|
Published in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is a novel of action, romance, terror, and triangles set in the framework of the French Revolution. The tale is also about Sydney Carton’s revolution which is evident in the themes of renunciation, redemption, and resurrection. Masterful use of satire emphasizes the weakness of the oppressive establishment. The novel is pared down in style, limited in dialogue, humor, and subthemes to effect the speed of events and action. The novel ranks as an important work for the power of its London scenes of private relationships, loves, and domesticity amidst the echoes of terror in Paris that drew the real hero of the tale to sacrifice his life not for his country, but for love.
The lessons in this unit include a variety of analytical and creative approaches to the novel. Students engage in creative writing activities. They conduct character studies. They examine satire, foreshadowing, symbols, and animal imagery in plot development. A lesson is included to help students evaluate film versions of the novel.
Supplementary materials include essay topics and optional activities to enrich students’ reading of the novel. Multiple-choice tests with answer keys are included. |