A Tale of Two Cities - Advanced Placement Literature Teaching Unit

What is an example of parallelism in the first sentence of A Tale of Two Cities?

The clause structure: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' juxtaposes contrasting ideas.

What does Dickens establish through his use of parallel contrasts?

He establishes that life is full of contradictions, emphasizing contrasts in class and economy in England and France.

What does Dickens think about the complaints sent to Parliament by the Continental Congress of 1775?

He thinks they are important to the human race.

How does Dickens foreshadow the French Revolution in Chapter I?

By describing the execution of a young man who failed to show respect to the Clergy and mentioning trees that will be used for the guillotine.

What does the phrase 'recalled to life' suggest about Mr. Lorry's business in Dover?

It implies that his business is secretive and deals with rescuing someone from a burial or a figurative death.

What effect does Dickens achieve with his first-person narration?

It creates a more informal and conversational tone, engaging the reader directly.

What does Mr. Lorry's dream suggest about his mission?

He is on a mission to rescue Dr. Manette, who has been 'buried' for eighteen years.

What does Mr. Lorry tell Lucie to persuade her to go to Paris?

He tells her that they must attend to business connected with her father's estate.

What are Lettres de Cachet and their significance in the narrative?

They are warrants for imprisonment that require secrecy regarding Dr. Manette's incarceration.

How does the spilled wine foreshadow events in the novel?

The spilled red wine foreshadows the blood that will be shed during the French Revolution.

What does the character of Madame Defarge reveal about her personality?

She is confident and intelligent, capable of calculating without making mistakes.

What does the Shoemaker's name signify?

It represents his loss of identity and reduced status to being just a former prisoner.

What relationship does Sydney Carton have with the idea of resurrection?

He represents the theme that resurrection is possible, as seen in Darnay's acquittal.

What does Mr. Lorry's role in discouraging Stryver's proposal show about him?

He is emotionally invested in the well-being of Lucie and her father, not just a businessman.

What secret does Carton reveal to Lucie regarding his love?

He asks her to keep his love a secret, showing his feelings and inability to change.

What does Carton's promise to Lucie foreshadow?

It suggests he may sacrifice himself for her happiness in the future.

What does Dr. Manette's fear of remembering his past signify?

It indicates his struggle with trauma and the potential for relapse into his old state.

What is the significance of the crowd's sounds at the end of the chapter Echoing Footsteps?

The sounds symbolize the forthcoming turmoil that will disrupt the peace of the characters' lives.