Historical Background The French Revolution 1789 to 1793

Social and Political Upheaval The French Revolution followed the Seven Years War France was in debt and attempted to restore the countries financial statues through taxation. The people demanded change, which was driven by the “Enlightenment Period.”

Enlightenment Period A philosophical movement of the 18th century, particularly in France. “The Enlightenment celebrated the reason, the scientific method, and human beings’ ability to perfect themselves and their society. It grew out of a number of 17th century intellectual attainments: the discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton, the rationalism of Descartes, and Pierre Bayle, and the empiricism of Francis Bacon and John Locke.”

Enlightenment Period This period was also known as The Age of Reason.” The Enlightenment was the “intellectual ferment” the helped start the French Revolution. This period really emphasized self-knowledge, self control, rationalism, and the rule of law, and order. http://www.history.com/topics/enlightenment

French Revolution A period of social and political upheaval from 1789 – 1793 Violent periods of political turmoil http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution The French Revolution triggered the global decline of monarchies while replacing them with republics and liberal democracies. Regarded as one of the most important evens in human history.

Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities (1859) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…

Charles Dickens A British novelist from England His family was extremely poor He was the second of eight children Dickens father was sent to prison for debt. Dickens was required to leave school in order to support the family. From then on he was seen as and economic resource for the family. Dickens felt abandoned and betrayed by his parents. This idea was a recurring theme in his writing.

Charles Dickens He began his career as a journalist. He was first recognized for such works as Sketches by Boz and Pickwick Papers. Dickens lobbied for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. He died in 1870 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

A Tale of Two Cities Historical- Fiction, Social Criticism Historical fiction novels create a realistic historical setting by relying on an authentic sense of place. Historical novels are brought to life by detailed, factual portrayals of the setting’s geography, culture, society, and customs. Published in 1859

A Tale of Two Cities Victorian Novel Term used to designate literature written during the time of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901) Characterized by the struggle of working people and their determination to right the wrong. A Tale of Two Cities was first published in parts in Dickens’ magazine All Year Round. It was later collected and published as a complete work.

Dickens chose to make the plot the centerpiece of this novel.

The Plot The action of A Tale of Two Cities 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 the flashbacks. It centers around the years leading up to French Revolution and culminates in the Jacobin Reign of Terror. It tells the story of two men, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look very alike but are entirely different in character.

Darnay is a romantic descended from French aristocrats, while Carton is a cynical English barrister. The two are in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette: one of them will give up his life for her, and the other will marry her. Lucie Manette Charles Darnay Sydney Carton

In France after more than seventeen years of unjust imprisonment, Dr In France after more than seventeen years of unjust imprisonment, Dr. Alexandre Manette (Lucie’s father) is released from the infamous Bastille, setting into motion this time spanning story of revenge and resurrection. Upon his release, Manette is sheltered and cared for by an old servant, Ernest Defarge, the wine vendor and his wife Madame Defarge. Madame Defarge

The Setting                                                                   London, England Paris, France

Conflict In his dual focus on the French Revolution and the individual lives of his characters, Dickens draws many comparisons between the historical developments taking place and the characters’ triumphs and travails.

Structure of the Novel & Literary Devices Used in A Tale of Two Cities

Originally written as a newspaper serial (appeared once a week in the newspaper. Dickens was paid by the word so there are lots of characters and cliffhangers. Length = 367 pages Divided into three books or sections- Book The First: Recalled to Life (6 chapters) Book the Second: The Golden Thread (24 chapters) Book the Third: The Track of a Storm (15 chapters)

Themes A Tale of Two Cities (fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work) A Tale of Two Cities Major theme: The possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal level and on a societal level. Minor themes: the necessity of sacrifice oppression/exploitation honor vs. dishonor violence/greed/hatred corruption         effects of imprisonment mob behavior self-sacrifice love hopelessness fate

Themes A Tale of Two Cities (fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work) A Tale of Two Cities Major theme: The possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal level and on a societal level. Example: The most significant “resurrections” are those of Charles Darnay – (surrounded heavily with religious language that compare Carton’s sacrifice of his own life for others’ sins to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross).

Themes A Tale of Two Cities (fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work) A Tale of Two Cities Theme: Family: Dickens’ novel portrays the importance of the preservation of family groups. The novel focuses on the struggle to keep Dr. Manatee's family together.

Themes A Tale of Two Cities (fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work) A Tale of Two Cities Theme: Class struggle and social injustice: Dickens novel conveys his opposition to the methods (ruthlessness / unconrolled mobs) used during the French Revolution. Dickens opposed the aristocratic mistreatment of the lower classes. He used this mistreatment to to justify some of the goals of the mob.

Literary Devices Anaphora- Using a repeating word or phrase to begin multiple clauses or sentences. Example - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” “it was” appears ten times in this opening sentence. Allusions- Antithesis- Figurative Language- Imagery- Metaphor- Parallelism- Personification- Simile- Review each term, ask students for examples or have the students look up the terms in a glossary or dictionary.

Literary Devices Parallelism – The arrangement that one element of equal importance with another. The construction of a sentence so the components are grammatically similar in their sound, meaning, or meter. Example - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” “it was” appears ten times in this opening sentence. By repeating “ It was…”, prompts the reader to focus on the trait that follows the phrase. Review each term, ask students for examples or have the students look up the terms in a glossary or dictionary.

Literary Devices Antithesis – A figure of speech characterized by strongly contracting words, clauses, sentences, or ideas. It is the balancing of one term against another term. “True antithetical structure demands not only tht there be an opposition of idea but that the opposition in different parts be manifested through similar grammatical structure. “The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, And wretches hang that jury-men may dine.” Pope The noun “wretches” is opposed by “jury-men” The verb “hang” is opposed by “dine” Review each term, ask students for examples or have the students look up the terms in a glossary or dictionary.

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. Doubles ( various characters seemed paired as opposites) Darnay= capable and accomplished Carton= lazy and lacks ambition Shadows & Darkness

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. The Broken Wine Cask (blood spilling on the streets) Dickens creates a symbol for the desperate quality of the people’s hunger. The hunger is both literal hunger for food and the metaphorical hunber for political freedoms or even blood (revenge for their treatment). The wine cask is also a foreshadow of what’s to stain the streets red in the near future. Madame Defarge’s Knitting (seemingly harmless, spinning vengeance) Peasants rise up to massacre their oppressors. The knitting seems to have an association between vengefulness and fate, which in Greek mythology, is traditionally linked. The Marquis (ruthless aristocratic cruelty) The Marquis is completely indifferent to the lives of the peasants whom he exploits. Lack of sympathy for the father who has lost his child when Marquis’ carriage runs the child over.

The Author’s Style Dickens heavily emphasized themes throughout his novel. Those themes were portrayed as the underlying cause of the characters’ actions. His sentence structure varies from short, choppy ones to long run on sentences. He uses imagery to portray scenes and characters He uses repetitive details and parallelism in order to make sure the reader sees what he wants them to see.