《双城记》英文精品-双城记开头英文

is dark, ominous
Chapters 1 | The Period

The most famous lines in literature “It was the best of times…It was the worst of times” The lines sets the stage for the competing and contradictory attitudes of the novel.
Chapter 1 | The Period



In France, an oppressive social system results in injustices being committed against average citizens, who believe they have the worst of life. The breaking point—riotous rebellion—is near. Meanwhile, in England, people give spiritualists and the supernatural more attention than the revolutionary rumblings from American colonists. England’s ineffective justice system leads to widespread violence and crime. While the English and French kings and queens ignore the misery in their countries, silent forces guide the rulers and their people toward fate and death.
Time, Place and Plot

The story’s action takes place over a period of about eighteen years, beginning in 1775 and ending in 1793. Some of the story takes place earlier, as told in flashback. The story’s main focus is on two men, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look alike, but are entirely different in character. Darnay is a romantic, descended from French aristocrats, while Carton is a cynical English barrister. Both men are in love with Lucie Manette; one will love her from afar and make a courageous sacrifice for her and the other wrring structure, contrast, or literary device that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
Doubles Darnay Dickens
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”



Themes

Major Themes
The possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal level and on a societal level.

Minor themes: or theme: the necessity of sacrifice honor vs. dishonor corruption mob behavior
and Carton (capable and accomplished versus lazy and lacks ambition) uses the oppositions to make judgments and assertions
Shadows
Imagery
and Darkness

Chapter 1 | The Period

Louis XVI – King of France, large jaw Marie Antoinette – Queen of France, fair face George III – King of England, large jaw Sophia Charlotte – Queen of England, plain face Mrs. Southcott – a religious fanatic Cock Lane ghost – a poltergeist making headlines The Woodman – a rebel building a killing machine The Farmer – a rebel hiding this machine in his wagon
Chapter 2 | The Mail




On a Friday night in late November of 1775, a mail coach wends its way from London to Dover. From out of the mists, a messenger on horseback appears and asks to speak to Jarvis Lorry of Tellson’s Bank. The other travelers fear that they have come upon a highwayman or robber. Mr. Lorry, however, recognizes the messenger’s voice as that of Jerry Cruncher, the odd-job-man at Tellson’s, and accepts his message. The note that Jerry passes him reads: “Recalled to Life” and “Wait at Dover for Mam’selle.” Lorry instructs Jerry to return to Tellson’s with this reply: “Recalled to life.”