A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Wholeness: In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens expands the Victorian issues of reform, evolution, and self-knowledge to include the extremes of individual and society. The means and need to change for both individual and nation are explored. “Smaller and the smallest, larger than the largest.”
Main Points
A Tale of Two Cities
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SCI
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1. With the rise of education, the novel was very popular during this era and was used to promote the ideas and causes of the time.
2. Dickens combines realism and idealism to create a diversity of characters in the novel. Some characterizations became caricatures, the exaggeration emphasizing a particular trait and perhaps adding humor.
3. The use of “foils” or doubling allows Dickens to emphasize his important themes. The optimism of the age drives the choices of many of his characters.
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1. Growth occurs outwardly (visibly) and inwardly (subtly).
2. In all spheres of living, we see that togetherness of differences is the nature of life.
3. Creative intelligene brings together opposite values--un-manifest and manifest, silent and active (colorless sap analogy).
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A Tale of Two Cities: Vocabulary Development
From Memorize.com
Group 1
guillotine: wooden structure with a metal blade used for executions
tumbrels: two-wheeled carts used to transport the condemned to their deaths
tremulous: trembling
cessation: stoppage, the end of activity
piscatory: related to fish or fishermen
lethargy: fatigue; state of tiredness
provender: food or provisions
inexorable: unstoppable, unalterable
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Group 2
inscrutable: unreadable, hard to figure out
lamentation: weeping, expression of grief
pecuniary: financial
mused: ponder, think about
feigned: pretended
incumbent: imposed as an obligation
incommodious: inconvenient
efficacy: effectiveness
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Group 3
aphorism: an adage or short saying
demur: a legal objection
immolate: to sacrifice, as in burn at the stake
asseveration: strong statement
carrion: decaying flesh
deprecatory: belittling, apologetic
convivial: welcoming, friendly
indictment: condemnation, accusation
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Group 4
infamy: notoriety, disgrace
unimpeachable: faultless, irreproachable
plaintive: mournful
slovenly: sloppy
antipathy: hostility, dislike
insolent: impudent, rude
impediment: obstruction
rejoinder: response
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Group 5
stealthily: furtively, secretly
despondency: dejection, hopelessness
staid: sober, conservative
imputation: a legal charge or accusation
compunction: a mental discomfort, uneasiness
emulative: imitative, copying
escutcheon: a shield, which displays a coat of arms
sumptuous: lavish, luxurious
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Group 6
propitiate: to appease or conciliate
obsequiousness: groveling behavior, pathetic eagerness to please
trenchant: distinct, clear cut
adjure: to command or charge under oath
traversed: crossed or passed through
zealous: passionate, fervent
ascertained: determined, discovered
spectre: ghost
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Group 7
deferentially: respectfully
moroseness: sadness, gloominess of mood
incorrigible: unredeemable; uncorrectable in behavior
ostentatious: showy, pretentious
magnanimous: generous
remonstrance: objection, protest
self-abnegation: self-denial, lack of self-consideration
ubiquitous: present everywhere at the same time
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Group 8
altercation: loud quarrel
sallow: unhealthily yellow
assiduously: with great persistence and care
transitory: fleeting, temporary
irresolute: indecisive, unsure
dubious: doubtful, uncertain
superciliously: arrogantly, condescendingly
amicably: agreeably, good-naturedly
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A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
Part 10Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Teaching A Tale of Two Cities
