Book II: "The Golden Thread"

Book II, Chapter 1: "Five Years Later"

  1. Describe Tellson’s bank. What is the bank’s attitude toward change? What details from this passage show this?
  2. Jerry Cruncher is the only character reminiscent of the broadly-drawn comic caricatures that figure so prominently in his early novels: how is he both comic and yet consistent with Dickens' attack on social conditions?
  3. How does Tellson's epitomize English complacency?
  4. How do Jerry's hands and boots constitute a mystery?
  5. What behavior of Mrs. Cruncher makes Mr. Cruncher angry? Why does this anger him?

Book II, Chapter 2: "A Sight"

  1. How is Dickens critical of both the Old Bailey and Bedlam? What are these two institutions and what are they famous for?
  2. Why are the Manettes in court?
  3. What punishment is meant by "quartering"?
  4. For what crime is the punishment reserved?
  5. What precisely is the charge leveled at Darnay?
  6. What changed impression do we get of Dr. Manette?

Book II, Chapter 3. "A Disappointment"

  1. How does Stryver discredit the prosecution's first witness, John Barsad?
  2. What are the incriminating circumstances under which Darnay had travelled back and forth from England to France?
  3. What is suspicious about the Crown's evidence?
  4. How does Roger Cly's testimony seem more conclusive?
  5. However, what inconvenient facts discredit Cly?
  6. Lorry's testimony merely establishes that Darnay was on the Dover-Calais packet; what damage does Lucy's do?
  7. How does Stryver confuse the witness who testifies to Darnay's being "in that garrison-and-dockyard town" (p. 103)?

Book II, Chapter 4: "Congratulatory"

  1. What do you think Carton’s and Darnay’s toast foreshadows?
  2. What is Sydney Carton’s job? What negative impressions do we get of Carton?
  3. We note that Dr. Manette's "face had become frozen . . . in a very curious look at Darnay: an intent look, deepening into a frown of dislike and distrust, not even unmixed with fear" (p. 112). What two devices is Dickens using here?
  4. What suggestion does Dickens implant in the reader's mind by the closing line of this chapter?

Book II, Chapter 5: "The Jackal"

  1. What is the relationship between the so-called Jackal and Lion?
  2. What is Carton’s opinion of himself?

Book II, Chapter 6: "Hundreds of People"

  1. Why is Miss Pross jealous of Darnay and Carton?
  2. How is the incident alluded to in question 2, Chapter 4, repeated and yet also augmented here?
  3. What do the echoing footsteps foreshadow?
  4. Describe Miss Pross as she appears on the surface and how she really is once you get to know her.

Book II, Chapter 7: "Monseigneur in Town"

  1. Why does Dickens heap verbally ironic sarcasm (e.g., "his sanctuary of sanctuaries" on p. 134) on Monseigneur?
  2. Why had Monseigneur taken his sister from a convent and married her off (below her social station) to a very rich Farmer-General?
  3. What is the moral climate created by Monseigneur's guests?
  4. Describe the “accident” that befalls the Monsieur the Marquis in the streets of Paris. How does the Marquis rationalize the accident?
  5. In classical myth the three Fates spun, wove, and cut the thread of a person's life — how does Dickens connect Madame Defarge with these supernatural beings from the accident scene to the end of the chapter?

Book II, Chapter 8: "Monseigneur in the Country"

  1. The setting sun's blush on the Marquis' face suggests what fate awaits him?
  2. What accounts for the apathetic conditions of the crops, the village, and its people?
  3. What unusual sight did the roadmender see? What prediction can you make from this?
  4. In the last chapter the Marquis thought of the peasants as rats and dogs, and here he addresses the road-mender as "pig" (p. 145) why is his rudeness ironic here?
  5. How does this chapter confirm a connection between Charles and the Marquis?

Book II, Chapter 9: "The Gorgon's Head"

  1. How does this title seem appropriate for the chapter?
  2. Though closely related, how do the Marquis and his nephew from England radically differ?
  3. What intentions does the Marquis imply he has towards Dr. Manette and to his nephew?
  4. How does the note around the murder weapon explain why the Marquis was killed?
  5. Why is the Marquis, uncle to Charles Darnay, actually his enemy?

Book II, Chapter 10: "Two Promises"

  1. What is the chronological setting relative to Chapter 9?
  2. What is Darnay’s professional and personal condition?
  3. Why is it ironic that Dr. Manette refuses to listen when Charles tries to tell him his real name?
  4. What are the two promises that the Doctor makes Charles?
  5. What is the effect on the Doctor of making these promises? Why do you think they had this effect on him?
  6. What is particularly noble about Charles' profession of love for Lucie, made to her father?

Book II, Chapter 11: "A Companion Picture"

  1. Why does Stryver continually criticize and belittle Sydney Carton for his social lapses?
  2. Why does Carton endure such abuse?
  3. what future plan does Stryver confess to Carton?
  4. In what sense is this chapter's title ironic?
  5. How does Dickens suggest the cause of Carton's alcoholism?

Book II, Chapter 12: "The Fellow of Delicacy"

  1. Why did Stryver go to Mr. Lorry before actually proposing?
  2. What is Mr. Lorry’s reaction to Stryver’s news?
  3. What is Stryver’s attitude when Lorry comes to the house with information, and why does he act this way?

Why does Dickens have Mr. Lorry rather than Lucie herself reject