Dickens Showing Off
The first line of the novel illustrates five literary terms to describe the contrast of the different cities, social classes, situations of people during this time period.
Anaphora, Juxtaposition, Antithesis, Paradox, and Parallelism.
The Setting for Book 1 (Both Cities)
London (Dover), England & Paris, France in 1775
Who is the character described as abnormally strong?
Miss Pross
Who is the character repeated to be knitting and seeing nothing?
Madame Defarge
What is a "Jacques"?
A French civilian who is sympathetic or hungry for revolution; revolutionaries
The metaphor Dickens's uses to highlight the state of France's citizens.
What is a scarecrow?
The name of the neighborhood that the Defarge's live in.
What is St. Antoine?
Describe Mr. Lorry with at least 5 character traits.
Businessman of Tellson's Bank, Older Gentleman, Reserved, Orderly, Methodical, well-dressed, happy, calm, etc.
105 North Tower
What is Dr. Manette's cell and what he first believes is his name?
The breaking of the wine cask symbolizes-
What is blood in the streets?
Explain the metaphor of Fate being a Woodman and Death being a Farmer.
The woodman and farmer would have been types of people to become revolutionaries. Both foreshadow the coming revolution and what would happen (tumbrils carrying aristocrats to the guillotine).
Give at least 3 characteristics of England during the time period of Book 1.
1. Crime is rampant.
2. No clear justice system-every crime equals death.
3. Monarchy is established.
4. People are distrustful of each other.
Etc.
Describe Jerry Cruncher with at least 4-character traits.
Spiky hair, uneducated, superstitious, odd-job man for Tellson's, etc.
Name one non-familial connection between two characters that was held between them prior to the starting of the book.
Mr. Lorry & Dr. Manette=Banker/Client
Mr. Lorry & Jerry= Boss/Worker
Dr. Manette/Erenest Defarge=Boss/Servant
Lucie & Mr. Lorry=Guardian to London/Ward
Miss Pross & Lucie=Lady/Maid & Mother Figure
Name a color associated with one character.
Lucy = Gold
Miss Pross= Red
Dr. Manette= White
Mr. Lorry=Brown
What is one similarity the Kings of both England and France share and what does it mean?
Kings are described to have a large jaw=consume everything/well-fed.
Give at least 3 characteristics of France during the time period of Book 1.
1. France is ruled by a monarchy.
2. French government (monarchy) is printing more money than they can afford.
3. The nobles put a high emphasis on social classes and respecting the rich per the boy being killed and tortured for not bowing to monks far away.
4. People are starving.
5. People are hungry for revolution, food, change, etc.
Etc.
The name of the joker who writes "BLOOD" on the wineshop.
Who is Gaspard?
Who says it and what is the meaning of "recalled to life"?
It is Mr. Lorry's answer to Jerry upon receiving his message.
It is Lorry's way of saying he hopes Dr. Manette will be able to find hope and the want to live after being released from prison and reconnecting with his daughter.
Name a clue that tells us that Dr. Manette was wrongfully imprisoned.
1. They need to leave France as soon as possible once collecting Dr. Manette.
2. Defarge uses Manette as a tool to spark passion in the revolutionaries (suggesting there was an injustice in his imprisonment)
Etc.
What is theme for this selection from book 1?
"A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other...My friend is dead, my neighbor is dead, my love, the darling of my soul, is dead; it is inexorable consolidation, and perpetuation of the secret that was always in that individuality, and which I shall carry in mine to my life's end. In any of the burial places of this city through which I pass, is there a sleeper more inscrutable than its busy inhabitants are, in their innermost personality, to me, or than I am to them?"
Everyone has secrets that they take with them to the grave.
People are mysteries to each other.
We, as humans, are equal in the number of secrets each of us holds.
Etc.
Which characters are seen traveling between the two cities during book 1?
Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, and Lucie
What are the reactions of the four characters present for Lucie and Dr. Manette's reunion?
Lucie feels bad for her father, emotionally embraces him, and promises to take care of him.
Dr. Manette is at first frantic from confusion, accepts Lucie's embrace, lays beside her until she helps him go to the carriage.
Mr. Lorry recognizes some semblance of the man he once knew in Dr. Manette, gets teary-eyed, blows his nose, and immediately takes up the offer to focus on business when presented.
Ernest Defarge is angry at the nobles/aristocracy of France who have caused Manette to become this way and encourages the others to leave France as soon as possible.
The image/action Mr. Lorry repeatedly associates with Dr. Manette's release from prison.
Digging/Being Unburied
Why is Lucie's hair being similar to Dr. Manette's wife's hair significant?
The only item in and "reason to live" in prison that Dr. Manette had from his previous life before prison was his wife's hair, and Lucie is what Mr. Lorry hopes will be Dr. Manette's "reason for living" in his life after prison.