Tale of Two Citiesactivity#7 Characterization Distribute Before Reading
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A Tale of Two Cities is an first-class selection of reading material for senior loftier school students. It is probably the least "Dickensian" of his 14 novels in that information technology has less of the grotesque, fewer characters, more big scenes, and a less complicated plot. These differences brand it especially attainable to high school students. Much of the novel'south value lies in its structure, creativity, and explorations of timeless themes. Every bit a historical novel, it serves as an excellent example of this genre. The fact that Dickens is able to weave the elementary lives of ordinary people into the mosaic of a cataclysmic historical consequence is an indication of his genius, and some other reason to read the book.
The themes that are explored in the novel still have relevance today. For example, the results of what happens when revenge is immune to dictate behavior provides an important topic for students to explore. With the popularity of movies and television shows that glorify the actions of characters who step outside of the police to achieve revenge, classroom word on this topic should be lively.
The novel's descriptions of characters who put duty before desire in crisis situations too provides students with the ground for thought-provoking discussion as well as worthy function models. An important related theme is laurels versus dishonor. Some other important theme is the effect that corruption in the ruling form has on ordinary people. The lessons that the French Revolution gave u.s.a. as an infant country are but as important today, and are worthy of young people's study in a non-threatening forum.
The organisation of this instructor's guide is as follows: a brief overview followed by teaching ideas to be used before, during, and later the reading of the novel. These ideas are meant to help students sympathize the novel and its characters, themes, and historical bulletin, too as explore issues dealt with in the novel that are important in students' lives today.
OVERVIEW
List of Characters
Jarvis Lorry—Banker at Tellson's Bank of London and a trusted friend of the Manettes.
Jerry Cruncher—"odd task man" for Tellson's and function-time grave robber.
Lucie Manette—Dr. Manette'south girl and Charles Darnay'south married woman.
Miss Pross—Lucie's servant who cared for Lucie during Dr. Manette's imprisonment.
Dr. Manette—Lucie's father who was unjustly imprisoned for xviii years in Paris.
Charles Darnay—Lucie'southward married man who was sentenced to death because of the actions of his male parent and uncle, the Marquis St. Evermonde.
The Marquis St. Evermonde—Fell member of the French aristocracy and Charles Darnay's uncle.
Sydney Carton—Drunken lawyer who takes Charles Darnay's place at the Guillotine.
Mr. Stryver—London trial lawyer who employed Sydney Carton.
Ernest Defarge—Paris vino shop owner and former servant of Dr. Manette who is besides a leader of the French Revolution.
Madame Defarge—Wife of Ernest Defarge who records crimes against the people in her knitting. Her family was destroyed by the Marquis St. Evermonde.
Jacques Iii—Friend of the Defarges and a fellow member of the French Revolution.
Vengeance—Female person friend of Madame Defarge and a bloodthirsty member of the French Revolution.
John Barsard/Solomon Pross—Miss Pross's long lost brother who works for Roger Cly and helps Sydney Carton change places with Charles Darnay.
Roger Cly—English spy who testified confronting Charles Darnay in Darnay's London trial.
Gabelle—The caretaker of the Evermonde manor. His imprisonment brings Charles Darnay back to Paris.
Gaspard—He was hung for killing Darnay'south uncle, the Marquis.
Synopsis
Volume THE Commencement: Recalled to Life
1. The Menstruum: In the yr 1775 conditions were brutal for the people of England and France. Both were ruled past a king and queen and the times were often violent and terrible. In French republic, the nobles lived in luxury and were certain that they and the rex ruled by divine correct and that nothing would ever change. The general populace suffered from starvation, disease, and impecuniousness and were growing impatient for change.
two. The Mail: While in road from London to Paris by fashion of Dover, Mr. Lorry of Tellson'south Bank receives a cryptic message from the banking company's messenger, Jerry Cruncher. Mr. Lorry responds to the bulletin, "Wait at Dover for Mam'selle," with his ain ambiguous answer, "RECALLED TO LIFE."
three. The Nighttime Shadows: Continuing his journeying, Lorry holds imagined conversations with someone (Dr. Manette) well-nigh this person's feelings and time to come hopes after existence buried for eighteen years.
iv. The Grooming: In Dover, Lorry meets Lucie Manette and informs her that he is going to have her to her father, whom she thought was dead. Lorry tells her that Dr. Manette is alive and has been released from prison house in Paris where he has been for eighteen years.
