A Tale of Two Cities

ACTIVITIES

Carmen Aznar Luque

Before Reading
1. Answer these questions. 1. What are the Two Cities of the title? London and Paris. 2. Where was the prisoner kept? In a room above a wine-shop in Paris. 3. What is his daughter s name? Lucie. 4. Who killed the Marquis? Jacques. 5. What is the Guillotine ? A terrible machine of death. 2. Circle Y (yes) or N (no) for each sentence. 1. Lucie and her family will be killed. N 2. She will have secrets from her family. Y 3. Lucie s father will be sent to prison again. N 4. He will make money from selling shoes. Y 5. Revolution will change everybody s live. Y 6. Innocent people will die. Y 3. Choose the best words to complete this passage. In France in the 18th century rich noblemen owned most of the land, and the poor had nothing. They had hard lives, did not have enough to eat, and hated the King and his noblemen.

While Reading
1. Read Chapters 1 to 3. Who... 1. brought a message for Mr Lorry on the Dover road? Jerry Cruncher 2. had brought Lucie back to England as a small child? Mr Lorry 3. owned the wine-shop in Paris? Monsieur Defarge

4. sat in the wine-shop, knitting and watching? Madame Defarge 5. thought his name was 105, North Tower? Dr Manette 6. was the prisoner at the Old Bailey trial? Charles Darnay 7. looked very like the prisoner at the trial? Sydney Carton 8. had taken care of Lucie since she was child? Miss Pross Read Chapters 4 and 5. What/ How/ Who... 1. Who died under the wheels of the Marqui s coach? Gaspard s child. 2. How did Gaspard travel to the Marqui s castle? With a coach. 3. What did Charles Darnay feel about his French family? He hated his family. 4. What happened to the Marquis? He was murdered. 5. Who was in love with Lucie Manette? Charles Darnay. 6. How did Sydney Carton ask Lucie to remember always? With a secret. 7. What did Darnay tell Dr Manette on the morning of his marriage to Lucie? His real name. 8. How effect did this news have on Dr Manette? He was a prisoner in the Bastille again. Read Chapters 6 and 7. 1. They have left his body hanging in the village square said by Jacques Five to Defarge. 2. It takes time to prepare for change said by Madame Defarge to Defarge. 3. It s all the same said by the spy to Defarge. 4. Friends and citizens! We are ready! said by Defarge to the people of the village. 5. He ll take good care of my old bones said by Mr Lorry to Charles Darnay. 6. I know where to find him said by Charles Darnay to Mr Lorry. 7. Now I, too, have been buried alive It s a Charles Darnay s trought

2. Read Chapters 8 and 9. 1. Dr Manette was in danger in Paris. False. Charles Darnay was in danger. 2. Madame Defarge was very afraid of Lucie. False. Mr Lorry was very afraid of Lucie. 3. Darnay was in a Paris prison for more than a year. True. 4. Not many of the prisoners were sent to the Guillotine. True. 5. John Barsad s real name was Solomon Pross. True. 6. Barsad refused to help Sydney Carton in any way. True. 7. Mr Lorry was planning to stay in Paris for some time. False. He was planning to leave Paris 3. Read Chapters 10 and 11. 1. Darnay appeared before the Tribunal a second time, because he was accused by three citizens. 2. When Dr Manette heard that he was one of the accusers, he spoke angrily to the Tribunal. 3. But Defrage explained that he had found a paper written by Dr Manette in the Bastille, that he read it aloud to the Tribunal. 4. The paper told a story of the Evrmonde brothers, who had caused the deaths of four members of a family. 5. The people were so angry to heard of these crimes and they said Darnay must to go to the Guillotine the next day. 6. After the trial, Sydney Carton went to the Defarges wine-shop, where he heard Madame Defrage talking about her family. 7. Madame Defrage did not want to stop the killing until all the Evrmonde family were dead. 8. Dr Manette could do nothing to help Darnay because his mind had returned to the past. 9. Carton, however, had a plan, which he kept to himself. 4. Before you read Chapters 12 and 13. A change of clothes The last goodbyes

1. Who is going to change clothes and why? Charles Darnay and Sydnay Carton. Because Sydney Carton save Charles Darnay s life. 2. Who will be in the coach leaving Paris tomorrow? Charles Darnay, Lucie, little Lucie, Dr Manette and Jarvis Lorry. 3. What will happen to Ernest and Teresa Defarge? Teresa dies. 4. Who is going to say their last goodbyes ? Sydney Carton.

