A Tale of Two Cities
By Charles Dickens
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Table of Contents
-Novel’s Background
-Author’s Background
-Monarchy of France
-Monarchy of England
-Paris
-London
-French Revolution
Novel’s Background
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The novel is set in the two cities of London and
Paris and their surrounding areas. Below is a map
to depict the settings.
The time frame for the novel is 1775-1793.
The novel was published in 1859, though originally
written in serial form.
Original Map
Charles Dickens
• (1812-1860)
• 1 wife; 10 children
• Charles Dickens is one
the premier English
novelists of the The
Victorian Era. Another
link to Victorian
England. A common
thread throughout his
works is his criticism
and commentary on
social injustices and
hypocrisy.
Dickens’ Works
Birth and youth
• Charles Dickens was
born in Portsmouth on
February 7, 1812. In
1814, Dickens moved
to London and later to
Chatham to receive
education. At the age
of 12, Dickens was
sent to work at a
factory, while his
father, John Dickens,
was serving time in a
debtor's prison.
Family Life
• Family: Dickens married
Catherine Hogarth in 1836;
they later separated in 1858.
They had ten children.
Death and Later years
• In 1860, Dickens moved
permanently to his house
near Chatham. He died at
his home Gad’s Hill on
6/9/1870 and he was buried
in Westminster Abbey on
6/14. His last novel The
Mystery Of Edwin Drood
was left unfinished.
Monarchy of France
• Louis XVI
• The King and
Queen resided in
their palace of
Versailles.
• Marie Antoinette
Louis XVI
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Birth: 1754; Death: 1793
Resided at Versailles
Ascended the throne at age 20
Married to Marie Antoinette
Under his reign, France entered a state
of financial crisis, due largely to the
Seven Years War and support of America
during the American Revolution. Over ½
of the country’s budget was used to pay
off debt.
In 1791, he was tried by the National
Convention and charged with treason.
He was executed on January 21, 1793.
His execution marked the end of
absolute monarchy in France and would
prompt the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Marie Antoinette
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Birth: 1755; Death: 1793
Born in Austria
Resided at Versailles
Became Queen at age 19
Married to King Louis XVI at
age 14
Marie was famous for her
lavish spending and deemed
“Queen Deficit” by the French
commoners.
She is often misquoted saying,
“Let them eat cake!”
Perhaps it was she who was
responsible for the French
Revolution with her
involvement in the Diamond
Necklace Affair.
Diamond Necklace Affair
Marie Antoinette is
widely speculated
to be a main
catalyst of the
French Revolution
due to the
“Diamond
Necklace Affair.”
“Let them eat cake!”
Marie Antoinette is
famous for saying, “Let
them eat cake!” in
response to the fact that
many of France’s lower
class were starving. Did
she really say this?
CLICK HERE.
Versailles
Versailles: Home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
Above: Versailles, outside
Above: Versailles, landscaping
Below: Versailles, inside the hall of mirrors
Below: Versailles, outside
Personal Digital Photos
•
Rules of Versailles
-Versailles was a very elaborate palace. Naturally,
the rules of the palace were quite detailed. These
rules made ceremonies out of everyday tasks such
as getting dressed or obtaining a glass of water. The
Rules of Versailles
Monarchy of England
•
King George III was England’s monarch during the American
Revolution. In 1776, America pulled away from Great Britain to gain
independence. Many in Britain viewed George III as a failure, since
the colonies were lost under his reign.
•
Born in 1738, George III was the first son of Frederick, Prince of
Wales and Augusta.
•
He happily married Charlotte of Mecklinburg-Strelitz in 1761. The
couple bore fifteen children: nine sons and six daughters.
•
George was afflicted with mental illness, specifically porphyria, as
early as 1765. Reign was given to his son George, the Prince Regent,
in 1811. George III died blind, deaf and mad at Windsor Castle on
January 29, 1820.
London
• England under reign
of King George III.
