Plot points
Who is “recalled to life” at the beginning of the novel?
Dr. Manette
Which character is married to Lucie Manette?
Charles Darnay
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” Who says this?
bonus 50 points: when do they say it?
Sydney Carton.
before his execution.
Who is the author of A Tale of Two Cities?
Charles Dickens
What alias does Charles Darnay use when he travels to France?
Charles Evrémonde
What happens to Charles Darnay during his first trial in England?
He is acquitted.
Who is described as a “jackal” and why?
Sydney Carton, because he works in the shadow of Stryver and does his legal work.
“Recalled to life.”
Bonus: when?
Jarvis Lorry
He says this as he describes Dr. Manette’s release from the Bastille in the beginning of the novel. (+50 points)
what year was A Tale of Two Cities published?
1859
What does the broken wine cask in the streets of Saint Antoine symbolize in the larger context of the novel?
It symbolizes the hunger and desperation of the French people and foreshadows the bloodshed of the Revolution.
What is the name of the wine shop owned by the Defarges?
The Defarge Wine Shop
Who is Madame Defarge’s main enemy, and why?
Charles Darnay, because he is an aristocrat connected to her family’s suffering.
“A life you love.”
Bonus: when?
Sydney Carton
He promises Lucie that he would sacrifice himself for someone she loves. (+50 points)
What are the two cities referred to in the title?
London and Paris
Who are the two witnesses against Charles Darnay during his trial in England?
Roger Cly and John Barsad (a spy and a turncoat).
Where does Sydney Carton make his ultimate sacrifice?
At the guillotine in Paris
What is Dr. Manette’s obsession during his imprisonment?
Shoemaking
“the Wind and Fire where to stop, but don’t tell me.”
Bonus: when?
Madame Defarge
She says this to show her determination for vengeance and that she cannot be reasoned with. (+50 points)
What is the opening line of the novel?
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
In what way does Sydney Carton resemble Charles Darnay, and why is this resemblance significant?
They look nearly identical, which allows Carton to switch places with Darnay and sacrifice himself at the guillotine.
What significant event happens when the wine spills in the streets of Saint Antoine?
The people scramble for it, foreshadowing the hunger and desperation of the revolution.
Who helps Lucie Manette by keeping watch outside her house for her missing husband?
Sydney Carton
“The Bastille shall fall.”
Bonus: when?
Revolutionary crowd (or Ernest Defarge, implied)
Said during the storming of the Bastille, symbolizing the uprising against tyranny. (+50 points)
What historical event serves as the backdrop for the novel?
The French Revolution
Madame Defarge’s knitting contains a secret code. What is the purpose of this code?
It records the names of people marked for death by the revolutionaries.