Study Guide: A Tale of Two Cities
Book The First: “Recalled To Life”
Chapter 1: “THE PERIOD” (Introduces the SETTING of the novel).
1. Where is the example of ANTITHEISIS (direct contrast) in the first paragraph?
2. What is the main idea that Dickens presents in the first paragraph?
3. Who is governing England and France?
4. What are the social conditions in each country?
5. List the two SYMBOLS (hint: pg. 4) and tell what each one represents, according to Dickens.
Chapter 2: “THE MAIL” (Introduces the PLOT and CHARACTERS of the novel).
1. Toward which English town is the mail coach traveling?
2. List an example of ALLITERATION found on first page of the chapter.
3. Why are the passengers so jumpy?
4. What startles them?
5. What message is delivered to Jarvis Lorry?
6. What message does Mr. Lorry return?
7. How does Jerry react to the message?
Chapter 3: “THE NIGHT SHADOWS”
1. Briefly summarize the meaning of the opening paragraph. According to Dickens, how are we “night shadows to each other”?
2. What two characters are haunted by “night shadows”? Explain what is haunting each character.
Chapter 4: “THE PREPARATION”
1. What are Mr. Lorry’s travel plans?
2. Give a physical description of Mr. Lorry.
3. Who is “Mam’selle”?
4. Describe the appearance of Lucie Manette.
5. What shocking news does Lucie receive? How does she react to this news?
6. Who intervenes between Mr. Lorry and Lucie?
7. Describe Miss Pross.
8. Why won’t Miss Pross cross the English Channel?
Chapter 5: “THE WINE SHOP” (setting: St. Antoine, Paris, France)
1. What accident illustrates the poverty of the people of St. Antoine?
2. What does the spilled wine SYMBOLIZE?
3. Write the example of PERSONIFICATION on pg. 30.
4. Who writes the word blood on the wall? What might this FORESHADOW and SYMBOLIZE? (The red wine also introduces a motif, or recurring strand of an idea that appears in different forms throughout a work of literature. The red wine is part of the color red motif. Look for Dickens’ different uses of color red in the novel.)
5. What does the wine shop owner do about it? (refers to #4 above).
6. Describe Monsieur Defarge and Madame Defarge.
7.What verbal signal is used by the peasant conspirators in the wine shop?
8. Where does M. Defarge lead Lucie and Mr. Lorrie?
9. Why is Dr. Manette kept locked in the attic?
10. Describe Lucie’s first sighting of her father.
Chapter 6: “THE SHOEMAKER”
1. Describe Dr. Manette’s mental condition.
2. Describe his physical appearance.
3. To what name does he answer?
4.Describe Lucie’s first interaction with her father.
5. How is Dr. Manette confused upon seeing Lucie? (Note: a gaoler is a jailer, one who operates a jail.)
6. What activities are undertaken at the end of the chapter?
7. What is the unsolved issue (cliffhanger!) at the end of Book the First?
Book The Second: “The Golden Thread” (this is a metaphor for Lucie Manette)
Chapter 1: “FIVE YEARS LATER” (The year is now 1780!)
1. According to Dickens, in addition to Tellson’s Bank being quaintly old-fashioned, how is it dangerous? (Note that this is an example of Dickens being satiric.)
2. After the initial information about Tellson’s Bank, to where does the setting shift for this chapter?
3. Why is Jerry Cruncher angry at his wife?
4. Describe Jerry, Sr. and Jerry, Jr. in front of Tellson’s Bank. (Note the humor employed by Dickens in this scene!)
5. As Jerry, Sr. is called to deliver a message, what puzzles young Jerry?
Chapter 2: “A SIGHT” (Note: The “Old Bailey” was/is the chief criminal court in London.)
1. What are Jerry’s instructions?
2. The man on trial is charged with treason against England. What is the penalty? What comment upon the British justice system is Dickens making in this section of the chapter?
3.Why is the chapter called “A Sight”?
4. What is the name of the defendant and the charge?
5. Why is the courtroom bestrewn with herbs?
6. Who, do you guess, are the older man and young woman in the courtroom?
Chapter 3: “A DISAPPOINTMENT”
1. What do the blueflies SYMBOLIZE?
2. What kind of character and testimony do John Barsard (‘BAR sad) and Roger Cly have?
3. Describe Lucie Manette’s and Dr. Manette’s testimonies.
4. What happens to cause the eyewitness identification of Charles Darnay to become uncertain?
5. Describe the appearance and behavior of Sydney Carton.
6. What happens to show that Sydney Carton is more attentive than he seems?
7. What is the verdict?
8. Describe the behavior of the blueflies after hearing the verdict.
9. Name this literary device: “The baffled blueflies buzz.”
REVIEW: 1. What have we learned about Dr. Manette’s condition in this chapter? Has his mental health been restored?
