Book the First: Recalled to Life A Tale of Two Cities Book the First: Recalled to Life

The opening from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 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 the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Teacher model: It was the funniest of jokes, it was the sourest of jokes, it was meant to be funny, it was intended to be tragic, it was humor of the absurd, it was humor of the intelligent, it was the highlight of the day, it was the day’s low point, it was like a summer from my childhood, it was the fall of innocence, we wanted to laugh, we wanted to weep, we should have published the joke, we should have burned it to never be seen again--in short, we had hoped would be the joke that kept us together, but it became the joke that tore our friendship apart.

Sentence Starters “It was the laziest of Saturdays...“ “He/She was the happiest of children....“ “He/She was the kindest of teachers...“ “It was the fairest of punishments...“ “It was the most loyal of pets...“ “He/She was the wealthiest of investors...” “He/She was the most patient of parents...”

1 “The Period” 1775 France: King with large jaw / Queen “fair” pretty *too much spending of paper money *unjust (harsh) punishments *foreshadowing coming revolution England: King with large jaw / Queen “plain” ugly *burglaries and robberies *hangman kept busy

Guillotine

Tumbrel

Gallows

2 “The Mail” Mail coach with passengers—too muddy so travelers walking A horse gallops up—looking for Jarvis Lorry Jerry is the messenger on horseback The message is “Wait at Dover for Mam’selle” (19). The return message is “RECALLED TO LIFE” (19).

Dover

White Cliffs of Dover

Strait of Dover Map

Temple Bar

3 “The Night Shadows” The messenger on horseback (Jerry) calls himself an “honest tradesman” (22). Description of Jerry on page 22 18 years (?)

4 “The Preparation” Royal George Hotel in Dover Miss Manette arrives from London 17 years old, golden hair, blue eyes (29) Lorry remembers bringing her to England as a child, age 2 She thinks her father is dead Lorry claims this is all just a matter of business, no feeling involved Her father was Doctor of Beauvais; her mother was English Father locked away in prison & forgotten; this happened while mother was pregnant Father must secretly be taken from France Red-haired woman (35)

5 “The Wine-Shop” In France Wine cask breaks in street “BLOOD” (38) is written on the wall by Gaspard. Poor of Saint Antoine are the “scarecrows” (39). Wine-shop keeper Defarge (40); wife Madame Defarge always knitting Jacques (41) Mr. Lorry & Miss Manette visit wine-shop Making shoes

Wine Cask

6 “The Shoemaker” He says his name is “One Hundred and Five, North Tower” (49). He at first thinks Miss Manette is his wife Mr. Lorry & Monsieur Defarge go to arrange carriage/horses and traveling papers (54) Mr. Jarvis Lorry asks, “I hope you care to be recalled to life?” (57).

Book the Second: The Golden Thread A Tale of Two Cities Book the Second: The Golden Thread

1 “Five Years Later” 1780 Description of Tellson’s Bank by Temple Bar [Temple Bar marked the boundary between the cities of London and Westminster] Reminder that all crimes punishable by death (62) Jerry Cruncher “was an odd-job-man” (63). Mr. Cruncher “often came home after banking hours with clean boots, he often got up next morning to find the same boots covered with clay” (64). Flopping Young Jerry notices his father’s fingers and says, “Al-ways rusty!” (66).

2 “A Sight” Old Bailey—court house Charles Darnay on trial for treason; quartering is punishment (69) Jerry is to be on-hand at the court as a messenger for Mr. Lorry Prisoner description (70) Miss Manette and father are witnesses against the prisoner

3 “A Disappointment” Attorney-General’s opening speech John Barsad is questioned (75) Roger Cly is questioned (76) Mr. Lorry questioned (77) Miss Manette questioned (78) Doctor Manette questioned (80) A note is passed (81) Mr. Stryver & Mr. Carton (82) Description of Carton (83) Acquitted (85)

4 “Congratulatory” Charles Darnay released Mr. Stryver a little over 30, looks over 50 (86-7) Mr. Carton “was unrobed, and was none the better for it in appearance” (88). It was “Carton, who smelt of port wine, and [who] did not appear to be quite sober” (89). Carton & Darnay drink to Miss Manette Darnay leaves, Carton drinks and passes out

5 “The Jackal” Stryver is not good at “extracting the essence from a heap of statements” (92). Sydney Carton has the brains Everyone can see that “although Sydney Carton would never be a good lion, he was an amazingly good jackal, and that he rendered suit to Stryver in that humble capacity” (93). Lion? Sydney says to himself: “I did exercises for other boys, and seldom did my own” (95).

6 “Hundreds of People” Doctor Manette and Lucie live near Soho Square Mr. Lorry often comes to visit Miss Pross (99) The “Hundreds of People” could be the “dozens of people who are not at all worthy of Ladybird,” according to Miss Pross (101). Miss Pross has a brother named Solomon (102) Dr. Manette is sometimes heard at night “walking up and down” (103). Darnay comes and tells a story about the Tower (106) Mr. Carton also shows up Darnay claims that the echoing footsteps sound like a “multitude of people” (108). The chapter ends with: “Perhaps. Perhaps, see the great crowd of people with its rush and roar, bearing down upon them, too” (109).

7 “Monseigneur in Town” “Monseigneur”: used as an honorific in French-speaking areas, especially for princes and prelates. Monseigneur needs four men to have his chocolate Monseigneur only thinks about himself Monseigneur’s description (114) Monsieur the Marquis kills a boy The boy killed was Gaspard’s child Monsieur the Marquis pays a gold coin (116)

8 “Monseigneur in the Country” What is the problem with the bottom of Monseigneur’s carriage? What does the woman whose husband is dead want?

