Book Two

1. What is Tellson's Bank being compared to?

Tellsons Bank is a small and old bank that is almost rundown. It is being compared to a large cave because of its dark and gloomy atmosphere.

2.      What is significant about descending "two steps" to go into Tellson's?

The decent of steps signifies traveling back in time when everything was old and antique.

3.   What does "putting to death was a recipe much in vogue" mean?

This statement means that sentencing people to death for minor criminal acts was the latest rage, including Tellsons.

4.   What types of crimes In England were given death?

People who were sentenced to death were forgers, utterers of bad notes, unlawful openers of a letter, purloiners of forty shillings and six pence, horse robbers, coiners of a bad shilling, and sounders of three-fourths of the notes in the whole gamut of Crime.

5.        Describe Mr. Cruncher and his son.

Mr. Cruncher is a strong brute man who is a messenger for other people. He is not well educated and he views himself as head of the family. His son takes after his father by bullying other neighborhood children. 

6.       Why does Mr. Cruncher get upset with his wife?

He gets upset because he accuses his wife of praying against him.

7.       What clues are you given that he secretly digs up the dead at night?

The clues are that his hands have rust all over them and his boots are muddy, which his son notices.

BOOK TWO, CHAPTER TWO

8.       What punishment(s) will be given to the traitorous prisoner?

The usual punishment for a traitorous prisoner was to be hanged. They would be hanged at Tyburn in those days. Or they would be punished by quartering.

9.       What is above the prisoner's head to "throw the light down upon him?"

To "throw the light down upon him" they had a mirror over the head of the prisoners. This was so that their conditions would be worse. 

10.     Who are the two witnesses in the court brought to speak against the witness?

The two witnesses are Lucy and Dr. Manette and they are brought to speak against the witnesses.

BOOK TWO, CHAPTER THREE

1.         What metaphor does Dickens use to describe the people in the court?

Dickens said that "That, Virtue, as had been observed by the poets (in many passages which he well knew the jury would have, word for word, at the tips of their tongues; whereat the jury's countenances displayed a guilty consciousness that they knew nothing about the passages), was in a manner contagious; more especially the bright virtue known as patriotism, or love of country."

2.       What has Mr. Darney done, according to the judge?

Darney was accused of passing English secrets into French hands.

3.       What slanderous comments does Lucy say against Darnay?

She turns the court against Darnay by reporting his statement that George Washington's fame might one day match that of George III.

4.       Who notices that Lucy feels ill?

It was Mr. Carton who noticed that Lucy when ill when "her head dropped upon her father's breast."

5.       Who is "recalled to life?"

Lucie's father it the one who is recalled to life.

6.       Why is the chapter entitled "A Disappointment?

The chapter was called "A Disappointment" because the court was unable to identify Darnay as a spy beyond reasonable doubt. This forces the jury to retire in order to deliberate. They eventually return with an acquittal for Darnay, which is a great disappointment to the people who were trying to prosecute him.

BOOK TWO, CHAPTER FOUR

1.            How does Dr. Manette look at Darnay after the trial?

Dr. Manette sees Darnay as a man that has forced himself into many companies, as if he did not deserve anything that he had in his life, a bully of some sorts.

2.            Who is "The Golden Thread?"

The "golden thread" is the link that Ms. Manette forms for Darnay to a past other than his own.

3.       Why does Mr. Lorry get upset with Mr. Carton?

Because Mr. Carton is repeating himself, and saying that if he had a business, he would not attend to it, and also because he is holding a conversation while he is drunk. Mr. Lorry is a businessman and Carton is apparently annoying to him.

4.        How does Sidney Carton feel about Darnay?

How does Sidney Carton feel about Darnay?

Carton does not see Carton as a bad man; he actually goes to a tavern to "wine and dine" with him.

5.              To whom do both men toast?

Miss Manette.

6.        How does Carton finish his evening?

He finished the night drinking himself to sleep, passing out on the table.

BOOK TWO, CHAPTER FIVE

1.        Who is the Lion?

  The Lion is Mr. Stryver.

2.       Who is the jackal?

The jackal is Sydney Carton.

3.            Who do you learn was the genius behind saving Darnay?

The genius behind saving Darnay was Sydney Carton (the jackal)

4.       What does Carton call Lucy? (Golden_____________  ______________)

Golden haired doll

5.         Write the 3-4 BEST sentences of Dickens' that describe the tragedy of Carton's  

          unfulfilled life.

·        "A Waste forces within him, and a desert all around, this mad stood still on his way across a silent terrace, and saw for a moment, lying in the wilderness before him, a mirage of honourable amibition, self-denial, and perseverance."

