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Bell work : in your journal:

Bell work : in your journal:. Dickens begins his novel, Tale of Two Cities , with the famous line: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Could this same theme apply today? Why or why not?. Learning Goals:.

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Bell work : in your journal:

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  1. Bell work: in your journal: • Dickens begins his novel, Tale of Two Cities, with the famous line: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Could this same theme apply today? Why or why not?

  2. Learning Goals: • Build upon background knowledge of author and setting of novel for better comprehension • Practice vocabulary-in-context skills to enable us to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words

  3. A TALE OF TWO CITIES English II Honors Mrs. McLeod

  4. Meet Charles Dickens • Born 1812 in Portsmouth, England • Lower-middle-class family that moved from house to shabby house • “crazy tumble-down house… on the river… literally overrun with rats” • Attended very little school, just a couple of secondary years • Financial troubles landed his father (and family) in debtor’s prison • Charles sent to work in a shoe factory • Stories shaped by childhood: sympathy for poor

  5. Professional and personal life • Became law clerk at 15; hated it but learned much • Serial publication of Pickwick Papers 1836-37 made him an overnight success • He and wife had 10 children; separated when he fell in love with a young actress, the possible model for Lucie Manette • Theme of new beginnings, reawakenings and mistakes-turned-triumph influenced TOTC Katherine Dickens Ellen Ternan

  6. DicKENS’ WORK • Dark visions of Victorian society and its social problems • Known for comic characters, gruesome villains and chatty, rambling narrators • Autobiographical novels: David Copperfield, Great Expectations • Historical novels: Barnaby Rudge, Tale of Two Cities • Died in 1869 while working on unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

  7. A TALE OF TWO CITIES • Dickens increasingly dismayed over economic inequality of British society • “Best of times” for wealthy, uncaring ruling class • “Worst of times” for urban poor—hunger, living conditions, disease • Historical fiction based on French Revolution • Relied heavily on Thomas Carlyle’s history • Story of lives reawakened—much like Dickens’ own at the time • Published serially in his own magazine—cliffhangers helped sell thousands of copies each week

  8. THE French revolution • Watershed event that changed Europe, followed footsteps of American Revolution • Battle to achieve equality and remove oppression • Began in 1789 with the attack on the notorious prison, the Bastille • Reasons: • Hunger and malnutrition—bad harvests, skyrocketing bread prices • Corruption, excess and indifference of monarchy • Fiscal mismanagement and unfair taxation • Newly wealthy, educated and vocal middle-class, bourgeoisie, was without political power • Peasants hated the ancient feudal system in which they were forced to work for local nobles • New “Enlightenment” ideas (freedom, democracy) brought social and political reforms

  9. Classic love triangle

  10. And so it begins… • “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…”

  11. Questions • Why does Dickens use the idea of “doubles” to open the novel? • What is the significance of the title of Book the First, “Recalled to Life?”

  12. Bell work: In your journal • What would it be like to spend a long time away from your friends, family, and home? How would you cope with returning to your old life? Write in your journal about the most difficult challenges you’d face. Discuss how you would deal with them, as well as how other people could help you cope with your return to your old life.

  13. Book I: “Recalled to life”

  14. Chapter 1: “the Period” • “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” • Focuses on the “present period” which Dickens writes • Takes place in both England and France in 1775 • QUESTION: Explain the second paragraph. What does it say about the attitude of the ruling class?

  15. Chapter 2: “The MAIL” • Dover Mail coach, passengers afraid • Jarvis Lorry introduced--WHO IS HE? • Jerry Cruncher introduced—WHO IS HE? • What is the significance of the message “Recalled to Life”?

  16. Chapter 3: “The Night Shadows” • “Every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” • Jarvis Lorry’s dream: “He was on his way to dig some one out of a grave…” • QUESTION: Who is being dug from the grave? What does this foreshadow?

  17. Chapter 4: “the preparation” • Mr. Lorry meets Lucy Manette in a restaurant in Dover • Gives her the message she must go to Paris; her father is alive • Lucy faints; Miss Pross (her servant) rushes to her side • QUESTIONS: Why does Lucie faint? • Describe Lorry’s character? Is he a caring man or one of just business?

  18. Chapter 5: “the wine shop” • A large cask of wine breaks on the streets outside of Paris; townspeople desperately lap it up • “BLOOD” is scrawled upon the wall by a joker, Gaspard • “The time was to come, when that wine too would be spilled on the street-stones, and when the stain of it would be red upon the many there.” –FORESHADOWING? • Monsieur and Madame DeFarge introduced—DESCRIBE. • Men refer to each other “Jacques.”—WHY? • Mr. Lorry has a conversation with Monsieur DeFarge • The three ascend the steep, dangerous staircase to find Dr. Manette making shoes • QUESTIONS: Who else is in the room? Why? In what condition do they find Dr. Manette?

  19. Chapter 6: “The shoemaker” • A feeble, confused Manettesays that he is making a shoe for woman’s fashion, when he has no idea what the current fashion is. • When Dr. Manette is asked his name, he responds “105 North Tower” • Lucie is at first fearful of her father, then gives a very heartfelt speech to him; he starts to remember her voice as someone he once loved. • Lucie tells Manette that his home awaits him and the agony is over. • They leave the wine shop for England • QUESTION: What is your reaction of Lucy meeting her father? Is it convincing? Why or why not?

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