Book 1 Discussion Questions

1.The story proper does not begin in chapter 1.  Rather, Dickens uses this chapter to express himself about the social and historical setting against which the story takes place.  However, what suggestion concerning the characters and events of the story is made in the last paragraph of Chapter 1?  What does the chapter suggest as the dominant mood of the story? In the last paragraph of chapter 1, Dickens foreshadows that this year is going to be a great year for the people, and also a bad year for others. Dickens says that the year will "conduct their greatnesses, and myriads of small creatures- the creatures of this chronicle among the rest- along the roads that lay before them." By saying this, Dickens tells the reader that the book is going to be full of events that happen to these people throughout the year.

1. Mr. Lorry is a study in appearances.  His outward manner contrasts with his inner feelings and impulses.
1. What clues to Mr. Lorrys character are provided when we meet him at the inn?  What other clues to his character do we get in his meeting with Lucie? When we meet Mr. Lorry at the inn you can see from his appearance and his attitude that he is one of those people who does their job and does not like to have conversations with other people, or close friends, like he's very independent.
2. Mr. Lorry says, I have no feelings, I am a mere machine.  (pg 19, line 26)  Is this statement true or false?  Why does Mr. Lorry so describe himself?  Later he says, Thats business, and if business is to be done I had better do it. (pg 41, Ln 37-39)  Why does he hide behind business to mask his real feelings? This statement can be true or false depending on how you look at it. If Mr. Lorry is just one of those people who does his jobs and doesn't like other people's company then it could be true. Mr. Lorry describes himself like this because he is trying to show that he just wants to do his job and not have conversations or anything like that.
3. Mr. Lorry is quite overcome by the appearance of the wild looking woman whose name, as you will learn, is Miss Pross.  How does he react to her blunt and overpowering actions and comments? He is surprised by Miss Pross's  bluntness and her overpowering actions and comments. He reacts like he is surprised to see a lady who acts like this.
4. What does the repeated blowings of his nose add to our interpretation of Mr. Lorrys character? The "repeated blowings of his nose" may be a sign to a reader that Mr. Lorry is sick. It might be a foreshadowing of his death or something happening to him.

3. The two Defarges are a source of mystery and a challenge to the reader.  Their characters are developed for us by little touches and subtle hints.
1. When we first meet Monsieur Defarge at the wine incident, he says, its not my affair (page 27, line 19)  Why does he say this?  Why does he scold the tall joker for writing the word BLOOD (the jokers name is Gaspard, page 27, line 24.  Remember the name. Monsieur Defarge sees the people fighting over wine as poor worthless people. He says its not his affair because he was not the one who caused the people to become vicious from hunger, it was the government.
2. In the wine shop Defarge seems to be extremely cautious of what he says and whom he talks to.  What does this tell us about his character-and what times he lives in? Monsieur Defarge is a very secretive man, who hids his personal information from other people because there was a high crime and murder rate at the time.
3. Monsieur Defarge bent down on one knee to the child of his old master, and put her hand to his lips.  It was a gentle action, but not all gently done; a very remarkable transformation had come over him in a few seconds.  He had no good humor in his face, nor any openness of aspect left, but he had become a secret, angry, dangerous man.  What does this quotation mean?  How does this description arouse our curiosity about Defarge? This quotation is foreshadowing a secret connection with the child that will reveal itself later in the book. Monsieur Defarges double personality creates a mysterious cloud around the understanding of the character and his past.
4. What is Defarges attitude toward Dr. Manette throughout the scene in the garret? The Defarges see Dr. Manette as a crazy man that could emotionally explode; however, they still have feelings for him, which is why they have kept him for so long. Defarge also seems worried that he could be dangerous because when he picked up the knife as the girl came near, she panicked about if he was going to stab her.
5. Defarge admits that he took Dr. Manette under protection at some danger to himself.  What does this information tell us about Defarge?  Defarge says, Monsieur Manette is best out of France. (page 41, lines 35-36)  How does this statement arouse our curiosity about the situation revolving around Dr. Manette? This shows that Defarge cares about Dr. Manette, that maybe he had a personal relationship with Manette before he took him under his care. The statement about Manette being "best out of France" he may be talking about problems that Manette has problems that are dangerous for other people.
6. Madame Defarge Says very little in these early pages, but we are very much aware of her presence.  We get a vivid conception of her character form the descriptions and the little she does say.  How does Madame Defarge appear to you at this point in the story? Madame Defarge appears as if she is a large women who intimidates other people. She seems very scary, like someone who you would want to avoid.

