Background Dickens' twelfth novel was published in his new weekly journal, All the Year Round, without illustrations. Simultaneously with the weekly parts, the novel was also published in monthly parts with illustrations by Hablot Browne. An American edition was also published, in slightly later weekly parts (May to December 1859), inHarper's Weekly. The novel, which begins "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Dickens researched the historical background meticulously, using his friend Thomas Carlyle s History of the French Revolution as a reference. Dickens' twelfth novel was published in his new weekly journal, All the Year Round, without illustrations. Simultaneously with the weekly parts, the novel was also published in monthly parts with illustrations by Hablot Browne. An American edition was also published, in slightly later weekly parts (May to December 1859), inHarper's Weekly. The novel, which begins "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Dickens researched the historical background meticulously, using his friend Thomas Carlyle s History of the French Revolution as a reference.

Major Themes Resurrection Resurrection Class Struggle Class Struggle Sacrifice Sacrifice

Major Characters Doctor Manette Character Traits Honest Honest Sincere Sincere Sensitive Sensitive Brave Brave Selfless Selfless

Lucie Manette (The doctor s daughter) Character Traits Extremely caring and devoted Extremely caring and devoted Someone who believed in her inner goodness to the extent of penetrating it to anyone else Someone who believed in her inner goodness to the extent of penetrating it to anyone else Brave enough to face any trouble without shattering Brave enough to face any trouble without shattering

Charles Darnay Character Traits Loved justice Loved justice Hated oppression Hated oppression Hard working Hard working Sincere Sincere

Sydney Carton Character Traits Cynical Cynical Sincere Sincere Unassuming Unassuming Helpful Helpful

Jarvis Lorry Character Trait A man of bussiness A man of bussiness Extremely loyal to everyone he was associated with Extremely loyal to everyone he was associated with Firm with rules Firm with rules

Miss Pross Character Traits Emotional Emotional Loyal Loyal Strong headed Strong headed Devoted Devoted

Emphasis on religion in novel There is a special stress on religion in the novel There is a special stress on religion in the novel All the major characters are more or less religious people All the major characters are more or less religious people Believe in the hereafter is very much stressed too Believe in the hereafter is very much stressed too

Good versus Evil Good The perseverance of values against all odds The perseverance of values against all odds Believe in God and the ultimate retribution Believe in God and the ultimate retribution The strength to resist tyranny and stand against it The strength to resist tyranny and stand against itEvil The oppression by the ruling class The oppression by the ruling class The unflinching desire to take revenge The unflinching desire to take revenge The boldness in doing crimes The boldness in doing crimes

Sequence of Events Doctor Manette s is imprisoned Doctor Manette s is imprisoned Doctor Manette s Doctor Manette s Charles Darnay s case in England Charles Darnay s case in England Charles Darnay s Charles Darnay s Charles and Lucie get wedded Charles and Lucie get weddedLucie Foulon is executed Foulon is executed The fall of Bastille The fall of Bastille Mr Defarge searches Doctor Manette s cell Mr Defarge searches Doctor Manette s cell Gabelle s arrested Gabelle s arrested

The Fall of Bastille

Charles Darnay arrives in Paris Doctor Manette s makes efforts to release Darnay Charles is arrested again Doctor Manette loses his mind again Sydney Carton s arrives in Paris Sydney Carton s Miss Pross encounters John Solomon (her brother) Sydney Carton talks to Solomon Sydney Carton takes Charles place at the guillotine Sydney Carton dies Charles Darnay reaches England safely!

The Guillotine

Faith Vindicates Faith Vindicates 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 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