A Tale of Two Cities

Sydney Carton is a lawyer, and several scenes in the novel take place in courtrooms. What role does the law or justice play in the novel, and how does it interact with the maticideas about redemption?

Several characters in A Tale of Two Cities seem to function largely as comic relief—Miss Pross, Jerry Cruncher, etc. Choose one of these humorous characters and explain how they contribute to the novel’s broader meaning.

Dickens’s female characters are sometimes criticized for their flatness. How does the novel depict its major female characters, and what makes those depictions significant?

Discuss the role of Tellson’s Bank with consideration to the motif of debt.

Several characters in A Tale of Two Cities keep secrets, and when Darnay is placed in solitary confinement, it is described as being “in secret.” What role does the idea of secrecy play in the novel?

How does Dickens’s use of animal imagery evolve over the course of the novel?

Consider the illustrations that accompany the novel. Choose one and discuss how it contributes to the reader’s understanding of characters, themes, etc.

A Tale of Two Cities is a relatively early example of historical fiction. Why might Dickens have chosen to write a novel set in the past? What does the genre allow that might not be possible in a novel set in the present?