A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Book the Second Study Guide
Chapter: Five Years Later
1.In what year does this chapter open?
2.What is the most obvious characteristic of Tellson’s?
3.Why do you think Tellson’s is so proud of this trait?
4.What seems to be Tellson’s policy toward young employees?
5.Who sits outside Tellson’s door?
6.How does Jerry Cruncher “butcher” the expression Anno Domini (A.D.)?
7.Why does Jerry become enraged with his wife?
8.What does he throw at her?
9.What does he call her?
10.How does Jerry, Jr. mischievously irritate his mother after the father tells him
to keep an eye on her?
11.What does young Jerry do to passing boys as he stands with his father at Tellson’s?
12.Why is Jerry suspicious of his father? (Give two reasons.)
Chapter II: A Sight
1.Where is Jerry sent with a message?
2.To whom is he to report?
3.What kind of trial is taking place?
4.What is the probable punishment?
5.How does Jerry feel about this form of punishment?
6.a.Who is on trial?
b.What does he look like?
7.Briefly describe the charges against him.
8.a.Which witnesses attract attention?
b.For which side are they slated to testify?
9.Why does one wigged man stand out?
Chapter III: A Disappointment
1.According to the Attorney General, when did Darnay begin his treasonous
acts?
2.Which witness is called the “unimpeachable patriot”?
3.What do the defense lawyer’s questions do to the “patriot’s” testimony?
4.a.Who is the second witness?
b.What does the defense lawyer do to his testimony?
5.Where had Mr. Lorry seen Darnay before?
6.Why does Lucie burst into tears during her testimony?
7.What did Darnay say about America (to Lucie) that makes him look bad at the trial?
8.Why doesn’t Dr. Manette remember Darnay from the night on the packet?
9.Who is Darnay’s lawyer?
10.How does Mr. Sydney Carton save Darnay’s life?
11.Descirbe what makes Carton’s behavior rather odd.
12.What is Carton the first to notice about Lucie?
13.What message does Jerry Cruncher take ot the bank after the jury returned?
14.Why do you think this chapter is entitled “A Disappointment”?
Chapter IV: Congratulatory
1.What makes Mr. Stryver unappealing both physically and socially?
2.For what is he searching?
3.Describe Dr. Manette’s strange reaction when he looks at Darnay.
4.What makes Mr. Lorry so angry?
5.Who goes out to dinner together?
6.Why does Carton seem to dislike Darnay?
7.a.How does Carton feel about others?
b.How does he feel about himself?
8.Why does Darnay’s resemblance to Carton affect Carton so deeply?
9.What is Carton doing as the chapter ends?
Chapter V: The Jackal
1.Describe the relationship between Carton and Stryver.
2.Why is Carton “the jackal” and Stryver “the lion”?
3.Why does Carton go to Stryver’s chambers after leaving the tavern?
4.What does Stryver do while Sydney works?
5.How late does Carton work?
6.How is Carton doing the same for Stryver as he once did in school?
7.Whom do they discuss after they finish discussing Sydney?
8.What makes Sydney Carton a pathetic figure?
Chapter VI: Hundreds of People
1.What kind of neighborhood surround Manette’s home?
2.Who has become the doctor’s friend?
3.Name two ways Dr. Manette makes money.
4.What is in the doctor’s room that causes Mr. Lorry to worry?
5.With whom does he discuss his concern?
6.Why is Miss Pross upset about her “Ladybird”?
7.How does Miss Pross exaggerate the situation in Chapter 6?
8.Who is the only man worthy of Lucie (according to Miss Pross)?
9.Why is he ruled out?
10.What do Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross talk about in relation to Dr. Manette?
11.What about Dr. Manette’ attitude toward his “oppressor” puzzles Lorry?
12.What kind of strange behavior has the doctor been exhibiting?
13.Who is the Sunday dinner guest?
14.What landmark is discussed after dinner?
15.How does the story about the prisoner and the inscription on the wall of his cell affect Dr. Manette?
16.Who else visits this day?
Chapter VII: Monseigneur in Town
1.Why does the person at the party wish the Monseigneur would go “to the Devil”?
2.How did the Monseigneur’s coach drive through town?
3.What was the result of his carelessness?
4.Who kep the father from attacking the Monseigneur?
5.What was the Monseigneur’s attitude toward the entire situation?
6.Where has the reader met Gaspard before?
7.What happened to one of the coins given by the Monseigneur?
8.Who stood silently and strongly staring at the Monseigneur?
9.What was she doing?