5. The Wine-Shop: In Paris, Lorry and Lucie go to Defarge's wine shop. Dr. Manette has been released to Defarge because he was once Manette'due south servant. Defarge is a central figure in the underground move against the ruling government, and his vino shop is a central meeting place.
half dozen. The Shoemaker: Defarge takes Lorry and Lucie to Dr. Manette who is kept in a dark attic room. The Dr. does not retrieve his truthful name and occupation and now works as a cobbler. He remembers Lucie when he matches her hair with a few strands of her baby hair that he has kept with him in a ragged pouch worn around his neck. While Lucie holds him in her arms, Defarge and Lorry go to make arrangements to take him from that room directly to England.
BOOK THE 2d: The Golden Thread
ane. Five Years Afterward: Tellson'south Bank in London is described as an onetime, dark, cramped institution that takes pride in its ultraconservative, unchanging advent and attitude. In sharp dissimilarity to this advent is the bank's porter and messenger, Jerry Cruncher.
2. A Sight: Jerry is directed to go to the court to act equally a messenger for Mr. Lorry should he need one. Lorry is present at the trial of Charles Darnay who is charged with treason against England. Also at the trial are Dr. Manette and Lucie who are scheduled to be witnesses for the prosecution.
3. A Disappointment: Mr. Stryver, Darnay's counsel, is able to ignominy the Attorney Full general's witnesses with the help of his brilliant, if drunken, assistant Sydney Carton. Dr. Manette and Lucie testified that they had met Darnay five years earlier on their voyage from Paris to England when the Doctor was released from prison. Based on the supportive testimony of Dr. Manette and Lucie and the skill of his counsel, Charles Darnay is acquitted of all charges.
iv. Congratulatory: After the trial, Darnay gratefully thanks Stryver, Dr. Manette, and Lucie for their help in his amortization. After the trial, Darnay and Carton get to dinner where Carton drinks heavily and confides to Darnay that he is a "disappointed grubber" who cares for no one and for whom no one cares.
5. The Jackal: Carton goes to Stryver's quarters late at night where he analyzes Stryver'southward cases for him thus acting equally "The Jackal" to Stryver the courtroom "Lion." Carton works and drinks steadily until three in the forenoon when he concludes his work for Stryver. Then he and Stryver potable for the balance of the night while Stryver outlines Carton's faults and weaknesses for him.
6. Hundreds of People: Mr. Lorry has become good friends with Dr. Manette and visits him every Sunday. Miss Pross, Lucie'southward maidservant, complains to Lorry that they have hundreds of visitors every Sunday, just only Charles Darnay shows upwards to visit Lucie. Later in the afternoon, Sydney Carton also visits.
7. Monseigneur in Town: After leaving the Monseigneur'due south party, the Monsieur the Marquis's railroad vehicle drives recklessly through the streets of Paris without regard to pedestrians. In its irresponsible flight, the carriage runs over and kills a small kid. The Marquis blames the crowd that forms for non taking intendance of their children and worries that the accident may have harmed his horses. Confronted with the dead child'due south hysterical male parent, the Marquis tosses him a gold coin and orders his driver to motility on.
8. Monseigneur in the Country: Arriving home at his country estate, the Marquis learns that a tall, thin human has ridden from Paris to the Marquis'southward village on the chains underneath his wagon. Upon entering his estate, the Marquis finds that his nephew, Charles, has not yet arrived.
nine. The Gorgon's Caput: The Marquis's nephew (Charles Darnay) arrives and the two debate almost the family unit and its apply of its social position. Darnay vows that if he inherits the estate, he will follow his mother's wishes and plow the estate over to the people who have for generations worked and suffered for it. His uncle shows nothing but scorn for him and his humanitarian plans. Later that night the Marquis is murdered in his bed by the man who stowed away underneath his carriage.
10. Two Promises: A year later finds Charles Darnay prospering as a French tutor and translator in London. His love for Lucie Manette drives him to approach her father. He tells the Doctor of his love for Lucie and promises to never come between Lucie and the Doc. The Doctor agrees to tell Lucie of Darnay's dear merely if she expresses her beloved for Darnay first. In response to the Medico's hope, Charles tries to reveal to him his true name and by. Dr. Manette declines to hear his confession, and says he will but hear it on the morning of Lucie'southward marriage to Darnay. This substitution so upsets Dr. Manette that when Lucie returns, she finds him at work at his cobbler'south bench.
eleven. A Companion Picture: Stryver confides to Carton that he plans to ally Lucie and then advises Carton to marry a common woman with belongings to take care of him.