·        In the fair city of this vision, there were airy galleries from which the loves and graces looked upon him, gardens in which the fruits of life hung ripening, waters of Hope that sparkled in his sight.

·        Climbing to a high chamber in a well of houses, he threw himself down in his clothes on a neglected bed, and its pillow was wet with wasted tears.

BOOK TWO, CHAPTER SIX

1.      Where does Mr. Lorry go for refuge on Sundays?

Mr. Lorry goes to Soho on Sundays because he usually spends a lot of time at the Doctors house.

2.       Mr. Lorry tells Miss Pross he is worried about Dr. Manette. Why is he worried?

He is worried about Dr. Manette because he was crazy and he was worried that he might do something.

3.       What does Darnay say that physically upsets the doctor?

Darnay relates that a workman, making alterations to a cell in the Tower of London, came upon a carving in the wall: "D I G." At first, the man mistook these for some prisoner's initials, but he soon enough realized that they spelled the word "dig." Upon digging, the man discovered the ashes of a scrap of paper on which the prisoner must have written a message. The story startles Manette, but he soon recovers.

4.            Who is the visitor that comes after Darnay?

The visitor is Mr. Lorry.

5.       What is this strangely mood/ visitor's prediction about this group?

Sydney Carton indicates that there will soon be a vast crowd bearing upon them and it was really strange because it most plausible is going to come true. The reason it will come true is because a great crowd is coming their way into their lives, which seems to represent the coming of the French revolution.

Book two questions

21: Stryver presents first to Carton and then to Lorry his intentions to marry Lucie. There is much irony, quite unintended by Stryver, in his own words and thoughts concerning himself. Why? Give some examples.

            Stryver is a very egotistical man who thinks he is the best; however, he does not realize that the people around him do not see him as such a great figure. Carton just goes a long with what he says even though he knows it is not true. In addition, Lorry tries to hint that Stryver is too proud, but Stryver does not pick up on it because he has to much pride in himself.

"something that will rather surprise you, and that perhaps will make you think me not quite as shrewd as you usually do think me, I intend to marry" (142)

 "And not for money" (142)

"I rather despair of making myself intelligible to you, because you are such an insensible dog" (142)

"inflating himself at his friend.." (142)

"who knows better how to be agreeable, in a woman's society, than you do" (142)

23. Dickens special brand of humor usually depends on characterizing the foibles and vanities of human beings. Stryver looks upon his marriage in legal terms. Page 128 lines 1-8, what basic element has striver not taken into account

            "as to the strength of the case, he had no doubt about it, but clearly saw his way to the verdict. Argued with the jury on substantial worldly grounds-only grounds ever worth taking into account- it was a plain case, and had not a weal spot in it.  He called himself for the plaintiff, there was no getting over his evidence, the counsel for the defendant threw uo his brief, and the jury did not even turn to consider. After trying it, Stryver C.J., was satisfied that no plainer case could be.

            The basic element that striver has not taken into account is the foreshadowing. He is so happy with the strength of his case, and he seems very pleased. He seems over confident with what he has been doing, but he does not take into account that the defendant may have something that could turn the case. He talks about the case and he is too confident that he will win it, he says things such as he had no doubt about the "strength of the case" and that there was no evidence getting over his evidence. Also is mentioned that the counsel for the defendant threw out his brief and that the jury never even considered it.

24. Some critics feel that Dickens is more at home when he is writing about less idealized characters than Lucie and Dr. Manette. Chapter 11, with its snappy dialogue between Carton and Stryver, can be contrasted with Chapters 10 and 13, where Darnay converses with the Doctor and where Carton converses with Lucie. Which chapter seems to you to present the more realistic dialogue?

Ans: The conservation in Chapter 11 between Carton and Stryver was most realistic dialogue out of the other two chapters because that situation they were in is something that could happen in real life. Stryver is constantly insulting Carton right in front of him, while Carton is also making offensive remarks, except that Stryver does not notice it. This conversion is like what people today do, since they are trying to fight for the love of Lucie Manette. Any person in the present also goes through this. They try to make them seem superior to anyone else who is also trying to win the love of  a girl everyone likes. That is why this is a more realistic dialogue than the ones in Chapters 10 and 13.

26. In chapter 13, there are several different hints about the role Carton may play in the future in the life of Lucie--- for example:

" 'No, Mr. Carton. I am sure that the best part of it might still be; I am sure that you might be much, much worthier of yourself.'" (page 135, 27-28)

" ' When you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you.'"

Can you think of ways in which Sydney Carton might help Lucie or her family?

            a. Some ways in which Sydney Carton might be able to help Lucie or her family is that he said that he would be available for her to be there for her. He said that he would die for her; he will support her well.