A/L English Literature Made Easy - Novel

A Tale of Two Cities

Chapter 13

Fellow of no delicacy

Sydney Carton declares his love for Lucie saying that he loves her deeply and that he would sacrifice his life for her or for anyone near and dear to her.

The title of this chapter takes an ironic basis for stryver's adverse remarks made against Sydney Carton, as a man who has "no delicacy of feeling" But Sydney Cartons deep, sincere love for Lucie comes to the limelight towards the end of the story.

Chapter 14

The honest tradesman

Jerry Cruncher, having seen a funeral procession with a single mourner it was the funeral of Roger Cly, who stood testimony against Darnay.

Jerry Cruncher having joined the procession to survey the location of the grave and after meeting a surgeon returns home. His son seeing his father with three other men working with spades to get the coffin out. A reflection of the lawlessness of England during this period.

Chapter 15

Knitting

The road mender relating the episode of the man who had been hanging under the carriage of Marquis and the murder of Marquis next morning. The man was caught and hanged in the village as a warning to the villagers. Madame Defarge was getting busy knitting in her stitches and symbols the names of those in the register including Darnay family for massacre.

Chapter 16

Still knitting

An Englishman John Barsad informing Madame Defarge about the removal of Dr. Manette to England and that Marquis Evremonde's nephew Darnay is to be married to Lucie, Dr. Manette's daughter. Madame Defarge's project work continues.

Chapter 17

One night

The night before Lucie's marriage, Lucie's attachment to her father and her decision to stay in Dr. Manette's house is revealed in this chapter.

Chapter 18

Nine days

The day of Lucie's marriage. Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross undertaking to lookafter Dr. Manette who is not in his normal senses. The important event in this chapter is the marriage of Lucie Manette and Darnay, a member of the Evremonde family.

Chapter 19

An opinion

Mr. Lorry tries to get the Doctor's advice regarding his own situation pretending it to be the situation of a mentally disturbed person and the Doctor's solution - a welcome response - The trouble that pricks the particular person should be unfolded to a sincere friend and the patient's equipment handled by him to be done away with during his absence.

When Dr. Manette joined Lucie and Darnay on their to Wales, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross destroyed Dr. Manette's shoemaker tools. Thus a problem of a psychological nature resolved - "a conflict between the conscious and the subconscious and bringing it to the surface of the conscious".

Chapter 20

A plea

Sydney Carton congratulating Lucie and Darnay and clearing all trivial misunderstandings and Lucie requesting Darnay to be kind and good to Sydney and consider him as a true friend. This chapter is in the form of appeal, a plea.

Chapter 21

Echoing footsteps Lucie, a happy wife and her children liking Carton echoing the love he bore for Lucie. Stryver gets married to a rich widow with three sons and the request made to Darnay to be their teacher getting rejected.

Mr. Lorry gives the latest news of people transferring their valuables and money to Tellson's Bank in England and that the peasants gathering near Defarge's shop getting ready for and attack. The mob mad with revenge killing the Governor of the Bastille and shooting the people and Madame Defarge getting into action. Her extreme strength is highlighted in this chapter with the shadow of the revolution.

The "Love Theme" is emphasised in this chapter. The love between father and daughter, husband and wife and friend and friend.

Chapter 22

The sea still rises

A week relapsed after the attack on the bastille. Foulan who had asked the hungry mob to eat grass had been brought was hanged in public and his son killed. The shadow of Violence continuing and the power of mob rising.

Chapter 23

Fire rises

A few soldiers guarding the fortress late Marquis Evremonde's village has faced a series of changes. The house of the Marquis was burned and disaster reigning everywhere. The storming of the Bastille, Marquis' palace, killing distinguished people, foreshadowing the approaching disaster.

Chapter 24

Drawn to the loadstone rock

King and Queen are brought from Versailles to Paris (in the year 1792) Most of the nobles have vacated their homeland. Gabelle is accused of treason and has become a victim of the rebels. The letter from Gabelle stressing the importance of Darnay's arrival in Paris and Darnay deciding to leave for Paris to help Gabelle, his faithful servant.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng. Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.