12. The Fellow of Delicacy: Stryver stops at Tellson'southward to inform Mr. Lorry of his intention to marry Lucie. Lorry advises against it and agrees to see if Dr. Manette and Lucie would exist interested in her marrying Stryver. Stryver realizes that Lucie does non desire him and salvages his pride by acting as if he doesn't with to ally her anymore.
13. The Beau of No Delicacy: Carton confesses to Lucie that he is beyond redemption even if she sees goodness in him. He goes on to tell her that he hopes his last good retention volition exist of her and promises to do anything he tin to aid her and those she loves if they should ever demand his assist.
fourteen. The Honest Tradesman: Jerry Cruncher demonstrates that his description of himself as an "honest tradesman" is inaccurate when he engages in his night time job of grave robbing.
15. Knitting: Defarge helps the route mender who saw the Marquis's killer and his subsequent arrest, imprisonment, and hanging. Defarge and his compatriots put a death sentence on all of the Marquis's family unit, and this sentence is recorded by Madame Defarge in her knitting pattern.
16. Yet Knitting: A government spy comes to Defarge's wine shop to try to proceeds information almost the revolutionaries. The Defarges tell him aught, simply he tells them of Lucie's marriage to Charles Darnay.
17. One Nighttime: On the eve of Lucie's marriage to Charles, she and her father talk most their relationship and how he imagined her while he was in prison.
18. 9 Days: Due to Lucie's marriage and the revelation that Charles fabricated to him that morning, as soon as Charles and Lucie leave on their honeymoon, the Doctor reverts to the condition he was in while in prison. He remains withdrawn at his cobbler'due south demote for nine days.
xix. An Opinion: On the tenth 24-hour interval, the Doctor returns to himself with no memory of the nine days. In an attempt to help him, Mr. Lorry discusses the case with him in hypothetical terms. The Doctor is confident that he will remain well, just Lorry talks him into giving up the cobbler'south tools just in case.
20. A Plea: Carton approaches Charles and asks that the two be friends. Charles agrees and then after promises Lucie that he will exist more respectful of Carton in the future.
21. Echoing Footsteps: Years pass and Lucie and Charles have a girl (little Lucie) and a son who dies. Carton visits them about six times each year, and little Lucie loves him. Carton still works for Stryver who has married a rich widow who has three sons. In Paris, Defarge leads the storming of the Bastille where visits Dr. Manette's old cell. Madame Defarge demonstrates her vengeance by cutting off the Governor'south head.
22. The Sea Still Rises: In Paris, a mob lead by the Defarges and The Vengeance kill the nobleman Foulon and his son because of their mistreatment of the mutual people.
23. Burn Rises: French republic lies in ruin with starvation and illness the norm amongst the mutual people. The revolution is underway with cherry-red caps becoming the uniform of the revolutionaries. A revolutionary burns the late Marquis's villa to the ground.
24. Drawn to the Loadstone Rock: Three years afterward (1792), Lorry is sent to Paris by Tellson'due south to save and bring back important documents from their banking concern there. Charles receives a desperate alphabetic character from Gabelle, the manager of his uncle's estate. If Charles does not go to Paris to testify that Gabelle acted on his order, then Gabelle will be executed. Charles goes to Paris to assist Gabelle without telling Lucie or the Doc.
BOOK THE THIRD: The Runway of the Storm
1. In Clandestine: On the twenty-four hour period Charles leaves for Paris, a law is passed declaring death to whatsoever emigrant who returns to French republic. Because of this new law, Charles is sentenced to the prison house of La Forcefulness in Paris.
ii. The Grindstone: Lucie and her father follow Charles to Paris and come across Mr. Lorry at Tellson's. While staying with Lorry, the Doctor notices the patriots using a giant grindstone to sharpen weapons to kill the prisoners. Considering of his stay in the Bastille, the Dr. is revered by the patriots and is permitted to see Charles in prison.
three. The Shadow: Defarge brings be able to protect them. Madame Defarge'south existent reason for coming is to run across little Lucie, because the kid is sentenced to death equally the Marquis'due south grandniece.