Chapter VIII: Monseigneur in the Country
1.What time of day is it when the chapter opens?
2.Describe the financial situation in the village.
3.Whom does the Marquis question by the village fountain?
4.Why had the man in #3 stared at the Marquis’ coach?
5.Who is Monsieur Gabelle?
6.What does the Marquis order Gabelle to do?
7.What happened to the stranger hanging from the undercarriage of the coach?
8.Whom does the Marquis ask his servant about when he arrives home at the chateau?
Chapter IX: The Gorgon’s Head
1.Who was supposed to have dinner with the Marquis?
2.What is discovered when the Marquis thinks he detected something outside?
3.Who is the Marquis’ nephew?
4.Describe their relationship.
5.What seems to be the only thing keeping the uncle from writing a “letter de cachet” about his nephew?
6.What is the basic reason for the disagreement between the two men?
7.What is the nephew’s decision?
8.About whom does the Marquis ask his nephew?
9.What happened to the Marquis?
10.What does the message say?
11.Whom do you think is responsible for what happened to the Marquis?
12.Where does the road mender go when he realizes something has happened at the chateau?
Chapter X: Two Promises
1.How much time has passed since the death of the Marquis?
2.What is Darnay doing with his life?
3.Why has Darnay prospered according to the narrator?
4.How does he feel about Lucie? To whom has he revealed his feelings?
5.Why does he speak to Dr. Manette when Lucie is out?
6.What does Charles promise the Doctor?
7.What does the Doctor promise Charles?
8.At this point, in an attempt to be completely honest, what does Charles offer to do? What is Manette’s reaction?
9.What does Lucie discover upon her return home?
10.How does Stryver “turn the tables” on Mr. Lorry when the latter goes to him with the bad news?
Chapter XI: A Companion Picture
1.What news does Stryver have to Carton
2.For what does Stryver admonish Carton?
3.Even though Carton says, “Why should I not approve?” when Stryver tells him he intends to wed Miss Manette, he exhibits behavior that indicates his obvious concern. What is his behavior and why is he concerned?
4.What does Stryver suggest Sydney do?
Chapter XII: The Fellow of Delicacy
1.What does Stryver determine to do before he leaves for the “Long Vacation”?
2.What is his viewpoint of his offer of marriage to Miss Manette?
3.Why does he stop at Tellson’s?
4.Because Mr. Lorry is a “man of business” and doesn’t like to make scenes, he has a bit of difficulty conveying his opinion of Stryver’s plan to marry Miss Manette. What exactly is Lorry’s opinion?
5.What does Mr. Lorry suggest in order to save Stryver, Dr. Manette, and Lucie “pain”?
6.How does Stryver “turn the tables” on Mr. Lorry when the latter goes to him with the bad news?
Chapter XIII: The Fellow of No Delicacy
1.How had Lucie felt when she was around Sydney Carton?
2.When she says he doesn’t look well, how does he reply?
3.What does she suggest he should do about his life?
4.What is his reponse?
5.What does Carton say would have happened to Lucie even if she had returned his love?
6.When she again offers help, he again refuses because he says he is “drawing fast to an end.” What does he ask her to promise?
Chapter XIV: The Honest Tradesman
1.What does Jerry Cruncher see coming down the street?
2.What seems to be the attitude of the crowd?
3.Whose funeral was it?
4.When the mob tried to capture the mourner in the coach, what happened?
5.What happens to the mob after the man is buried?
6.After talking with the undertakers, Jerry makes a stop on his way back to work?. Where does he stop?
7.Where does Jerry, Jr., go that night?
8.What awakened young Jerry the next morning?
9.What does the boy tell his father that morning?
Chapter XV: Knitting
1.What kind of activity had been taking place in the wine shop for three days?
2.Who was conspicuously absent from the shop?
3.Who are the two men who finally show up at the shop?
4.What statement, obviously some sort of coded message, uttered by Defarge, causes the customers to leave the wine shop one at a time?
5.Where do the five men, all named Jacques, hold a meeting?
6.Whom do they discuss? What has happened to him?
7.Why was the king petitioned? By whom?
8.Is the petition successful? Where is the man executed?
9.What do the men called Jacques discuss and decide after Jacques 5 has been asked to leave the room?
10.What does this mean for Charles Darnay?
11.Why does Madame Defarge knit?
12.Where do the Defarges take the road mender?
13.What is Madame Defarge trying ot say in the last lines of the chapter?
Chapter XVI: Still Knitting
1.What does Defarge learn about police from Jacques?
2.What are Therese Defarge’s plans regarding this piece of information?
