A TALE OF TWO CITIES

CHAPTERS 1 – 10
It was 1775. Jerry Cruncher, a messenger who works for Telson’s Bank, stopped the
mail-coach with an urgent message for Jarvis Lorry instructing him to wait for a lady
called Miss Lucy Manette, a young orphan whose father a once-brilliant doctor
whom she supposed dead, was discovered. Mr. Lorry travelled with Lucy to Paris,
where they met Defarge, a wine keeper who has kept Dr. Manette safe in a garret.
Driven mad by eighteen years in prison, Dr. Manette spent all of his time making
shoes, a hobby he learned in prison. Mr. Lorry assured Lucy that her love and
devotion can recall (return) her father back to life, and indeed they did.
It was 1780 now. Jerry Cruncher was instructed to go to Old Baily Court and await
orders from Mr. Lorry. He arrived at the court, where Charles Darnay, a handsome
young man, stood accused of passing English secrets into the French lands. The first
witness, John Barsad, was called but the cross-examination tarnished his righteous
and revealed that he has served time in debtor’s prison. The second witness was
Roger Clay and was exposed as an untrustworthy witness. Mr. Lorry then took the
stand and was asked if he shared a Dover mail coach with the accused. Lorry
contended that his fellow passengers sat so bundled up that their identities
remained hidden. Lucy was then asked. She admitted to meeting the prisoner on
the ship back to England. When she recounted how he helped her to care for her
ill father, however, she seemed to help his case. Dr. Manette was called too to
stand but he claimed that he remembers nothing due to his illness. Mr. Stryver was
in the middle of cross-examining another witness when Sydney passed him a note.
The physical likeness of Sydney and Darnay made Darnay innocent.
SO, Darnay thanked Sydney for saving his life and they went to a tavern, where
Sydney behaves strangely describing his existence as a supreme waste of life and
declaring that he cares for nothing and no one cares about him. He then drank his
wine and fell asleep.As Sydney woke up, he hurried to Stryver’s sad life, for he had
to work behind Stryver, making him a successful lawyer, while he, himself, is
nothing.
Mr. Lorry was now a trusted friend of the Manettes. He arrived at Dr. Manette’s
home. Finding Manette and his daughter not at home, he conversed with Miss
Pross. They discussed why the doctor continues to keep his shoemaking tools. Their
conversation touched on the numbers of suitors who came to call on Lucie which
Miss Pross complained about declaring that they weren’t worthy of Lucy. After the
Manettes return, Darnay also joined relating (telling a story) that a workman,
working in a cell in London Tower, came upon a carving in the wall: ‘DIG’ which
shocked the poor Dr. Manette.
In France, the cruel Marquis Evermonde ran down (killed) a child with his carriage.
The Marquis showed no regret but instead threw a gold coin to the desperate
father and hurried home to his chateau, where he waited for the arrival of his
nephew, Darnay from England. Arriving later that night, Darnay curses his uncle for
his bad treatment to the poor people. Later that night, the Marquis was murdered:
the murderer has left a note signed by the “Jacques”.
Stryver told Mr. Lorry of his intention of marrying Lucie Manette. Mr. Lorry told him
to change his mind because she would never marry him so he gave up his idea of
marrying Lucy.
CHARACTERS: -
Dr. Manette: Lucy’s father; a doctor who was in prison for 18 years.
Lucy Manette: Dr. Manette’s daughter; a pretty young lady
Jarvis Lorry: An old businessman who works for Telsons Bank.
Ernest Defarge: a wine shop keeper in the poor Saint Antoine in Paris. He was the
former servant of Dr. Manette.
Madam Defarge: Wife of Ernest Defarge
Charles Darnay: A French aristocrat who moved to London
Marquis: Charles Darnay’s uncle who runs over a child.
Stryver: A successful lawyer
Sydney Carton: Mr. Stryver’s assistant
Miss Pross: The woman who took care of Lucie.
Jerry Cruncher: A man working for Tellsons Bank

Questions:
1. What news did Mr. Jarvis Lorry tell Miss Manette?
He told her that her father didn’t die but was put in prison and now he is out in
Paris.

2. Why did the prisoner say his name was “one hundred and five, North Tower?”
what does it signify?
The prisoner said this because he was the prisoner number 105 in North Tower
which shows that he has been there for a long time and had lost his memory.

3. What was Dr. Manettes reaction to Lucy?

He was shocked that she looked exactly like his wife (her sound and hair) but
younger. He sobbed from happiness.
4. How did Mr. Stryver prove the man’s (Charles Darnay) innocence?
He proved it by the physical likeness between the man and Sydney Carton.

5. Why does Sydney Carton pity himself?

He did this because he would have changed places with the man and because
he hated him and thinks that Charles Darnay is better than him.

6. What are the two cities in the novel?

London and Paris

7. Why is the coachman nervous when he hears a horse approaching?

He fears that it may be a highwayman wanting to rob them.

8. What’s the man on the horse back’s true purpose, and what exchange take
places?
He has a message for Lorry “Wait at Dover for Miss Manette” Lorry, in return
gives him the message “Back to Life”

9. What object does Dr. Manette keep during his imprisonment?

A lock of his wife’s hair.

10. By what name do the man in Defarge wine shop call their fellows?
The Jacques

11. What still did Dr. Manette develop to pass the time in prison?
Shoemaking