A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens

Write down everything you know about London and Paris.

Write down everything you know about the French Revolution

French Revolution Notes 5 Factors that contributed to the discontent of the French people, leading to the revolution: – France couldn’t provide food for its people – The new middle class lacked a voice – Peasants hated the feudal system – New social and political ideals and reforms were spreading – The success of the American Revolution gave the people hope Began in 1789 with the attack on the Bastille Prison in Paris. Resulted in the eventual overthrow of King Louie XVI. The rest of Europe was also affected because other established governments feared a similar revolt. Led to Napoleon taking power

Charles Dickens 1812 – 1870 His early school years he described as happy At ten his family fell into financial problems; his father at one point was imprisoned in debtor’s prison His Pickwick Papers made him an overnight success in 1837 In the time before Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities, he had grown increasingly dismayed at the social and economic inequality of British society––the terrible living conditions of the urban poor, an arrogant and uncaring ruling class, and the ravages of the Industrial Revolution. Adapted from the Glencoe Study Guide

The Victorian Age Queen Victoria of England Often – though superficially – associated with: – Materialism – Complacency – Prudishness A time of strife – Economic depression in the 1840s – Religious upheaval brought on by Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859). – Social strife brought on by the reform bills, which gave some power to the rising middle class

Things to note about the novel Variance of Characterization – Some characters are dynamic – Some are static to the point that they come to personify a trait or ideal Creative and often witty command of language Humor Imagery Psychological insight

Motifs Footsteps Wine as blood Flowing water The sea Fire The grave The plough and digging

Themes The ability to resurrect and redeem oneself Social injustice and the consequences (I.e. violence during a time of a revolution) The necessity to sacrifice oneself (I.e. Duty versus desire) The positive and negative nature of revenge