A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

THE TIME AND PLACE 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 flashback. A flashback reveals something that happened before that point in the story or before the story began.

Five reasons why the Revolution occurred: France could not produce enough food to feed its people. The newly wealthy middle-class – merchants with a bit more education than the average peasant, but less power than the average nobleman - was growing rapidly. Peasants hated the ancient feudal system; they were forced to work for local nobles. New ideas about social and political reforms were spreading. France’s involvement in the American Revolution where they fought with American rebels who believed that they had: the right to take up arms against oppressors the right to “No Taxation without Representation”. the right to “Life. Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” The peasants who were sent to fight and die in America wondered why they did not have the same rights!

Events of the French Revolution July 14, 1789 Storming of the Bastille National Assembly formed by citizens. Law of the Lamppost Storming of monasteries and chateaux – rape, plundering, and murder Declaration of the RIGHTS OF MEN – the French Bill of Rights March on Versailles – Louis XVI’s mansion Constitution of 1791: abolished all rights of the nobles Reign of Terror in 1793 – guillotine Law of Suspects and Law of Maximum Death of the King and Queen on France by beheading.

History of Novel The French Revolution was one of the most important events of the 1700s, and its influence was still strong in Charles Dickens’s time. The revolution began in 1789 with the attack on the notorious prison, the Bastille— a key event in A Tale of Two Cities. France’s revolutionary government frightened Europe’s monarchs, who feared that the spread of democratic ideas would bring an end to their power. The European monarchs sent troops to end the threat to their thrones. Wars raged for six years.

Important Figures – Chapter One Book the First 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

Important Places in Chapter One London, England: filled with highwaymen and people too caught up in religious theories and ghost tales to care that the Americans were restless. Paris, France: filled with nobles who ate too much and peasants who worked too hard and kept dark secrets. Newgate Prison in London: scene of many miscarriages of justice Bastille in Paris: scene of many deaths and lost souls

Summary of Chapter One: “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.

Summary of Chapter Two: “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.”

Summary of Chapter Three: “The Night Shadows” Lorry drifts in and out of dreams. He imagines conversations with a ghost, who tells Lorry that his body has lain buried nearly eighteen years. Lorry informs his imaginary companion that he now has been “recalled to life” and asks him if he cares to live. He also asks, cryptically, “Shall I show her to you? Will you come and see her?”

Summary of Chapter Four: “The Preparations” Lorry is staying at the Royal George Hotel in Dover. That afternoon, a waiter announces that Lucie Manette has arrived from London. Lorry relates the reason that Tellson’s has summoned Lucie to Paris. Her father, once a reputed doctor, has been found alive. “Your father,” Lorry reports to her, “has been taken to the house of an old servant in Paris” Lucie faints. Her protective servant, Miss Pross, rushes in to attend to her. Miss Pross strikes Mr. Lorry with an umbrella for upsetting Lucie.

Summary of Chapter Five: “The Wine Shop” The setting shifts from Dover, England to Saint Antoine, a poor suburb of Paris. A wine cask falls to the pavement in the street and everyone rushes to it. Men kneel and scoop up the wine that has pooled in the paving stones, while women sop up the liquid with handkerchiefs and wring them into the mouths of their babies. One man dips his finger into the “muddy wine-lees” and scrawls the word BLOOD on a wall. The wine shop is owned by Monsieur Defarge,. His wife, Madame Defarge signals to her husband as he enters the wine-shop, alerting him to the presence of strangers. Defarge eyes the strangers but pretends not to notice them, speaking instead with three familiar customers, each of whom refers to the other two as “Jacques” Jacque is a code name that identifies themselves to one another as revolutionaries. After Defarge directs the men to a chamber on the fifth floor and sends them out, Mr. Lorry approaches. Defarge leads Lorry and Lucie up a steep, dangerous rise of stairs. They come to a filthy landing, where the three men from the wine-shop stand staring through chinks in the wall. Defarge unlocks the door to reveal a white-haired man busily making shoes.

Summary of Chapter Six: “The Shoemaker” Defarge asks Dr. Manette what he is doing. Manette reports that he is making a lady’s shoe.” When asked his name, he responds, “One Hundred and Five, North Tower.” As Lucie approaches, the doctor notices her radiant golden hair. Manette opens a knot of rag that he wears around his neck, in which he keeps a strand of similarly golden curls. At first, Manette mistakes Lucie for his wife. Lucie hints to him of the home that awaits him. Manette collapses. Lucie urges that arrangements be made for his immediate departure for England.

