A Tale of Two Cities, DD, Pd. 1
The first chapter of the novel spends time comparing and contrasting the two different worlds of England and France. Both are struggling with problems and have very different aspects on what is important. England is focused on spirituality while France is immersed in a harsh justice system. The two countries are also facing many problems. In your opinion, which country has the worse problems at the moment? Explain, using details from the text. In chapter 4, Mr. Lorry breaks the news to Lucie about her father. Up to this point, Mr. Lorry has insisted that he is a cold hearted businessman. Using his session with Lucie as proof, explain what you think about Mr. Lorry’s personality. At the end of the first book, we learn why the title is Recalled to Life. Does this title accurately reflect its contents? In the beginning of the second book, it appears that Mr. Manette has not yet made his “recall to life”, as he can still not remember whole periods of time. Do you feel that Mr. Manette’s failing mental health will impact the outcome of the story? Why or why not? Here’s another question to ponder – how would the action in the story (up to this point) change if Mr. Manette was in full health?
RECAP:
Answer the following questions
- In your opinion, which country has the worse problems at the moment. Support your answer using details from the text.
- What do you think of Mr. Lorry’s personality? Is he really the stone faced man he claims to be? Use his first encounter with Lucie to support your position.
- Does the title Recalled to Life accurately reflect the contents of the first book? Explain. If you answered no, pick a more appropriate title.
- Do you feel that Mr. Manette’s failing health will impact the story at all? Why or why not?
- How would the action in the story (up to this point) change if Mr. Manette was in full health?
Category: Per 1 ToTC DD 5 comments »
February 15th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
1) At this point, I am not sure which country is having the worst time. They both are having problems with crimes and many people are having problems surviving. They are also both having a hard time because they are in a war and war can cause many hardships for both sides that are fighting.
3) I believe that Recalled to Life reflects the contents of the first book because. This is the book in which we find that Dr. Manette is alive and his life is recalled so to say.
4)I also think that Dr. Manette’s failing health will impact the story because he can not remember many things, such as his encounter with Danary. This will impact because it will effect the outcome of guilty or not guilty and then the story can take two paths depending on the outcome of the trial. The trial’s outcome though could be desided by what happened between Manette and Danary, but Manette can not remember.
~Lauren Gress~
February 15th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I know the Discussion Director is supposed to comment on their own post last, but so far there is only one comment so I’m just going to answer now.
1. I think that overall England is having worse problems. There is rioting, violence, and vandalism all over the city. On page 2 it reads, “In England, there was scarcely an amount of order and protection to justify much national boasting. Daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies, took place in the capital itself every night; families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing their furniture to upholsterers’ warehouses for security; the highwayman in the dark was a City tradesman in the light, and, being recognised and challenged by his fellow- tradesman whom he stopped in his character of “the Captain,” gallantly shot him through the head and rode away; the mail was waylaid by seven robbers, and the guard shot three dead, and then got shot dead himself by the other four, “in consequence of the failure of his ammunition:” after which the mail was robbed in peace…” Through this description alone, I get the feeling that England is going through a period of great suffering. Also, they are fighting the Revolutionary War with America, and things are not going well. Over in France, I believe that they are going through rapid inflation due to the quote on page 2, “France…rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it.” This (to me) seems significantly less dangerous then what England is going through.
2. I think that Mr. Lorry is a softer man then what he appears to be. When we are first introduced to him, he is only a businessman. I might be stereotyping, but the wealthy businessmen are often portrayed as cold hearted creatures with no apparent interest for the others surrounding them. But when Lorry begins to speak to Lucie, he breaks the news gently and tries to help her to understand the situation. When Lucie begins to go over shock over the incident, Lorry calls for help. This shows a concern for her well-being as well as a desire to help.
3. I think that Recalled to Life does give a good description of the first book. The book begins with Lorry answering a mysterious message with the phrase “recalled to life” which brings attention to the title early on. This message leads to dreams and eventually Lucie Manette. The two then find Lucie’s father after eighteen years of imprisonment. So in a way, the phrase “recalled to life” sets the entire book in motion.
