Tale of Two Cities
List of Characters
Jarvis Lorry—Banker at Tellson’s Bank of London and a trusted friend of the Manettes.
Jerry Cruncher—“odd job man” for Tellson’s and part-time grave robber.
Lucie Manette—Dr. Manette’s daughter and Charles Darnay’s wife.
Miss Pross—Lucie’s servant who cared for Lucie during Dr. Manette’s imprisonment.
Dr. Manette—Lucie’s father who was unjustly imprisoned for eighteen years in Paris.
Charles Darnay—Lucie’s husband who was sentenced to death because of the actions of his father and uncle, the Marquis St. Evermonde.
The Marquis St. Evermonde—Cruel 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 wine shop owner and former servant of Dr. Manette who is also 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 member of the French Revolution.
Vengeance—Female 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 against Charles Darnay in Darnay’s London trial.
Gabelle—The caretaker of the Evermonde estate. His imprisonment brings Charles Darnay back to Paris.
Gaspard—He was hung for killing Darnay’s uncle, the Marquis.
Synopsis – Fill in the blanks!
BOOK THE FIRST: Recalled to Life
1. The Period: In the year ______ conditions were brutal for the people of England and France. Both were ruled by a king and queen and the times were often violent and terrible. In __________, the nobles lived in luxury and were sure that they and the king ruled by __________ __________ and that nothing would ever change. The general populace suffered from starvation, disease, and deprivation and were growing impatient for change.
Book 1, Chapter 1
1. What was the attitude of British and French nobility concerning the future of their rule?
2. In France, what was a common punishment for not kneeling to honor monks?
3. What was the crime situation in England at this time?
Book 1, Chapter 2 The Mail: While in route from London to _______________ by way of Dover, Mr. Lorry of ________________ Bank receives a cryptic message from the bank’s messenger, Jerry ______________. Mr. Lorry responds to the message, “Wait at _____________ for Mam’selle,” with his own cryptic reply, “RECALLED TO _____________.”
4. How did passengers on the Dover mail interact with each other? Why did they act this way?
5. What was the guard's initial reaction to the arrival of Jerry Cruncher?
6. Who is Cruncher's message for, and what is this gentleman's occupation?
7. What was Cruncher's message, and what was the reply? What do you think these messages mean?
Book 1, Chapter 3 . The Night Shadows: Continuing his journey, Lorry holds imagined conversations with someone (Dr. Manette) about this person’s feelings and future hopes after being buried for ______________________ years.
8. What is Cruncher's reaction to the message he is to take to Tellson's?
9. What question does Mr. Lorry ask the spectre? What is the spectre's answer? What do you think this means? Book 1, Chapter 4
10. Describe Mr. Jarvis Lorry's dress and physical appearance.
11. Who is Mr. Lorry waiting for in Dover?
12. Have Mr. Lorry and the young Lady met before? If so, when and under what circumstances?
13. What news does Mr. Lorry have for the young Lady?
14. What is her reaction to the news?
Chapter 4. The Preparation: In Dover, Lorry meets _____________ __________ and informs her that he is going to take her to her father, whom she thought was dead. Lorry tells her that Dr. Manette is alive and has been released from ____________ in ______________where he has been for ____________ years.
Chapter 5. The Wine-Shop: In Paris, Lorry and Lucie go to _____________ wine shop. Dr. Manette has been released to Defarge because he ___________________ ______________________________________. Defarge is a key figure in the underground movement against the ruling government, and his _____________ ________________ is a central meeting place.
15. What are the people's reactions to the broken wine cask?
16. The spilled wine is a symbol of what?
17. What is the power that has ground the people down? What does this tell us about conditions in France?
18. Describe Defarge and his wife.
19. Why do the men in the wine shop refer to each other as Jacques? (Look up the word "jacquerie" for a hint.)
20. Why have Mr. Lorry and Miss Manette come to Defarge's wine shop? Why was Defarge chosen for this duty?
21. Why do you think Defarge shows Dr. Manette to the Jacques?
Chapter 6. The Shoemaker: Defarge takes Lorry and Lucie to Dr. Manette who is kept in ___ _________ ___________ room. The Doctor does not remember his true name and occupation and now works as a __________________. He remembers Lucie when he matches her hair with a few strands of ______ ______ ___________ that he has kept with him in a ragged pouch worn around his _________. While Lucie holds him in her arms, Defarge and Lorry go to make arrangements to take him from that room directly to ___________________.