2. What do we learn about Charles Darnay’s name in this chapter?
Chapter 4: “CONGRATULATORY”
1. What character has been “recalled to life”?
2. What is Dr. Manette’s condition?
3. What METAPHOR describes Lucie’s service to her father?
4. What traits does Mr. Stryver have?
5. Describe the dinner of Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay.
6. What are the reasons for Sydney’s disliking Charles?
Chapter 5: “THE JACKAL”
1.What is Mr. Stryver’s reputation as a lawyer?
2. What is the relationship of a lion and a jackal in nature? Likewise, what is Sydney Carton’s role in Stryver’s law practice? To whom, then, is the jackal a METAPHOR?
3. What is Stryver’s nickname for Sydney?
4. What does Sydney say when Stryver mentions Lucie Manette? How does Sydney act?
5. In the last three paragraphs, what does Dickens tell us about Sydney Carton?
Chapter 6: “HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE”
1. What is the setting of this chapter?
2. What are some unusual features of Dr. Manette’s house?
3. Describe Mr. Lorry’s conversation with Miss Pross.
4. Who, according to Miss Pross, is the only man worthy of Lucie?
5. Does Dr. Manette refer to shoemaking or mention his oppressor? (Note the idea of psychological SUPPRESSION by Dr. Manette.)
6. What “hundreds of people” arrive?
7. What story does Darnay tell that upsets Dr. Manette?
8. Explain the SYMBOLISM of the raindrops. (Note: water, in various forms, is used by Dickens as a second motif in the novel.)
9. What does Lucie fantasize about the footsteps’ echoes? What do YOU think the echoes migh SYMBOLIZE?
Chapter 7: “MONSIEGNEUR IN TOWN” (monseigneur= my lord, a title of nobility)
1.What is the setting now?
2. How many servants are required to serve Monseigneur’s chocolate?
3. What comment is making on the lifestyle of the French aristocracy in this entire first section of the chapter? (Consider using the term decadent.)
4. After the party is over, who privately “devotes Monseigneur to the devil”? (note: it is THIS character on whom you should focus; he will be important in later chapters. The monseigneur who throws the party will no longer be included in the novel’s plot).
5. What accident does this person’s coach have on its way home to his estate?
6. Whose child is killed?
7. How does the Marquis react to the accident?
8. Who defies him and in what way?
9. What might Madame Defarge’s knitting be used for? Also, what might it SYMBOLIZE?
Chapter 8: “MONSEIGNEUR IN THE COUNTRY” (Note: Here, monseigneur refers to the Marquis, not the monseigneur who threw the fancy party in Paris!)
1. According to Dickens, how were the crops and peasant similar in the farming area of France?
2. Explain the SYMBOLISM of the sunset and the Marquis. (the RED MOTIF?!)
3. Why are the peasants so poor?
4. What does the mender of roads tell the Marquis?
5. Who is Gabelle? What instructions are given to him by the Marquis?
6. At the end of the chapter, what is the Marquis’ question?
Chapter 9: “THE GORGON’S HEAD”
1. Explain what, in mythology, a Gorgon is: then, explain what a Gorgon has to do with the Marquis and his chateau.
2. What does the Marquis see while eating?
3. Who is the visitor?
4. Describe the conversation between the two men.
5. What are Charles’ plans for the Marquis’ wealth?
6. What is the SYMBOLISM of the red morning? (Note also the use of the RED MOTIF!)
7. Why, according to Dickens, is there one stone face too many at the chateau?
8. What message is left on the hilt of the knife? Who, do you surmise, has killed the Marquis?
Chapter 10: “TWO PROMISES”
1. How does Charles Darnay make his living?
2. What does Charles decide to do before telling Lucie of his love for her?
3. What is the setting of this chapter?
4. What is Dr. Manette’s promise to Charles?
5. What promise, in return, does Dr. Manette ask Charles to make?
6. What evidence is there that Dr. Manette has had a great shock?
Chapter 11: “A COMPANION PICTURE”
1. What is the setting of this chapter?
2. What news does Stryver have?
3. What is his advice to Carton?
4. Describe Carton’s reaction to the news that Stryver intends to marry Lucie.
5. What are Stryver’s reasons for his match with Lucie?
6. What final advice does Stryver give to Sydney?
Chapter 12: “THE FELLOW OF DELICACY”
1. Explain the IRONY in the chapter title and in the first sentence of the chapter.
2. Where does Stryver stop while on his way to Soho?
3. What is Mr. Lorry’s reaction to the news of Stryver?
4. What advice does he give Stryver?
5. What are, according to Stryver, the three reasons why Lucie will accept his offer of marriage?
6. Then, what advice does Mr. Lorry give to Mr. Stryver? What arrangement is made?
7. At the end of the chapter when Mr. Lorry returns with news of Lucie’s answer to Stryver’s proposal, how does Stryver protect his ego from harm?
