A Tale of Two Cities Study Guide
BOOK THE FIRST -- Recalled to Life
Book I, Chapter 1: "The Period"
1. How does Dickens indicate the severity of social conditions in both France and England?
2. What allusions does Dickens make to the approaching French Revolution?
3. What is foreshadowed in Dickens’ beginning the novel with a description of the period?
4. How does Dickens satirize the superstitious nature of the English?
5. How does this first chapter involve the first book's title?
Book I, Chapter 2: "The Mail"
1. How does Dickens begin his actual story? What techniques make it engaging?
2. In this chapter how does Dickens contrast the characters of Mr. Jarvis Lorry and Jerry Cruncher, both employees of
Tellson's Bank?
3. What does Dickens achieve by his reference to The Captain and the fear and distrust of the travelers?
4. What imagery in this chapter suggests death?
5. Briefly identify Mr. Lorry and Jerry. What does the answer “recalled to life” suggest to the reader about the nature of
Mr. Lorry’s business?
6. Why has Dickens been so specific about the guard's weapons (p. 14)?
Book I, Chapter 3: "The Night Shadows"
1. What does Dickens achieve with is occasional lapses into first-person narration?
2. Consider the message Mr. Lorry sends with Jerry Cruncher. What is revealed by the imaginary conversation Lorry
keeps repeating in his mind?
3. To what do the symbolism of the rising sun and Lorry's remark "Gracious Creator of day?" point thematically?
4. What is the theme of the first two paragraphs of the chapter?
Book I, Chapter 4: "The Preparation"
1. What hints are there in this chapter that Mr. Lorry’s secret mission resurrects some issues from his own past?
2. What are the blank forms for the consignment mentioned in this chapter? How do they contribute to Mr. Lorry’s need
for secrecy and his use of the code “recalled to life”?
3. How do Dickens’ characters conform to the literary conventions of his day?
4. How is Dickens' 1859 infatuation with a young, blonde, blue-eyed actress named Ellen Ternan reflected in this chapter?
5. How does this chapter elucidate Lorry's enigmatic message to Jerry?
6. What detail in Dickens' portrait of the "wild-looking woman" is at once imposing yet humourous?
7. What does the repetition of word “business” do to Mr. Lorry’s story and character?
8. What is the significance of the quote: “The best and worst are known to you now.” (pg. 30)
Book I, Chapter 5: "The Wine-Shop"
1. What do you think the spilled wine foreshadows in this chapter? Why did the wine-seller, Ernest Defarge, admonish
Gaspard by placing his hand on the joker’s heart?
2. What effect does Dickens achieve with personification in this chapter (and what is personified)? (p. 34-35)
3. What does the following passage from this chapter say about the character of Madam Defarge?
“...one might have predicted that she did not often make mistakes against herself in any of
the reckonings over which she presided.” (p. 36)
4. What is implied in the way the Defarges call the men “Jacques”?
5. How are the inhabitants of St. Antoine both literally and figuratively "gaunt scare crows"?
6. What is the significance of Madame Defarge's knitting?
Book I, Chapter 6: "The Shoemaker"
1. The French King, Louis XVI, though honest and well-meaning, had neither the ability for nor an interest in politics and
lost himself in an obsession for locksmithing, a hobby far below his social station. What is comparable in the wasted Dr.
Manette? What makes the faintness of the shoemaker’s voice so horrible?
2. What is significant about the shoemaker’s name?
3. How do we know that nothing really misses the eyes and ears of Madame Defarge?
4. What detail finally begins to bring the Shoemaker to his senses?
5. How does Lucie begin to meet stereotypical expectations of an ideal woman?
6. How is the conclusion of the first book both pathetic and comic?
1. Considering how the book was written in weekly installments, what techniques has Dickens used to maintain
interest in his story each week?
2. What use of exaggeration and caricature do you see in the character development thus far?
3.
How do the themes of resurrection, redemption, and secrecy play out in BOOK ONE?
4. What symbols/recurring images & motifs have been introduced and what meaning do they hold at this point?
5. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses vivid and often terrifying descriptive details to set a scene, create
atmosphere, or portray a character. In Chapter 5, the descriptions of the misery in the Saint Antoine district of Paris
around the wine shop and of the Defarges’s filthy staircase convey, in typical Dickensian style, the horror of those two
places. Use the chart below to make a list of related descriptive words and phrases that help you visualize the scene.
Saint Antoine
The Defarges’ Staircase