A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities Written By Charles Dickens

Background Information • A Tale of Two Cities takes place in London, England and Paris, France between the years 1775 to 1793; shows the beginning of the French Revolution (1789-1799) • During this time period, the French, especially those in poverty, began to stir up a revolt against the French aristocracy-leading up to the French Revolution

Characters • Doctor Alexandre Manette: Ex-prisoner of Bastille • Lucie Manette: Daughter of Dr. Manette • Charles Darnay (Charles Evrémonde): By birth is a French aristocrat & Husband of Lucie Manette • Jarvis Lorry: Close Family Friend of The Manettes • Sydney Carton: Friend of Manettes & Works as an attorney with Stryver

Character Continuation • Mr. Stryver: Lawyer, Friend of Manettes, & Works with Carton • The Defarges: French revolutionists who at the beginning help the Manettes, but at the end they go against them • Miss Pross & Jerry Cruncher: servants to the Manettes and help them throughout the novel • Roger Cly ( dies later in book) & John Barsad: British spies; Barsad is blackmailed by Carton to help the Manettes at the end

Book Division • Book The First: Recalled to Life • ** Takes place in 1775 • Book The Second: The Golden Thread • ** Takes place between 1780 to 1792 • Book The Third: The Track of a Storm • ** Takes place between 1792 to 1793 • Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a6xo7WwV3k

Recalled to Life • “ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” ** Refers to the times of England (prosperous) and France (excessive spending and violence) • Doctor Manette is “recalled to life” with the help of Jarvis Lorry, Lucie Manette, and the Defarges • Doctor Manette has been imprisoned for 18 years at Bastille • When they found Doctor Manette, they saw that he had been working as a shoemaker (did this in order to ease the pain he had from being imprisoned)

Their journey begins from Dover, England to Saint Antoine (part of Paris),France • Defarges, who used to be Manettes’ servants watched over him until he was “recalled to life” • At the end of book one, Lucie decided that it is time for his father to return to England where he will be put back to health than staying in Paris for another second

The Golden Thread • Lucie Manette is “the golden thread” in this novel; she is the one that brings her family and friends back together once again • Five years go by and Doctor Manette is back to himself and has a close connection to his daughter, Lucie, now • Trial One: Charles Darnay is accused of treason- said to have been a spy for the British (false accusation); at the end he is found not guilty and is free to go

Darnay renounces his French aristocracy to his uncle, the Marquis Evrémonde -brought shame to family name (later that day Marquis is killed) • Three fellow gentleman (Darnay, Carton, & Stryver) have fallen in love with Lucie and are asking her hand in marriage • At last Darnay is the one to wed Lucie Manette • The Defarges , who are informed by Barsad, know now that Lucie is going to wed Darnay- a French aristocrat • They know that the revolution is on the way and that all aristocrats must die • As the newlyweds go off, Dr. Manette is back to his “illness” self; right before he goes to meet up with his daughter (nine days later) he returns to his happier state- that very day, Lorry & Miss. Pross destroy the shoemaking bench

Few years have gone by, and everyone is happy once again • In France, the revolution began to slowly ease to its righteous state; the Defarges were the leaders of the mob in Saint Antoine and were planning to bring the Manettes down • Now three years, have past and France is down to the grounds • Lorry is said to go to Paris for his job, but Darnay insists that he must be the one to in order to save Gabelle, who has been imprisoned by his own people, but it is due to he is apart of the aristocracy of France

The Track of a Storm • Trial Two: Darnay is imprisoned by the French for being an immigrant; later on he is free with the help of Dr. Manette’s words • Lorry decides that Lucie and her family must be taken care of; if something happens his wife, child, and father-in-law they must be taken to the Defarges in order for them to recognize them • After Darnay is freed, he is re-imprisoned • The Defarges accused them for a crime that Darnay’s father and uncle had done earlier in their lives (Trial Three)

At Darnay’s trial, the accuser stepped forward: The Defarges & Dr. Manette (he was in shock that his name was called) • Dr. Manette later finds out that he was called due to a letter he wrote when he was imprisoned at the Bastille in 1757; he was hired by the Evrémonde to care for a young woman (who Darnay’s uncle had rapped) and her brother, who the uncle stabbed • He was threatened that if he did not cure them that he will be put to prison, which did take place • Darnay is then sentenced to death for his father’s and uncle’s actions

Carton, who surprising followed them the Paris if any help is needed by him, overheard the Defarges’ plan to accuse the rest of the Manettes as spies (including Lucie’s daughter) • Carton will not allow it and has a plan up his sleeve • Carton gives Lorry papers (which later reveal to be papers for him and the Manettes to exit France) • Many are sentenced to death, including Darnay • Carton gives Darnay a powder, and in a quick of time Darnay is “Carton”, while Carton is “Darnay” • Carton put himself in Darnay’s shoes in order for Darnay to live his life with his family • Carton put himself in this situation because he felt that he had achieved something grand in his life; earlier in the book, he was the only man who told Lucie how he really felt about her and helped her later on in the novel to safety

Excerpt Analysis #1 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…” What themes are present in this excerpt? What ideas came to mind as you read? What rhetorical device is used?

Excerpt Analysis #2 “The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands, too, and many faces, and many naked feet, and many wooden shoes. The hands of the man who sawed the wood, left red marks on the billets; and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby, was stained with the stain of the old rag she wound about her head again. Those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask, had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth; and one tall joker so besmirched, his head more out of a long squalid bag of a night-cap than in it, scrawled upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine-lees—blood.” What are some thoughts that came to mind as you read? Does this depict the era well?

Excerpt Analysis #3 "My last supplication of all, is this; and with it, I will relieve you of a visitor with whom I well know you have nothing in unison, and between whom and you there is an impassable space. It is useless to say it, I know, but it rises out of my soul. For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you. Try to hold me in your mind, at some quiet times, as ardent and sincere in this one thing. The time will come, the time will not be long in coming, when new ties will be formed about you- ties that will bind you yet more tenderly and strongly to the home you so adorn- the dearest ties that will ever grace and gladden you. O Miss Manette, when the little picture of a happy father's face looks up in yours, when you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!" He said, "Farewell!" said a last "God bless you!" and left her. What do you think about dying for someone you love? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTWyT9answ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeFaDy5L3Cw

Activity • Count off into two groups • Each group will receive a bag with events from the novel • Place the events in chronological order • 10 minutes • The group that has all events in the right order wins a prize

A Tale of Two Cities