Choose one of the following topics:
1. One comparison in the book would be the obvious one of Sydney Carton to Charles Darnay; however, a more interesting pairing would be Sydney Carton to Madame Defarge. She is his real antithesis. Compare their goals, their basic personality traits, their strengths and weaknesses. Why is it, ironically, Carton who “shows the way to achieve that to which the French national in its violence, or all mankind in fact, aspires?”
2. George Woodcock, in the introduction to the Penguin edition of A Tale of Two Cities, writes, “Madame Defarge is the ultimate personification of the revolution in A Tale of Two Cities, and she is a being whom the uncontrolled desire for revenge has turned into a monster of pure evil. The final struggle between her and Miss Pross is a contest between the forces of hatred and of love.” Do you agree or disagree with Woodcock’s evaluation? Take a stand and support your argument with citations from the text.
3. A Tale of Two Cities is a book of many resurrections. Identify and analyze several and show how the interwoven resurrections impact the novel.
Due Dates
A Tale of Two Cities outline: Tuesday 3/16
Two Cities Essay (1st draft): Thursday 3/18
Two Cities (2nd draft): Friday 3/19
Two Cities (final draft):