A Tale of Two Cities Introduction to the Novel. Background Into the Novel Dickens believed that public history was private history as well. Dickens believed

A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two CitiesIntroduction to the NovelIntroduction to the Novel

Background Into the NovelBackground Into the Novel

Dickens believed that public history was private Dickens believed that public history was private history as well. history as well.

He took a highly public event (French Revolution) He took a highly public event (French Revolution) and created a story of a family within it. The and created a story of a family within it. The family’s story is not an isolated event; rather, the family’s story is not an isolated event; rather, the public event influences the behavior and thoughts public event influences the behavior and thoughts of the individual characters. of the individual characters.

He tried to make the events of the French He tried to make the events of the French Revolution understandable by portraying the Revolution understandable by portraying the personal struggles of one group of people.personal struggles of one group of people.

Background Into the NovelBackground Into the Novel Dickens was facing a personal crisis in his own life when he Dickens was facing a personal crisis in his own life when he

wrote ATOTC. wrote ATOTC. He was under public scrutiny for an alleged affair during his He was under public scrutiny for an alleged affair during his

marriage. marriage. He felt like he was living a DOUBLE life because he was He felt like he was living a DOUBLE life because he was

misunderstood by the public, but he was also a troubled man. misunderstood by the public, but he was also a troubled man. Notice two characters in the novel who seem to be Notice two characters in the novel who seem to be

opposites of one another, and who may portray what opposites of one another, and who may portray what Dickens was experiencing in his personal life.Dickens was experiencing in his personal life.

DOUBLES is a recurring MOTIF throughout the novel. DOUBLES is a recurring MOTIF throughout the novel.

Background Into the NovelBackground Into the Novel

Doubles can be seen throughout the book:Doubles can be seen throughout the book: Sentence #1 Sentence #1 Journeying between London & Paris (two cities)Journeying between London & Paris (two cities) Captivity & FreedomCaptivity & Freedom Life & DeathLife & Death Characters (opposites of each other)Characters (opposites of each other)

A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two CitiesAnalysis of Sentence #1Analysis of Sentence #1

Tale: Sentence #1 Activity - Tale: Sentence #1 Activity - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”


1-2. Look at the pairs of words. What subjects are repeated?

3. Look for 3 unfamiliar vocabulary words. Define them based on context clues.

4. Paraphrase the entire sentence. 5. How could this apply to 2009? Itemize your ideas in

the table. 6. Create a new sentence using your ideas from the

table.


Any particular syntactical structure?Any particular syntactical structure? What is the effect of the structure? Does it What is the effect of the structure? Does it

create a rhythm? create a rhythm? What is Dickens trying to do with the use of What is Dickens trying to do with the use of

anaphora? anaphora?


Anaphora is used toAnaphora is used to BALANCE two completely opposite ideas; shows an BALANCE two completely opposite ideas; shows an

EQUAL MATCH in the struggle between each ideaEQUAL MATCH in the struggle between each idea demonstrate TENSION between opposites (or, demonstrate TENSION between opposites (or,

doubles) - like a see-saw because these doubles are doubles) - like a see-saw because these doubles are constantly at constantly at war…notice what else is in this book is war…notice what else is in this book is at war:at war: tension shown in words, syntax, themes, even tension shown in words, syntax, themes, even groups of people like nobility VS commoners) groups of people like nobility VS commoners)

show CONSTANT STATE OF STRUGGLE between black show CONSTANT STATE OF STRUGGLE between black and white ideas – does that mean the world will never and white ideas – does that mean the world will never fit into a “grey” area?fit into a “grey” area?

create RHYTHMIC patterncreate RHYTHMIC pattern


This sentence reflects Dickens’s dark view of British This sentence reflects Dickens’s dark view of British society (1859)society (1859) Best of times for England’s wealthyBest of times for England’s wealthy Worst of times for England’s poor (hungry, disease, Worst of times for England’s poor (hungry, disease,

poverty, ignorance characterized the poor)poverty, ignorance characterized the poor) This was the setup for the French Revolution – the This was the setup for the French Revolution – the

French elite were experiencing the best, the French French elite were experiencing the best, the French poor were experiencing the worst. poor were experiencing the worst.

Dickens believed that a social upheaval, like the one Dickens believed that a social upheaval, like the one that shook France, would be England’s fate.that shook France, would be England’s fate.

Chapter 1: The PeriodChapter 1: The Period(Summary)(Summary)

In the year 1775 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.

Particularly in France, the nobles lived in luxury and were sure that they and the king ruled by divine right and that nothing would ever change. The general populace suffered from starvation, disease, and deprivation and were growing impatient for change.

Dickensian StyleDickensian Style

He used techniques to show great moral force and He used techniques to show great moral force and physical immediacy. physical immediacy.

Annotate for:Annotate for: Imagery (vivid scenes)Imagery (vivid scenes) RepetitionRepetition Dramatic moments Dramatic moments Characters who represent IDEAS (notice that one Characters who represent IDEAS (notice that one

character does not even have a name)character does not even have a name)

Dickensian StyleDickensian Style

More Dickensian techniques to annotate for:More Dickensian techniques to annotate for: Chapter titles/meanings Chapter titles/meanings ForeshadowingForeshadowing Chapter endings (cliffhangers – the chapters of Chapter endings (cliffhangers – the chapters of

ATOTC were originally published in a magazine; ATOTC were originally published in a magazine; he needed to keep his readers “on edge” for the he needed to keep his readers “on edge” for the next installment)next installment)

ATOTC: ThemesATOTC: Themes

Thematic Ideas (more to annotate for!)Thematic Ideas (more to annotate for!) Justice by revengeJustice by revenge The effect of adversity/crisis on an individualThe effect of adversity/crisis on an individual Duty vs. DesireDuty vs. Desire Corruption in the ruling classCorruption in the ruling class Honor vs. DishonorHonor vs. Dishonor

Literary Circles - A Tale of Two CitiesLiterary Circles - A Tale of Two CitiesPre-reading Activity: Book the FirstPre-reading Activity: Book the First

Analyze how Dickens uses parallelism to state themes Analyze how Dickens uses parallelism to state themes that might be developed in the novel. Use examples that might be developed in the novel. Use examples from Book the 1from Book the 1stst that continue the development of that continue the development of themes introduced in the opening paragraph. themes introduced in the opening paragraph. Provide 2 examples of parallelismProvide 2 examples of parallelism Provide 1 example of another syntactical structureProvide 1 example of another syntactical structure Provide 1 theme statement that could be expressed Provide 1 theme statement that could be expressed

based on the parallelism illustrated through chapters 1 based on the parallelism illustrated through chapters 1 and 2and 2

*(answer at the end of Book 1st reading) How is the *(answer at the end of Book 1st reading) How is the opening paragraph further developed in the Book the opening paragraph further developed in the Book the First? First?

Documents

A Tale of Two Cities Introduction to the Novel. Background Into the Novel Dickens believed that public history was private history as well. Dickens believed