Stylistic Prose Techniques

ENC1101

March 1, 2008

Stylistic Prose Techniques

A Tale of Two Cities

In the novel, “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens, the writer uses multiple styles and techniques. Some of the different styles and techniques used are point of view, foreshadowing, and symbols. Putting all these stylistic and techniques together can create a great story. Some may find this to be a difficult reading to understand, but with every passage there is a meaning behind it.

Point of view is the position a narrator takes on speaking about something, such as in third person. The writer switches his focus between cities and among several characters. This may make for difficult reading in order to maintain the track of the story. The narrator is also not speaking his thoughts, emotions, and motives of the characters. The third person in this story gives the reader an example of a relationship of people going through the hardships of the time during the French Revolution. If the writer would have written this story as the first person it would have been extremely difficult to go from one city to another. In very few instances is the word “I” or “we” used in this story. When the writer does write as the 1st person it is only in a personal, introspective way on human nature.

Foreshadowing is when an author gives subtle hints about future happenings in the book. In Chapter Five of Book One, the writer indicates the breaking of a wine cask to show a large, impoverished crowd gathered in a united cause. Later, in the book you find that Madame Defarge symbolically knitting, this indicates the death warrants of the St. Evremonde family. Also, after Marquis is murdered for killing the small child with his horses, the theme of revenge will become all too