5. The episode of the spilled wine is dramatic, startling, and informative.
1. How do the people react to the spilled wine?  What does this reaction tell us about their lot? The people race around trying to drink up the spilled wine. The people during the time were going through a time of famine, and fought for any scrap of food they could get.
2. The scene is filled with a number of references and descriptions that convey a feeling of menace, of terrible violence to come.  Give three or four such references or descriptions. Sharpening knives, the word blood written on the wall, broken glass wine bottles

7. The letter-de-cachet was one of the serious abuses of the French monarchy that led to the revolution.  Through its use, the king or a powerful nobleman could have a person suddenly or secretly thrown into prison for life without trial or even a statement of charges.  (see Mr. Lorrys explanation to Lucie on page 20, lines 23-34)
1. What is Mr. Lorry hinting to Lucie concerning what had happened to Dr. Manette?  Specifically, what are the blank forms?  From your knowledge of French history can you guess what the dreadful place was? Mr. Lorry is trying to tell Lucie that her father is still alive and living somewhere. The black forms are the papers proving the victim belongs in jail, used to persecute the person for death. The dreadful place is referring to the towns where living conditions were very poor and unhealthy.
2. This information helps to put part of the jigsaw together.  What important questions are raised in the mind of the reader concerning those past events in Dr. Manettes life? The questions raised are, what did Dr. Manette do to get thrown in jail, and how did he get to the Defarges house.

9. By the use of foreshadowing, Dickens prepares us for events to come.  Sometimes these hints are symbolic, as well.

1. How does the behavior of the people at the spilled-wine episode foreshadow their behavior when revolution came? This episode foreshadows their behavior when the revolution came because it portrays that when the people do not like when the government is doing something bad they can people extremely violent and disgruntle
2. In the ominous description of Madame Defarge, there is additional foreshadowing of events to come. What is the effect of the phrase saw nothing? Do you think she saw nothing? Why or why not? No, I do not think she saw anything. The reason is because she acknowledges the meeting and the man but she did not care about what he was saying.
3. Sometimes the foreshadowing is very subtle. It tantalizes us with just a hint, nothing more. Jerry Cruncher says, Youd be in a Blazing bad way, if recalling to life was to come into fashion Jerry! (page 9, lines 2-3) This foreshadows important events to come. What do you think might be the explanation for Jerrys comment? The explanation for Jerrys comment is that if basically being reincarnated was to become popular the person would be like in a bad way because when they died they would be dead forever.

11.Dickens is considered one of the worlds greatest humorists in his creation of unusual characters and situations.

1. In his description of the Dover mail, how does Dickens show his flair for humor in the guards arsenal of weapons, the passengers attitude, and the coachmans opinion of his horses? The way that Dickens shows his flair for humor for the passengers attitude is that they all believe that each other are not trust worthy. The way that Dickens makes fun of the arsenal of weapons the guard has is he calls them all silly names such as blunderbuss which is a short musket of wide bore with a flared muzzle. The coachmans opinion of his horses is that they are very lazy and he has had a lot of trouble with them.
2. When the mail reaches Dover and the passengers get into the inn, there is a remarkable change in the appearance of those passengers. What does Dickens mean when he says, But one kind of man was seen to go into it? Dickens means that only one type of person ever went into the inn they were always in the same mood every single time whoever they were no matter if they were male or female they had the same attitude and mood.