Famous for its iconic first and last lines, A Tale of Two Cities is Dickens's best-known work of historical fiction. The novel is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, so it is important to provide historical context on the political and economic issues that led up to the revolution, on the storming of the Bastille, and on executions of the aristocracy during the Reign of Terror. Students should also be aware that the revolutionaries identify themselves to one another by using the code name "Jacques." This background information will help your class understand Dickens's portrayal of this historic period and foster class discussion on social transformation and on the hazards of mob mentality.
Since the novel contains many characters and takes place over more than a decade, having students keep character charts that identify character qualities, their relations to other characters, and significant plot points concerning each character will help students keep track of what is going on in the book. The class can also discuss what specific characters represent. Further class discussion can involve the symbols of knitting, the golden thread, shoes and footsteps, and how these symbols relate to fate.
Summary
Combining two stories that take place in London and Paris, Dickens examines the political and economic unrest that led to the American and French Revolutions. Through the interwoven lives of Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and her father, Dr. Alexandre Manette, this historical novel explores the aftermath of these revolutions from false accusations of treason, to imprisonment, to executions.