Writing Assignment Choose one of the characters we have met so far. Describe what you think that character would look like in terms of appearance and dress. Discuss whether you think this character will have a good impact or a poor impact on the other characters and why.

Test Time

Book the Second: “The Golden Thread”

Chapter One: “Five Years Later” It is now 1780, and we see Tellson’s Bank in London, located by Temple Bar, the spot where the government displayed the heads of executed criminals. Jerry Cruncher wakes up in his small apartment, located in an unsavory London neighborhood. He begins the day by yelling at his wife for “praying against” him; then, he throws his muddy boot at her. Around nine o’clock, Cruncher and his young son await the bankers’ instructions. When an indoor messenger calls for a porter, Cruncher takes off to do the job, leaving a young Jerry sitting alone, and wondering why his father’s fingers always have rust on them.

Chapter Two: “A Sight” The bank clerk instructs Cruncher to go to the Old Bailey Courthouse and await orders from Jarvis Lorry. Cruncher arrives at the court, where Charles Darnay, a handsome, well-bred young man, stands trial for treason. Cruncher understands little of the legal jargon, but he gleans that Darnay has been charged with divulging secret information about the English plans for the American colonies. As Darnay looks to a young lady and her distinguished father, a whisper rushes through the courtroom, speculating on the identity of the two. Eventually, Cruncher discovers that they will serve as witnesses against the prisoner.

Chapter Three: A Disappointment The Attorney-General prosecutes the case, demanding that the jury find Darnay guilty of passing English secrets. The Solicitor-General examines John Barsad, whose testimony supports the Attorney-General’s case. The cross-examination, however, tarnishes Barsad’s pure and righteous character. It reveals that he has served time in debtor’s prison and has been involved in brawls over gambling. The prosecution calls its next witness, Roger Cly, whom the defense attorney, Mr. Stryver, also exposes as a dubious, untrustworthy witness.

Chapter Three, continued Mr. Lorry then takes the stand, and the prosecution asks him if, five years ago, he shared a Dover mail coach with the accused. Lorry contends that his fellow passengers sat so bundled up that their identities remained hidden. The prosecutors then ask similar questions of Lucie, the young woman Darnay had noticed earlier. She admits to meeting the prisoner on the ship back to England. When she recounts how he helped her to care for her sick father, however, she seems to help his case—yet she then inadvertently turns the court against Darnay by reporting his statement that George Washington’s fame might one day match that of George III. Doctor Manette is also called to the stand, but he claims that he remembers nothing of the trip due to his illness.

Chapter Three, continued Mr. Stryver is in the middle of cross-examining another witness “with no result” when his insolent young colleague, Sydney Carton, passes him a note. Stryver begins arguing the contents of the note, which draws the court’s attention to Carton’s own uncanny resemblance to the prisoner. The undeniable likeness foils the court’s ability to identify Darnay as a spy beyond reasonable doubt. The jury retires to deliberate and eventually returns with an acquittal for Darnay.

Chapter Four: Congratulatory Doctor Manette, Lucie, Mr. Lorry, Mr. Stryver, and Darnay exit the courtroom. Dr. Manette has established himself as an upright and distinguished citizen, though the gloom of his terrible past descends on him from time to time. These clouds descend only rarely, however, and Lucie feels confident in her power as “the golden thread” that unites him to a past and present “beyond his misery.” Darnay kisses Lucie’s hand and then turns to Stryver to thank him for his work. Lucie, Manette, and Stryver depart, and a drunk Sydney Carton emerges from the shadows to join the men. Lorry chastises him for not being a serious man of business.

Chapter Four, continued Darnay and Carton make their way to a tavern, where Carton smugly asks, “Is it worth being tried for one’s life, to be the object of [Lucie’s] sympathy and compassion . . . ?” When Darnay comments that Carton has been drinking, Carton gives his reason for indulging himself so: “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.” After Darnay leaves, Carton curses his own image in the mirror, as well as his look-alike, who reminds him of what he has “fallen away from.”

Chapter Five: “The Jackal” Sydney Carton, the “idlest and most unpromising of men,” makes his way from the tavern to Mr. Stryver’s apartment. The men drink together and discuss the day’s court proceedings. Stryver, nicknamed “the lion,” compliments his friend, “the jackal,” for the “rare point” that he made regarding Darnay’s identification. However, he laments Carton’s moodiness. Ever since their days in school together, Stryver observes, Carton has fluctuated between highs and lows, “now in spirits and now in despondency!”

