alliteration is used in every fine straight line in the clear whiteness of his face was cruelly,
craftily, and closely compressed (Dickens, 108). Cruelly, craftily and closely compressed
contain the similar meaning and keep the beauty of music and patterns.
Conjugation is used in they do not know the taste of anything but black bread and death
(Dickens, 28). The only thing people could taste in daily life is the black bread and tasting death is
the inevitable tragedy for the villagers. The understatement of death actually shows authors deep
sympathy.
Inversion is used in not a word was spoken, not a sound was made. (Dickens, 37) Bringing the
negative words forward stresses the silence and avoids the same sentence structure with the follow
words.
When long sentence and short sentence contain quite different effect, proper use could produce
amazing reaction. The time went very slowly on, and Mr. Lorrys hope darkened, and his heart grew
heavier again, and grew yet heavier and heavier every day. The third day came and went, the fourth,
the fifth. Five days, six days, seven days, eight days, nine days. (Dickens, 174) When long sentence
aggravates the feeling of tardiness and anxiety towards time, short sentence shows the unchangeable

and hopeless condition. This comparison together expresses Mr. Lorrys immense worry towards
Doctors condition.
At last, when sad sun and running rain appear in the context, life is vested in the nature with the
help of personification
From the cases above, we can see that Dickens is very skilled in wielding the means of
expression. Those expressions not only enrich the context, but offer a wonderful enjoyment of art to
the readers, delivering his mention properly and successfully. Words are more beautiful in the authors
writing.
There are other excellent expressions and examples in the book that I do not mention. In a word,
A Tale of Two Cities is a masterpiece and it deserves a further and further studying.

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