9 “The Gorgon’s Head” What is being described in the first paragraph? Who is Monseigneur waiting for? Who is dead by the end of the chapter? Who do you suspect did the killing, and why?

10 “Two Promises” 11 “A Companion Picture” What is the first promise? What is the second promise? What does Dr. Manette do after hearing the promises? Who does Mr. Stryver want to marry? What advice does Stryver give to Carton about marriage?

12 “The Fellow of Delicacy” Who? Stryver or Lorry? Stryver wants to barge in on the Manette’s Soho home and ask Lucie to marry him Lorry thinks this is a bad idea Sour grapes

13 “The Fellow of No Delicacy” Sydney Carton goes to tell Lucie that he loves her

14 “The Honest Tradesman” “The honest tradesman” is who? Is this person honest? Why or why not? Explain. Who is the funeral for? When Mrs. Cruncher “flops,” what is she doing, and why? When Jerry Cruncher “goes fishing,” where is he going, and why? Why do YOU think Jerry is so mad at his wife when he gets home from fishing?

Quiz: Chapters 15-18 What is Madame Defarge knitting? Who is the spy now in France that Madame Defarge adds to her register? Who are the only two characters in “One Night” (chapter 17) and what are they discussing? Write a paragraph about “Nine Days” (chapter 18).

19 “An Opinion” Mr. Lorry & Miss Pross break up workbench and bury the tools.

20 “A Plea” Mr. Carton asks Mr. Darnay if he could come over sometimes Lucie asks Charles to be nicer to Mr. Carton

21 “Echoing Footsteps” Six years have passed Daughter named little Lucie Son dies This chapter switches from London to Paris Attack on the Bastille Defarge looking for something in Dr. Manette’s old cell

22 “The Sea Still Rises” France Foulon—Roger Cly, the spy (?)

23 “Fire Rises” What “fire rises” in this chapter? Are things better for the peasants now that the revolution has begun? Explain why. Tell about the “shaggy-haired” man who stops to speak with the “mender of roads”? What happens to the château? Why? How? Why doesn’t anyone do anything about the château?

24 “Drawn to the Loadstone Rock” 1792 Mr. Lorry & Jerry Cruncher going to France Charles Darnay is really Marquis St. Evrémonde Letter from Gabelle Darnay goes to France

Book the Third: The Track of a Storm A Tale of Two Cities Book the Third: The Track of a Storm

1 “In Secret” Darnay travels through France Darnay put in gaol

2 “The Grindstone” Tellson’s in Paris Lucie, little Lucie, Dr. Manette in Paris Literal vs. Figurative What is the connection? Write a paragraph.

Try to write a paragraph. 3 “The Shadow” Defarge is acting as messenger Madame Defarge wanted to see little Lucie Literal vs. Figurative What is the connection? Try to write a paragraph.

4 “Calm in Storm” Dr. Manette trying to get Charles Darnay released from prison La Guillotine—National Razor

5 “The Wood-Sawyer” 15 months “Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death” (272) Citizen Wood-sawyer “Little Sainte Guillotine” Carmagnole? People dancing Tumbrils: carts used to transport prisoners to the guillotine Charles summoned to Conciergerie

6 “Triumph” Darnay on trial because he is an emigrant Darnay’s witnesses: Théophile Gabelle Alexandre Manette Darnay released from prison

7 “A Knock at the Door” Added Darnay’s name to door post Daily shopping done by Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher Charles going back to prison He has been denounced by the Defarges and one other person

8 “A Hand at Cards” Pross & Cruncher shopping See someone they know Solomon—John Barsad Sydney Carton (294) Barsad, Carton, Lorry & Cruncher at Tellson’s talking Barsad (Solomon Pross) and Carton have a private chat

9 “The Game Made” Mr. Lorry fires Jerry: --Jerry’s son will take his place --Jerry will now dig graves Plan: one visit with Charles can be arranged Carton (304) Carton buys something from the chemist

Carton walks streets all night Trial for Darnay: Ernest Defarge Carton’s parents are dead but he remembers the words that were said at his father’s funeral: I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. (308) Carton walks streets all night Trial for Darnay: Ernest Defarge Thérèse Defarge Alexandre Manette

10 “The Substance of the Shadow” The letter that had been found in 105 North Tower is read Dr. Manette taken by two brothers whose last name started with the letter E Two patients: a young woman and a teenage boy who are brother and sister Charles is the son of one of the brothers End of letter denounces family & descendants

QuickWrite for chap. 10 If a friend needed help, would you help him, even if it meant you might go to jail, or even die because of it? Give an example.

Quiz: Chapters 11 & 12 How does Charles feel about Doctor Manette now that he knows about the letter? What bad habit does Carton seem to have given up? Why do YOU think he has quit? What does Madame Defarge notice about Sydney Carton? What relation is Madame Defarge to the woman spoken of in the letter written by Doctor Manette so many years ago? What state of mind is Doctor Manette in when he returns? Explain.

11 “Dusk” Charles to die in 24 hours “A life you love” (329). Dr. Manette is to try again

12 “Darkness” Carton goes to wine-shop and overhears the Defarges talking Madame Defarge related to girl and guy in letter Dr. Manette mentally lost Plan to leave France

13 “Fifty-two” 52 people to die next day Darnay writing farewell letters Sydney comes! Poison? Dr. Manette, Little Lucie, Lucie, Mr. Lorry, and Charles get away

14 “The Knitting Done” Madame Defarge wants all of Darnay’s family dead Jerry Cruncher & Miss Pross prepare to leave Cruncher leaves; Madame Defarge comes in Pross kills her

15 “The Footsteps Die Out For Ever” Sydney talking to girl “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known” (367).