CHARLES DICKENS
David Copperfield Great Expectations Oliver Twist
Nicholas Nickleby
The Old Curiosity Shop Hard Times
Bleak House
Our Mutual Friend Pickwick Papers Dombey and Son Barnaby Rudge Martin Chuzzlewit Christmas Books Little Dorrit
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Satirised hypocrisy and cruelty
Focused on social criticism
Created both life-like characters &
caricatures
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Historical Novel
Setting: Begins in 1775, action divided between London
& Paris in the first 2 books. Last book is devoted to the Reign of Terror
Narrator: omniscient
COMPARISONS
Life in England – Life in France
Charles Darnay – Sydney Carton
Lucie Manette – Madame Defarge
SYMBOLS
France & the colour red
Wine spilled on the street
Lion & Tiger
Tellson’s Bank
Knitting
Lucie Manette: angelic figure, loving heart, pure soul, a gentle mother
Madame Defarge: cruel killer Sydney Carton: Christ-like figure
Jarvis Lorry & Miss Pross: helpers/protectors
Aristo crats
&
Clerg ymen
Rising Bourgeoisie
Peasants & Workers
RECALLED TO LIFE
Who is recalled to life?
How?
Where is he now?
What will Jarvis and Lucie do?
CHAPTER 5: THE WINE-SHOP
Thirst
Togetherness (men, women, children)
The poverty
Dancing & Laughing
Hunger
The whole scene is parallel with the scenes after the start of the revolution & thus gives Dickens’ message.
THE MESSAGE
Revolution produces a more dreadful violation of justice and humanity.
Therefore, it cannot be the solution to the injustice in a society.
THE SHOEMAKER
Who is the shoemaker?
Why is he called that way?
“Did you ask me for my name?”
“Assuredly I did.”
“One Hundred and Five, North Tower.”
“Is that all?”
“One Hundred and Five, North Tower.”
BOOK TWO / CHAPTER ONE
FIVE YEARS LATER…
Starts with a description of Tellson’s Bank.
What is the significance of the description?
What is the role of the bank in the action?
CHARLES DARNAY
SYDNEY CARTON
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ECHOING FOOTSTEPS
What do they symbolise?
MARQUIS EVRÉMONDE
THE MONSEIGNEUR
How are the Marquis, Charles
Darnay, Doctor Manette, Lucie
Manette and Madame Defarge
related to each other?
How does the movement of
the Jacques begin?
THE KNITTING
The Jacques meet again. What do they talk about?
How is it related to the knitting?
What is the function of the knitting?
How does it work?
What is the function of John Barsad?
How does the revolution begin?
How do we witness Madame Defarge’s cruelty?
FIRE RISES
“Monseigneur was a national blessing, gave a chivalrous tone to things, was a polite example of luxurious and shining life […]
nevetheless, Monseigneur as a class had, somehow or other, brought things to this. Strange that Creation, designed expressly for Monseigneur, should be so soon wrung dry and squeezed out!
There must be something short-sighted in the eternal arrangements, surely!”
The year is 1792.
Why do Jarvis Lorry and Charles Darnay go to Paris when they know it is too dangerous?
How do the French refer to Charles Darnay? Why?
What is the new decree of France that Charles learns only on the day he left England?
Why does Monsieur Defarge help Charles, Dr Manette and Mr Lorry?
REIGN OF TERROR
Revenge
Violence, Brutality, Murder, Ruthlessness
La Guillotine
The scene of the Carmagnole is similar to the wine-shop scene at the beginning.
Charles’s trial scene in France is also similar to his trial scene in London at the beginning of the novel.
How does Sydney Carton change places with Charles Darnay in prison?
Why does he sacrifice himself to save Charles?
“I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord.
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
How does the above quotation apply to Carton?