Chapter 13: “THE FELLOW OF NO DELICACY”
1.Explain the IRONY of the chapter title.
2. Explain the PARALLELISM of chapters 12 and 13.
3. What is made apparent about Sydney in his private conversation with Lucie? What is he really like?
4. What promise (FORESHADOWING!) does Sydney make to Lucie?
Chapter 14: “THE HONEST TRADESMAN”
1. According to Dickens, how does Jerry earn a little extra money during the day besides working for Tellson’s Bank?
2. Describe the funeral procession coming down the street.
3. Whose funeral is it?
4. What happens to the one mourner in the hearse? Who, do you suppose, is this one mourner?
5. What are the plans of the mob?
6. Where does Jerry stop on his way back to Tellson’s bank?
7. Where does Jerry tell his son that he is going that night? (Note Dickens’ use of humor here!)
8. Describe young Jerry’s adventure.
9. Explain Dickens’ remark, “He was joined by another disciple of Izaak Walton.” (Izaak Walton
10. What is the description of fishing?
11. Upon watching the “fishing,” what is young Jerry’s reaction? What does he do?
12. What awakens young Jerry the next morning?
13. What inference can you make regarding why Jerry Sr. is in such a bad mood in the morning?
14. On the way to work, what is Jerry, Sr.’s reaction to being asked by Jerry Jr., “What’s a Resurrection Man?” (Note Dickens’ humor here!)
15. Explain, after reading this chapter, the new, albeit humorous, form of the RESURRECTION THEME that Dickens presents.
CHAPTER 15 “KNITTING”
1. Describe the setting of this chapter. Include how much time has passed since Gaspard’s child’s death.
2. Where has Monsieur Defarge been for the last three days?
3. Tell the Road Mender’s story of what has happened to Gaspard for the murder of the Marquis.
4. Where is there an example of the WATER MOTIF in this chapter? Explain.
5. What is the decision of the rough tribunal?
6. How and where is the register (list) kept?
7. Why do the Defarges take the road mender to see the King and Queen?
CHAPTER 16 “STILL KNITTING”
1. How does Defarge get tipped off that a spy will visit the wine shop the next day?
2. Explain and identify the description of the spy pg. 179. Who is the spy? For who does he now work?
3. What do Monsieur and Madame Defarge talk about when they are alone?
4. What is the warning signal that a spy has entered?
5. What is IRONIC about Madame Defarge’s talking with Barsad about her knitting?
6. How does Barsad try to trick Madame and Monsieur Defarge in conversation?
7. What does shock Monsieur Defarge?
8. What do Madame and Monsieur Defarge hope that destiny will prevent?
9. At the end of the chapter, what do the women, sitting and knitting in circles, portend?
CHAPTER 17 “ONE NIGHT”
1. What does Lucie talk with her father about on the night before her marriage to Charles?
2. Describe the marriage ceremony plans.
CHAPTER 18 “NINE DAYS”
1. What is going on as the chapter opens?
2. Describe Dr. Manette’s appearance as he comes from the room. What do you think has happened between Charles and Dr. Manette?
3. What happens while Mr. Lorry is at Tellson’s Bank?
4. What two decisions does Mr. Lorry make regarding Dr. Manette’s condition?
5. What is the only improvement in Dr. Manette?
CHAPTER 19 “AN OPINION”
1. What changes occur on the morning of the tenth day?
2. How do Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross decide to act?
3. How does Mr. Lorry explain to the doctor what has taken place for the last ten days?
4. Explain the chapter title’s meaning in reference to Mr. Lorry and Dr. Manette’s discussion about Dr. Manette’s relapse.
5. In the discussion about the relapse, answer the following:
a. Does Lucie know?
b. Was the relapse forseen by Dr. Manette?
c. What was the cause of the relapse?
d. What about Dr. Manette’s future health?
e. What do Dr. Manette and Mr. Lorry decide to get rid of?
f. How is it destroyed?
CHAPTER 20: “A PLEA”
1. Name the two pleas of Sydney Carton to Charles Darnay.
2. What does Lucie ask of Charles later that night?
CHAPTER 21: “ECHOING FOOTSTEPS” (7 years later = 1789)
1. Find an example of FORESHADOWING on page 212.
2. In the passing time, what has happened to Lucie? Describer her family.
3. Describe Carton’s visits. How did the children react to Carton?
4. Find the SIMILE used in reference to Mr. Stryver. Describe the changes in Stryver. About what did he say to his wife?
5. At this point in the story, how old is Little Lucie?
6. What is the METAPHOR used to describe France when we shift to that location?
7. What day is it, a day famous in French history?
8. Find an example of PERSONIFICATION on page 216 (when scene switches to Paris).
9. Where does Defarge go once inside the Bastille?
10. What does Defarge seem to be looking for? Are we readers ever told by Dickens whether Defarge finds what he is looking for?
11. What happens to the prisoner’s governor?
12. How are the guards killed?