Chapter Five, continued Carton shrugs off Stryver’s accusation that his life lacks a unified direction. Unable to match Stryver’s vaulting ambition, Carton claims that he has no other choice but to live his life “in rust and repose.” Attempting to change the subject, Stryver turns the conversation to Lucie, praising her beauty. Carton dismisses her as a “golden-haired doll,” but Stryver wonders about Carton’s true feelings for her.

The Lion and the Jackal

Reading Assignment Project II for the Victorian Era Study

New Reading Assignments due beginning Monday Choose one of the following chapters: Chapters 6 – 24 in “Book the Second” and Chapters 1 – 9 and 11 - 12 in “Book the Third”. You should prepare a PowerPoint or Word document discussion of this chapter including: Main Characters Settings Main Plot Points Prediction about the next chapter

Writing Prompt One of the titles for this novel that Dickens considered and rejected was Buried Alive. In what ways might this have been an appropriate title?

Book the Third

Chapter One – Main characters Charles Darnay Ernest Defarge Guards

Chapter One - Setting Road to Paris Le Force Prison

Chapter One – Plot Points Travel through France proves difficult for Darnay. Hostile revolutionaries frequently stop him and question him. Upon his arrival in Paris, the revolutionaries confine him to a prison called La Force. Darnay protests and reminds his jailers of his rights. However, the guard responds that, as an emigrant, Darnay—whom he refers to as Evremonde—has no rights. The guard hands Darnay over to Defarge with the instructions, “In secret.” As he is being led away, Darnay converses with the wine merchant. Defarge wonders aloud why Darnay would choose to return to France in the age of “that sharp female newly-born . . . called La Guillotine.” Darnay asks Defarge for help, but Defarge refuses. At La Force, Darnay feels he has entered the world of the dead. A fellow prisoner welcomes him to the prison and says that he hopes that Darnay will not be kept “in secret”. But Darnay has indeed been sentenced to total isolation.

Chapter One - Prediction

Book the Third Chapter 2 The Grindstone By Cole Montgomery

Characters Lucie Dr. Manette Mr. Lorry People in Courtyard

Paris branch of Tellson's Bank Setting Paris branch of Tellson's Bank

Plot Points Dr. Manette and Lucie tell Mr. Lorry that Darnay is in prison in La Force Dr. Manette thinks he can use his standing as a one-time prisoner at the Bastille to help rescue his son-in-law Mr. Lorry and Doctor Manette look out into the courtyard and see people sharpening their weapons on a grindstone because they plan to kill the prisoners Dr. Manette rushes into the crowd, and soon a cry arises: “Help for the Bastille prisoner’s kindred in La Force!”

Prediction I believe that Lucie will try to think of a way to get Darnay out of Prison.

Book the Third Chapter 3 "The Shadow" By, Amy Thompson

Main Characters The Vengeance- Madame Defarges' friend. Mr. Lorry Dr. Manette Charles Darnay Jerry Crutcher Miss Pross Mr. Lorry Monsieur Defarge Madame Defarge Lucie (Manette) Darnay Lucie's Child- the child of Charles Darnay's & hers

Settings Tellson's Bank Lodging, near Tellson's Bank Coach (wagon)

Main Plot Mr. Lorry feared that Lucie and Dr. Manette's presence might comprise Tellsons Banks business. So, Mr. Lorry ushers Lucie, her daughter, and Miss Pross to a nearby lodging. He leaves Jerry Cruncher to guard them. Back at Tellson's, Monsieur Defarge approaches Mr. Lorry, and gives him a note to Manette. Following Dr. Manette's instructions, Lorry leads Monsieur Defarge to Lucie.

Main Plot Defarge claims that Madam Defarge must accompany them, so she cam familiarize herself with the faces of Lucie, her daughter, and Miss Pross, in order to protect them in the future. The woman known as The Vengeance also comes. Upon arriving at the lodging, Monsieur Defarge gives Lucie a note from the imprisoned Darnay. It urges her to take courage. Turning to Madame Defarge, Lucie begs her to show Darnay some mercy, but Madame Defarge coldly responds that the revolution will not stop for the sake of Lucie or her family.

Prediction I predict that Sydney Carton will take Charles Darnay's place in prison.