After Reading
1. Match the characters to their descriptions. Lucie Manette the doctor s daughter Jarvis Lorry an old friend of the Manettes Madame Defrage a good knitter Dr Manette once a prisoner in the Bastille Charles Darnay the Marqui s nephew Sydney Carton a lawyer John Barsad Miss Pross s brother Gaspard the killer of the Marquis 2. Tick one box each time. Ernest Defrage Paris Jarvis Lorry London Sydney Carton Paris Lucie Manette London Dr Manette London Jerry Crucher London Gaspard Paris Mr Stryver London the Marquis of Evrmonde Paris Gabelle Paris 3. Put their conversation in the right order and put in the speakers. 1. Darnay: Dr Manette, we said I would tell you my real name on the morning of my marriage you remember? 2. Dr Manette: Yes, I remember. But must you tell me?

3. Darnay: Yes, I must. I cannot marry your daughter without telling you who I really am 4. Dr Manette: Very well, then. Who are you? 5. Darnay: My name is Evrmonde, and since my uncle diec, I have been the Marquis of Evrmonde. But I am not proud of this name, and I will never use it 6. Dr Manette: Evrmonde! 7. Darnay: Dr Manette, you look so pale! Does this name hold memories for you? 8. Dr Manette: No no. No, not at all. I have never heard the name before. 9. Darnay: Are you sure, Dr Manette? When I spoke the name. I thought you had seen a ghost. 10. Dr Manette: There are many ghosts in my past, Charles. But I am quite sure. The name means nothing to me. 11. Darnay: Then may I tell Lucie, too? 12. Dr Manette: No! Promise me, Charles, that you will never tell Lucie, or anyone else, that your real name is Evrmonde. 13. Darnay: Yes, I promise. But why must it be a secret? 14. Dr Manette: Some things are best kept secret, that s all. But come, we must go- my daughter is waiting. 4. Match these parts of sentences from the story and complete with the best words. 1. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. 2. It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of sadness. 3. It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness. 4. It was a strange message, and a clear answer. 5. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far better rest that I go to, than I have ever know. 5. Complete these sentences about the story in the same way. 1. Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay looked very similar, but their characters are very different.

2. Life in France was easy for the rich, but it was difficult for the poor. 3. When the Marquis killed a child, the child s father killed the Marquis. 4. The Revolution killed those who were guilty, it also who were innocent. 5. Miss Pross was a friend of Dr Manette s family, but Madame Defrage was an enemy. 6. Charles Darnay loved Lucie and lived, but Sydney Carton didn t love something. 6. Find the best word for each gap and complete his letter. My dearest wife, I am going to go for France very soon. I ll go, because my old servant Gabelle needs my help. When you read this, I will be on my way. I did not tell you before, because I knew you be worry. I promise I will write to you when I arrive, to let you know I am save. Take it of yourself and little Lucie, and your father. Your loving husband, Charles. 7. Is a Tale of Two Cities a good title for this story? Here are some other possible titles. Which do you like bes5, and why? What other titles can you think of? Yes. /Enemies of Frances. / Because I like it. / Fighting for freedom. 8. Do you agree o disagree with these sentences? Explain why. 1. The Revolution was good for France in the end. Agree. Because changes a lot of poor people life. 2. Madame Defrage was right to want revenge for what had been done to her family. Disagree. Because she was wrong. 3. Sydney Carton was better man than Charles Darnay. Disagree. Because both were good mans. 4. Love is the strongest power in the world. Agree. Love can move mountains.