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The first opium war happened in the year of 1839 to 1842. It was fought between China and Britain. Another war happened ( the second Opium War) in the year of 1856 to 1860. This time China fought Britain and France. "In 1839, when the Opium War between China and Great Britain broke out, Tao Chi'en was sixteen years old." (200) Allende uses characterization to help us understand Tao's
past. -
Large portion of exports and imports were controlled by the British merchants in Chile. "And that was the state of things at the end of
1845." (Allende 76) Allende used imagery to
describe Joaquin's home. -
In the year 1848, the city of San Francisco was going through a big change. “ Gold was discovered on January 24, 1848--—San Francisco was thus a large enough town to attract the significant commerce resulting from the gold discovery.” (www.foundsf.org). During that year “...SF wasnt much of a town” (160).
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"The last days of January 1850 witnessed
one of the worst ice storms ever seen in
those parts. No one dared leave shelter; the
town seemed dead, and for more than ten
days not a single customer came to the
barn. (Allende 370)” The months of November, December, January, and March had record and nearly record precipitation totals due to the relentless rains that the winter of 1850 brought about. (sierrasun.com) To illustrate the treachery of the storm, Allende used personification.