Study Questions: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Ch. 1-7

What is the setting at the beginning of this novel?

• The setting at the beginning of the novel would be in London and later in Dover in the year 1775. 

How does Dickens describe England? France?

• England is more of a dark setting with ghosts (the Cock-lane Ghosts) and has more religious people. France is more of a dangerous place where many deaths take place and the guillotine is really popular.

Who is Mr. Jarvis and why is Jerry Cruncher looking for him?

•  Mr. Jarvis is a man who works at Tellson´s Bank and they are looking for him to give him a message in which it tells him to go meet someone at Dover.

Who is Jerry Cruncher?

• Jerry Cruncher is a man who also works at Tellson´s Bank. He is the one who gives Mr. Jarvey the message and then is sent to deliver the reply to the message.

Who is Mr. Jarvis´ companion in Chapter 4?

• Mr. Jarvis´companion is a ghost. While they´re together he begins to tell him that he had been buried for 18 years now, then the Mr. Jarvis replies by saying that he has been ¨recalled to life¨. They begin to talk about a woman in which Mr. Jarvis asks if he wants to see and the ghosts begs to see her.

What did the ghost mean by saying Mr. Jarvis has been ¨buried for 18 years¨?   

• The ghost meant that Mr. Jarvis had been nowhere to find in the past years.

What does it mean to be ¨recalled to life¨?

• The character in the story when he was ¨recalled to life¨ it meant that he was given another chance to live again.

What happened to Lucie when she was a little girl? What happened to her father?

• When Lucie was a little girl, her father went to prison. With her not knowing, she was taken to England while she was living in France.  

How does Dr. Manette react when he is asked if he wants to be ¨recalled to life¨? 

• Dr. Manette reacts with confusion and is caught by surprise. He is unsure if he wants to or not. 

How do Dr. Manette and Lucie react when they see each other?

• At first Dr. Manette is confused and thinks that Lucie is his wife. Lucie tries reminding him that he had a daughter and they both end up getting emotional.