A Tale of Two Cities

Reading Notes pages 20 – 43

Ch. 5: The Wine Shop

20 – 22: wine cask spills into the street

starving people drink it up mixed with blood—almost like a party, but also desperate

“The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands too, and many faces . . .” one man “scrawled upon a wall with his fingers dipped in muddy wine-lees—BLOOD.” Gaspard

“The time was to come, when that wine too would be spilled on the street-stones, and when the stain of it would be red upon many there.”

Repetition of Hunger: anaphora. Hunger has infiltrated every aspect of the people and the community.

Jacques: secret society, code name for people in the group – all called by Monsieur Defarge’s first name

Based on Jacobins, a powerful political group during the French Revolution

Madame Defarge

Always knitting

“A watchful eye that seldom seemed to look at anything.” 24

“Madame Defarge knitted with nimble fingers and steady eyebrows, and saw nothing.” 25

what does she do in the shop?

Why is Dr. Manette locked up

Why are the Jacques looking at him?

“A—a—a—business!” he urged, with a moisture that was not of business shining on his cheek.” p. 28 Why?

Ch. 6: The shoemaker

Why does he make shoes?

Why does he respond to “One Hundred and Five, North Tower” as his name?

Does he recognize Lucie? Why does he compare the strands of hair to her hair?

“His cold white head mingled with her radiant hair, which warmed and lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him.” 34

37- Mme. Defarge—more knitting and seeing nothing

Book II: The Golden Thread

Ch. 1: Five Years Later

Telleson’s why so old and ugly and proud of it?

Why is Jerry Cruncher so angry with his wife for praying?

What’s his job at Telleson’s?