A Tale of Two Cities Analytical Essay Test Unit 4

Essential Questions  EQ: How do writers create engaging voice and style in their writing?  EQ: How do writers shape the way we view ourselves and our world?

Tale of Two Cities Final Essay Test EQ: How do writers shape the way we view ourselves and our world?  Chapter 10 “The Substance of the Shadow” is not only ironic, it illustrates insight into life and the human condition.

Summary of Chapter 10: The Substance of the Shadow  Defarge claims that Manette wrote the letter while imprisoned in the Bastille, and he reads it aloud. It tells the story of Manette’s imprisonment. In 1757, a pair of brothers, one the Marquis Evrémonde (Darnay’s father) and the other the next in line to be Marquis (Darnay’s uncle, the man who ran over the child with his carriage in Book the Second, Chapter 7), ordered Doctor Manette to care for a young peasant woman, who was dying of a fever, and her brother, who was dying of a stab wound. The Marquis’ brother had raped the young woman, killed her husband, and stabbed her brother, who died quickly. Although the woman was still alive, Manette failed to save her life. The next day a kind woman—the Marquis’ wife and Darnay’s mother— came to Manette’s door. Having heard about the horrible things done to the peasant girl and her family, she offers to help the girl’s sister, who was hidden away so the Marquis could not find her. Unfortunately, Manette does not know the sister’s whereabouts. The next day, Manette was taken away and imprisoned in the Bastille on the orders of the Marquis Evrémonde. After hearing this story, the jury sentences Darnay to death, to pay for the sins of his father and uncle. (Source: Spark Notes)

Standards  RL.10.6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature (GLE 2.4.7) (Quality of the thesis/theme)  4= abundant analysis of point of view  3= adequate analysis of point of view  W.10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research  4= abundant evidence: Claim/TBE itself/Commentary  3= adequate evidence: Claim/TBE itself/Commentary

Essay Test Prompt  Given the fact that Dr. Manette knew that Charles Darnay was the nephew of the Marquis, Dickens may have had intent in writing this chapter. If so, given all the events that have taken place in Manette’s life and all that goes on in the novel, what statement about life or humans may Dickens have been making?   Short intro with thesis as theme/message   Body paragraphs where you address…   What is Dickens’ intent in writing this chapter in the context of the book?   What is the significance of his message?   How Dickens’s message illuminates the book as a whole   Closing  Writing process: pre-write, rough and final draft  Final draft in -MLA style