Class Discussion Notes for A Tale of Two
Cities:
Book One/Chapter One:
- Let's savor one of the most famous openings in the history of
the novel. After a second--OUCH--read, observe the double
patterns. Dualities abound. Why? Does this motif anticipate a
certain pattern?
- Also, what's important in life? Personal relationships over
historical events? When we read the ending, let's consider life,
death and renewal as less ambiguous as the French Revolution
disappears before he read the famous last words, "far, far better
thing..."
Chapter Two:
- Mr. Jarvis Lorry. Note the pun on the word Lorry, which means
vehicle. What does Mr. Lorry transport?
Chapter Three:
- In class we analyzed how the effects of a dream on a character
can be just as real as if the events really occurred. Thus, the
power of an unconscious thought or deed can sometimes have real
consequences on the conscious lives of characters. Look carefully
at Lorry's two items in his dream.
Chapter Four:
- Here we are introduced to Lucie Manette. Keep an analytical
eye on her hair. Have you noticed such literary hair before?
Chapter Five:
- Observe the crowd's reaction. Also consider the use of wine
representing blood (foreshadowing). Many folks in class picked up
well on Dickens' personification of Hunger. Remember, he was a
reformer of his day. He also wrote A Christmas Carol.
- Mon/Madame Defarge introduced. Who is this Jacques? Note well
Mon. Defarge's treatment of the child on page 43. What is the man
in the garret doing?
Chapter Six:
- With Dr. Manette, notice the effects of being
institutionalized. (One Hundred and Five, North Tower.) Recall
characters in Kesey's Cuckoo's Nest or Brooks in
Shawshank Redemption.
- On page 52, we reveled in the hair and its ability to transfer
Dr. M. into various states of consciousness. More literary hair,
too. Chapter closes with Lorry getting down to more business.
Book Two; Chapter One:
- Five years later: 1780
- Recall other stereotypes of English Banks: Harry Potter's
Bank, The Bank in Mary Poppins, etc.
- Classical Dickens humor on page 65. Cruncher introduced,
too.
Chapter Two:
- Recall that Dickens was first a court reporter before becoming
a novelist. Sketches of Boz, his first novel, shows this influence
well. Such entertainment! Have you ever stuck your head into a
courtroom proceeding before? Field trip?
- Cruncher supporting Lorry here; Charles Darnay introduced:
pp.70-71.
Chapter Three:
Notice Darnay's reaction to Lucie's testimony on p. 78. Our theme
of memory revisits here as Dr. Manette can not summon his memory here
on p. 81.
- Clever and sensitive Carton on page 83 is the first to notice
that Lucie needs assistance.
- Carton and Darnay's appearance: uncanny
resemblance!
- Notice Dickens' distaste for mobs; similar to Twain, Swift
et al.
Chapter Four:
- More uncanny novel incidents as Carton says: "This is a
strange chance that throws you and me together" (89). Finally,
they toast/swear upon the same girl. Doppelganger behavior!
- Good vocabulary words include: nettled, p. 88 and laconic, p.
90.
Chapter Five:
- More humor here; however, temperance was a big reform issue in
the nineteenth century. Do you know why soda was invented?
- Dickens informs us more about Carton and Styver's characters
and working relationship.
- Who accuses whom of being in love? Who has a wet pillow?
Why?
Chapter Six:
- On page 100, what does Lorry notice in the Doctor's residence?
Significance of this discovery?
- How does Dickens show us Miss Pross' character?
- In the last two pages, why does everyone have an opinion on
the storm?
Chapter Seven:
Content for the above was copied and gleaned from
a great teaching resourse: Novels for Students, Volumes 1-12.
Comp. and Ed. Elizabeth Thomason. Michigan: Gale Group,
1999.