22. What is Dr. Manette doing when they enter the room?
23. Describe the Doctor's physical appearance. What does this say about his prison experience?
24. What physical characteristic tells us that Lucie is indeed the Doctor's daughter?
25. When the doctor compares the strands of golden hair in his "locket" to Lucie's hair, what is his first conclusion? Does he finally figure out the truth?
BOOK THE SECOND: The Golden Thread
1. Five Years Later: Tellson's Bank in ______________ is described as an old, dark, cramped establishment that takes pride in its ultraconservative, unchanging appearance and attitude. In sharp contrast to this appearance is the bank's porter and messenger, Jerry _______________.
26. Describe Tellson's bank. What is the bank's attitude toward change?
27. How does Tellson's treat the young men in its employ?
28. What behavior of Mrs. Cruncher makes Mr. Cruncher angry? Why does this anger him?
29. What physical characteristic of his father's does young Jerry wonder about? Can you make a guess about it?
Chapter2. A Sight: Jerry is directed to go to the court to act as a messenger for Mr.__________ should he need one. Lorry is present at the trial of ____________ ____________ who is charged with treason against _________________ . Also at the trial are Dr. Manette and ___________ who are scheduled to be witnesses for the prosecution.
30. What does Mr. Cruncher think is "Barbarous"? Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?
31. What is the "old Bailey" and what is it famous for?
32. Who is being tried, and what is the charge against him?
33. Who is present in the courtroom to act as witnesses for the prosecution?
Chapter3. A Disappointment: Mr. Stryver, Darnay's ________________, is able to discredit the Attorney General's witnesses with the help of his brilliant, if drunken, assistant Sydney _______________. Dr. Manette and ____________ testified that they had met Darnay _________ years earlier on their voyage from Paris to __________________ when the Doctor was released from ____________. Based on the supportive testimony of Dr. Manette and Lucie and the skill of his counsel, Charles Darnay is _________________ of all charges.
34. Where did Mr. Lorry, Miss Manette, and Dr. Manette first meet Charles Darnay? What was Lucie's opinion of him?
35. What did the wigged gentleman who was looking at the ceiling point out to the counsel, Mr. Stryver, on the piece of paper that he threw to him?
36. What does Mr. Stryver say about Mr. Basard and Mr. Cly?
37. What happens in the courtroom to prove that Mr. Carton is much more observant than his manner lets on?
38. What personal service does Carton do for Charles Darnay? What do you think this hints at for the future?
39. What is the verdict?
Chapter4. Congratulatory: After the__________, Darnay gratefully thanks Stryver, Dr. Manette, and Lucie for their help in his acquittal. After the trial, Darnay and Carton go to ______________ where Carton ____________ heavily and confides to __________________ that he is a "disappointed drudge" who cares for ____ _________ and for whom no one cares.
40. What do you think Carton's and Darnay's toast foreshadows?
41. What is Sydney Carton's opinion of himself? Book 2, Chapter 5
42. What is Carton's job?
43. Describe his working routine. Include when, where, and how.
44. After reading this chapter, describe Sydney Carton's life and tell how you think he feels about it.
Chapter 5. The Jackal: Carton goes to ________________ quarters late at night where he analyzes Stryver's cases for him thus acting as "______ ___________" to Stryver the courtroom "_________." Carton works and _____________ steadily until three in the morning when he concludes his work for Stryver. Then he and Stryver drink for the rest of the night while ____________ outlines Carton's ____________ and _________________ for him.
Chapter 6. Hundreds of People: Mr. Lorry has become good friends with Dr. _________ and visits him every ____________. Miss __________, Lucie's maidservant, complains to Lorry that they have hundreds of visitors every Sunday, but only ________________ ____________ shows up to visit Lucie. Later in the afternoon, _______________ ________________ also visits.
45. Where does Mr. Lorry go most Sundays? Why?
46. What kind of housekeeper is Lucie?
47. Describe Miss Pross as she appears on the surface and how she really is once you get to know her?
48. How does Miss Pross describe the Doctor's mental condition? What does it take to soothe him?
49. Who are the "hundreds of people" that visit the Manette's on Sundays?
Chapter 7. Monseigneur in Town: After leaving the Monseigneur's ____________, the Monsieur the Marquis's carriage drives recklessly through the streets of __________ without regard to __________________. In its irresponsible flight, the carriage runs over and kills a ____________ _____________. The Marquis blames the crowd that forms for not taking care of their children and worries that the accident may have harmed his ______________. Confronted with the dead child's hysterical _____________, the Marquis tosses him a _____________ __________ and orders his driver to move on.