3.Who is the spy?
4.What is happening as the spy tries to gain information in the wine shop? (What is Madame Defarge doing?)
5.What does the spy call Defarge in order to see his reaction?
6.What news does the sp supply about Lucie Manette?
7.What discovery does Madame Defarge make about the spy that bothers him?
8.Were did Charles come up with the name Darnay?
9.What does Ernest Defarge wish for Lucie?
Chapter XVIII: One Night
1.What are Dr. Manette and Lucie discussing?
2.What does she ask her father?
3.How does he answer?
4.What does Lucie say about her life and Charles?
5.What does the doctor do for the first time since the trial?
6.When the doctor was in prison, he thought about his lost life, his unborn child, and vengeance. What was he looking at while pondering these things?
7.What was Dr. Manette referring to when he said, “in the next generation my place was a blank. . .”?
8.Who was invited to the wedding?
9.Where is the couple to live?
Chapter XVIIII: Nine Days
1.What is the only thing that prevents Miss Pross from being completely reconciled about Lucie’s marriage?
2.Who is crying before the wedding?
3.Why, in her sarcastic way, does Miss Pross say he is crying?
4.About what does the wedding give Mr. Lorry thoughts?
5.Where is the couple’s honeymoon?
6.Where is Dr. Manette staying during the honeymoon?
7.How does the doctor look when he comes out of the room with Charles?
8.After the wedding (only two hours after), what does Mr. Lorry discover when he returns to Dr. Manette’s home?
9.After getting no response from the doctor, Jarvis makes two decisions. What are they?
10.What does Mr. Lorry (in order to watch the doctor) do for the first time in his life?
11.What “therapy” do Lorry and Pross administer to the doctor?
12.By the end of the chapter, how many days had the “relapse” lasted?
13.What concerns Mr. Lorry about the doctor’s shoemaking skills?
Chapter XIX: An Opinion
1.What does Jarvis Lorry discover on the tenth day?
2.Describe the “charade” or contrived situation discussed by Lorry and the doctor. (In other words, describe the method Lorry uses to tell the doctor what has happened.)
3.Why is the doctor grateful to Mr. Lorry?
4.To what does Dr. Manette attribute the attack?
5.What do the men substitute for “shoemaking work”?
6.What is Mr. Lorry trying to convince Dr. Manette to do?
7.What is the doctor’s decision regarding Lucie’s suggestion?
Chapter XX: A Plea
1.Upon their return, Charles and Lucie are greeted by Sydney Carton. What does he want?
2.For what special privileges does Carton ask?
3.Later, when Charles briefly mentions Carton’s problems in a conversation with the family, it draws later comments from someone. From whom?
4.What does Lucie tell her husband about Carton?
Chapter XXI: Echoing Footsteps
1.What has happened to Lucie?
2.Has Carton visited often? What year is it?
3.Why is Mr. Lorry uneasy about the brand of Tellson’s bank in Paris?
4.What are the peasants in Saint Antoine planning?
5.Where does Defarge make the prison guard take him?
6.What does Defarge do when he gets there?
7.What happens to the Governor of the Bastille? What is Madame Defarge’s role?
8.How many prisoners were released?
Chapter XXII: The Sea Still Rises
1.Who is Madame Defarge’s “lieutenant”?
2.About whom does Defarge bring news?
3.What had this man done in an attempt to avoid the peasants’ anger?
4.Why did the peasants hate this man?
5.What did they do to him?
Chapter XXIII: Fire Rises
1.Why were the army officers concerned about their men?
2.What do you think the “shaggy-haired” stranger’s job is?
3.What evidence is there that the people of the village suspect something is going to happen?
4.How much help does the rider from the chateau receive from Gabelle and the soldiers?
5.How did the villagers who their support for the fire?
6.When the villagers remembered that Gabelle collected taxes, what di they do?
7.Where does Gabelle spend the night?
8.Is this village the only place where incidents like this are happening?
XXIV: Drawn to the Loadstone Rock
1.In what year does this chapter take place?
2.Where had many of France’s nobility gone to escape the Jacquerie?
3.What does Charles attempt to dissuade Mr. Lorry from doing?
4.Why does Charles wish he were going?
5.Why is Mr. Lorry going? Who is going with him?
6.To whom is the unidentified letter on Mr. Lorry’s desk addressed?
7.How does Charles manage to get the letter?
8.From whom is the letter?
9.What does he want?
10.What does Charles decide he must do?
11.What message does Charles tell Jarvis to deliver to Gabelle?
12.To whom does Charles write the two letters?