4. Calm in Storm: Dr. Manette'due south fourth dimension in prison has served to make him stiff in this crisis. It has also earned him the respect of the revolutionaries who make him the official prison house doctor for 3 prisons. This allows him to stay in contact with Charles. Matters grow worse throughout France as revolutionary tribunals estimate people and many innocent people languish in prison. In ane 4-day flow, over ane,100 prisoners are killed by La Guillotine, and the rivers in southern French republic are clogged with bodies.
5. The Wood-Sawyer: Everyday from 2:00 until four:00, Lucie stands in the same spot on a corner by a woods-sawyer on the gamble that Charles might be able to run across her from the prison. The forest-sawyer is the same road mender befriended past the Defarges.
vi. Triumph: Following the Doctor's instructions during his trial, Charles is declared innocent and freed. This fulfills the Doctor'south hope to Lucie that he would salve Charles and is testimony to the respect the revolutionaries feel for him.
7. A Knock at the Door: That very nighttime Charles is arrested once more on charges brought by the Defarges and a mystery person.
8. A Hand at Cards: Miss Pross runs into her brother Solomon at a wine shop in Paris. He turns out to be the John Basard who testified against Charles at his London trial. Sydney Carton shows upwards at this time and orders Barsard to meet him at Tellson's or he will turn him in to the tribunal as an English spy working for Roger Cly who likewise testified against Charles in London. Barsard says this is impossible because Cly is dead. Mr. Cruncher steps in and says that he knows Cly is alive because when he robbed his grave, the bury was full of rocks. Barsard collapses at this news and confesses to everything, albeit he can go freely in and out of Charles'south prison. Hearing this, Carton takes Basard away to tell him what he wants.
ix. The Game Made: Carton makes arrangements with Barsard to get into prison to meet Darnay if he is sentenced to decease. At the trial, the prosecutor says Darnay is accused by the Defarges and Dr. Manette. The Md's accusation comes by way of a newspaper he wrote while in prison house that Defarge found in the Doctor'due south old cell. ten. The Substance of the Shadow: The Doc'southward paper is read telling that he was imprisoned by the Marquis and his twin brother (Charles Darnay'southward begetter). At the end of the paper, Dr. Manette had denounced the Marquis and all of his line. On the force of this data, Charles is sentenced to decease.
11. Dusk: Charles and Lucie make their farewells. Carton carries Lucie home after she faints; he kisses her and little Lucie practiced-bye.
12. Darkness: Carton goes to the Defarge'due south wine store then that they will come across him and know that an Englishman is abroad who looks like Charles. At the store, the Defarges, the Vengeance, and Jacques Three argue over the fate of Charles's family. Defarge wants the killing to cease with Charles, but Madame Defarge wants all his line (niggling Lucie) killed because information technology was her family that the Marquis destroyed then threw the Physician into prison. After spending all day and nearly of the night unsuccessfully trying to complimentary Charles, the Doctor is so despondent that he reverts again to the way he was every bit a prisoner. Carton gives Lorry his traveling papers along with the Doctor'due south, Lucie's, and little Lucie's. He tells Lorry to make preparations to get them out of the land tomorrow because Madame Defarge intends to charge them with taking function in a prison house plot.
13. 50-two: Carton gets Barsard to take him to run into Charles. In the cell, Carton knocks Charles out with some chemicals and and then exchanges clothes with him. He and then has Barsard acquit Charles to Lorry with the instructions to non wake him, but to get them all out of Paris as rapidly every bit possible.
14. The Knitting Done: Madame Defarge plots with Jacques Three and The Vengeance to accept Lucie, little Lucie, and the Physician condemned using the wood-sawyer as a witness. She then goes to the Manette'southward quarters where she finds Miss Pross preparing to leave to encounter Jerry Cruncher so that they can leave for England. Madame Defarge tries to search the apartment to make certain the Manettes are withal in that location, but Miss Pross stops her. They struggle and Madame Defarge is accidentally shot and killed. Miss Pross locks the body in the flat and goes to meet Jerry.
xv. The Footsteps Die Out for Always: Carton foretells that Charles and Lucie will live happily ever later together with lilliputian Lucie and their son Sydney who will continue to make his name respected. Then Carton meets La Guillotine and dies in Charles's place.
Tale of Two Citiesactivity#7 Characterization Distribute Before Reading
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