50. What kinds of people associate themselves with the Monseigneur? What does this say about what it takes to get ahead in France at this time?
51. Describe the "accident" that befalls the Monsieur the Marquis in the streets of Paris.
52. What is the Marquis's attitude toward this "accident"?
Chapter 8. Monseigneur in the Country: Arriving home at his _____________ estate, the Marquis learns that a tall, thin man has ridden from ______________ to the Marquis's village on the chains ____________ his carriage. Upon entering his estate, the Marquis finds that his nephew, ______________, has not yet arrived.
53. What are the conditions in the Marquis's home village?
54. What unusual sight did the roadmender see? What prediction can you make from this?
55. Who is the Marquis expecting? Can you guess the identity of this person?
Chapter 9. The Gorgon's Head: The Marquis's ___________ (Charles Darnay) arrives and the two argue about the ____________ and its use of its social position. Darnay vows that if he inherits the _____________, he will follow his mother's wishes and turn the estate over to the______________ who have for generations worked and suffered for it. His ____________ shows nothing but scorn for him and his humanitarian plans. Later that night the _______________ is __________________ in his bed by the man who stowed away underneath his carriage.
56. Of what does Darnay accuse his uncle?
57. What is the Marquis's philosophy of keeping the common people under control?
58. What is Darnay's opinion of his family's behavior and what does he plan to do about it?
59. What happens to the Marquis, and what does the note tell us?
Chapter 10. Two Promises: A year later finds ____________ ______________ prospering as a French tutor and translator in London. His love for ___________ ___________ drives him to approach her father. He tells the Doctor of his love for Lucie and promises to never _________ ____________ Lucie and the Doctor. The Doctor agrees to tell _________ of ____________ love only if she expresses her love for Darnay first. In response to the Doctor's promise, Charles tries to reveal to him his true name and past. Dr____________ declines to hear his confession, and says he will only hear it on the morning of ______________ _____________ to Darnay. This exchange so upsets Dr. Manette that when Lucie returns, she finds him at work at his ______________ ______________.
60. A year after his uncle's death, describe Charles Darnay's professional and personal condition.
61. In proclaiming his love for Lucie, how does Charles show consideration for Dr. Manette?
62. What are the two promises that the Doctor makes Charles?
63. What is the effect on the Doctor of making these promises? Why do you think they had this effect on him?
Chapter 11. A Companion Picture: Stryver confides to ____________ that he plans to _______________ Lucie and then advises Carton to _____________ a common __________ with property to take care of him.
64. What future plan does Stryver confess to Carton?
65. What does Stryver advise Carton to do? Book 2, Chapter 12
66. Why does Stryver stop in to tell Mr. Lorry of his plans?
67. What is Mr. Lorry's reaction to Stryver's news?
68. What does Mr. Lorry offer to do for Stryver?
69. What is Stryver's attitude when Lorry comes to the house with information, and why does he act this way?
Chapter 12. The Fellow of Delicacy: Stryver stops at _______________ to inform Mr. Lorry of his intention to marry ______________. Lorry advises against it and agrees to see if Dr. Manette and Lucie would be interested in her marrying Stryver. _____________ realizes that Lucie does not want ________ and salvages his pride by acting as if he doesn't with to marry her anymore.
Chapter 13. The Fellow of No Delicacy: Carton confesses to ____________ that he is beyond redemption even if she sees goodness in him. He goes on to tell her that he hopes his last _____________ ___________ will be of her and promises to _____ ___________ _____ _____ ___ _______ _______ and those she loves if they should ever need his help.
Chapter 14. The Honest Tradesman: __________ ____________ demonstrates that his description of himself as an "honest tradesman" is inaccurate when he engages in his night time job of ___________ _____________.
Chapter 15. Knitting: Defarge helps the ___________ __________ who saw the Marquis's ___________ and his subsequent arrest, imprisonment, and __________. Defarge and his compatriots put a death sentence on all of the Marquis's___________, and this sentence is recorded by Madame Defarge in her ___________ _____________.