The contrast between silence and sound, darkness and light, like that between summer and winter,
was more strongly marked than it is in our lives. The modern town hardly knows silence or darkness in their purity, nor the effect of a solitary light or a single distant cry.
All things presenting themselves to the mind in violent contrasts and impressive forms lent a
tone of excitement and passion to everyday life and tended to produce that perpet ual oscillation
between despair and distracted joy, between cruelty and pious tenderness which characterize life in the Middle Ages

If something presents itself to your mind, it means 'It attracts your attention and you perceive it'. 

Here's the idea.

The fact that all things attracted your attention and were perceived by you in violent contrasts and impressive forms lent a tone of excitement and passion to everyday life . . .

Here's a simplified version.

Everything seemed to have violent contrasts, and seemed to be impressive. This made everyday life more exciting . . .  

Best wishes, Clive