4. I think that Mr. Manette’s inability to remember things will impact the rest of the story. It is apparent that he is a major character in the story, so we will be seeing quite a lot of him. These blank holes in his memory could leave vital information out of the equation. In certain situations, such as the trial, people were depending on Dr. Manette to help come to a decision. More likely then not, the Manettes and Lorry will be facing other situations where one piece of information could change everything. For instance, in the TV series 24, one missing piece of information can make or break what happens. As soon as one clue is discovered, the characters are able to solve a situation and avert major disasters. On the flip side of things, without the information, the characters do not figure out the next target and casualties ensue.
5. I think that the only thing that would have changed so far in the story is the verdict on Darnay. Dr. Manette’s memory could have given concrete evidence that Darnay was guilty, or it could have definitively proved his innocence. It was lucky for Darnay that Dr. Manette did not remember anything incriminating, or else he would have been drawn and quartered. However, looking from the opposite angle, the jury could have ruled Darnay guilty and Dr. Manette’s memory might have saved him.
Erin B.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
1. I’m not sure which country is having more difficult times at this point. England is having robberies. There are highwaymen and robbers controlling parts of the country. “Daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies, took place in the capital itself every night; families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing their furniture to upholsterers’ warehouses for security; the highwayman in the dark was a City tradesman in the light…” France, on the other hand is having a strict government and there are religious (Christian) high-archy advising the government on decisions, that they shouldn’t have an input in. France is also having money problems in the government: they make money and then spend it. “But that Woodman and that Farmer, though they work unceasingly, work silently, and no one heard them when they went about in muffled tread: the rather fore as much as to entertain any suspicion that they were awake, was to be atheistical and traitorous.” Both England and France are in difficult times.
2. I don’t think that Mr. Lorry was ever described as “cold-hearted,” but I think that he did show more emotion when Lucie met her father, then he did earlier in the book. Mr. Lorry seems to me to be a kind business man. He seems to be a “no-nonsense” man, but he still looks out for others and their feelings. When Mr. Lorry calls for help for Lucie when she is overhelmed with meeting her father, it’s a nice gesture. He was also very comforting and caring towards her, besides just asking for help.
3. I think that the title, “Recalled to Life” is very fitting for the content of the first half of the book. I think that it was called this for many reasons, but mainly because of finding the “deceased” Dr. Manette. I like how Charles Dickens ended the first half of the book with the quote, “I hope you care to be recalled to life?” And the old answer, “I can’t.”
4. I think that Dr. Manette’s failing health will play a big role in the story. Dr. Manette’s remembering of what happened between him and Danary may affect the outcome of the court case which would affect many people. I’m guessing that Mr. Lorry and Lucie will need to bring up parts of his past and try guessing scenarios and suggesting them to him to see if he has any reaction to what they bring up.
5. I don’t think that much would have changed in the story up to this point if Dr. Manette were in any better health, other than remembering anything that may have happened between him and Darnay. There is still time for Dr. Manette to remember something between him and Darnay though.
-Maddie Zinn
February 15th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
1. In my opinion, England is encountering worse problems considering that their issue is over spirituality which can really get personal. Not only that but also the crime in the streets is not safe and keeps the rest of the country living on edge for fear of getting robbed or some other violent act getting done to them.
2. Mr. Lorry does seem to be an unsympathetic man who just wants to get down to business and not waste anytime. To me, he didn’t seem very understanding of the fact that Lucie just found out that her father was not dead. In order to be delivering such news to someone I think that he should have been a little more caring. Mr. Lorry handled the situation as if it was a business matter and not a personal one.
3. The title Recalled to Life, makes perfect sense to me and seems to fit the book very well. Dr. Manette has been given a chance to return to his life and therefore is ” recalled to life.”
4. I think that Dr. Manette’s failing health will have a great impact on the story considering he seems to be in some way attached to the main character of Mr. Lorry and his declining health will also have a devastating effect on Lucie.
5. If Mr. Mannete’s mental health continues to go down hill it will astronomically effect the outcome of the trail and will upset his daughter. Also, if he got well again, the story wouldn’t have as much of a twist to it.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Erin: Keep up the good work. You are pushing your group to improve! Well done!
To all, be sure to double check posts for spelling and other simple mistakes.