• At this time, London
was a dangerous
place with a lot of
crime, particularly
robbery.
• Also, grave robbing
was occurring at this
time, which you’ll see
in the novel.
Paris
• Under reign of Louis
XVI and Marie
Antoinette.
• Engaged in the French
Revolution
• Third estate citizens,
or commoners, were
very heavily taxed and
starving.
The French Revolution
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1789-1799
Causes of the French Revolution
Storming of the Bastille
The Tennis Court Oath
Women’s Role in the Revolution
Accomplishments of the Revolution
The Guillotine
The songs of French Revolution
Causes of the French Revolution
• The French Revolution was brought about
by the suffering of France’s peasants, who
were literally starving and the general social
problems in France.
• However, rumor has it that Marie Antoinette’s
Diamond Necklace Affair was a catalyst of
the Revolution.
Storming of the Bastille
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The Bastille, a French prison, was stormed by the mob, joined by
some of the King's soldiers on July 14, 1789. The commander of the
prison, de Launay, attempted to surrender, but the mob denied his
request. He, like all guards, was killed as they poured through the
gates.
Later in the day the prisoners were released. There were only
seven: two were convicted forgers; one was an aristocrat put in
prison by his own father. This event is still annually celebrated in
France.
The Tennis Court Oath
• Louis XVI wanted to
keep absolute power,
however the Third
Estate wanted to have
more influence upon
France’s affairs. The
two sides set a
meeting, which soon
moved to a nearby
tennis court. This was
known as the Tennis
Court Oath.
Women and the Revolution
• Upon reading A
Tale of Two Cities,
you will find that
women have a
significant role in
the Revolution.
• Does Dickens
portray this
accurately? Find
out the real details.
CLICK HERE
Accomplishments of the Rev.
The French Revolution accomplished some of
what the intended goal was, but
accomplishment did not seem to outweigh
failure.
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Political
Economic
Social
Religious
POLITICAL Accomplishments
ACCOMPLISHED
NOT ACCOMPLISHED
Free land was a reality
Actual constitution of 1799 was a
farce
Declarations of Rights had been
made three times
These Declarations were more
form than substance. In 1799
they were omitted
Democracy Declared
It was never really tried, the
Dictatorship began in 1799
Liberties declared in writing
Flagrantly violated in the Terror,
equality and security were
prefered to liberty (1799)
Right to Property declared
Not for the clergy or emigres
ECONOMIC Accomplishments
ACCOMPLISHED
NOT ACCOMPLISHED
Free land was a reality
Only for those with money
Agricultural reforms
Were still in the future
Workers acquired rights
But not to organize or strike
Fiscal and Financial Security
were established
Actually worse than what faced
the old Third Estate
SOCIAL Accomplishments
ACCOMPLISHED
NOT ACCOMPLISHED
Bourgeoisie replaced clergy &
nobles
Common man was left out
Class consciousness
persisted, Privileges were still
sought
Socialism was not yet thought
of
Social reforms passed in
Legislature
Not applied to "real" life
RELIGIOUS Accomplishments
ACCOMPLISHED
NOT ACCOMPLISHED
France was still Catholic
No religious freedom,
strong anti-Protestant &
anti-semitic feelings arose
Schism with Catholic
Church
Healed by Napoleon (1801
Concordat)
The Guillotine
Guillotine History
In 1789, The French Revolution began
after the storming of the Bastille.
On July 14 of 1789, King Louis
XVI of France was driven from France
and exiled. The new civilian assembly
rewrote the penal code to say, "Every
person condemned to the death penalty
shall have his head severed." All classes
of people were now executed equally.
On April 25, 1792, the first guillotining
occurred. Louis XVI was guillotined on
January 21, 1793 and Marie Antoinette
on October 16, 1793. The last public
Execution by guillotine took place
On June 17, 1939.
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Guillotine Facts
Total weight of a guillotine
is about 1278 lbs
The guillotine metal blade
weighs about 88.2 lbs
The height of guillotine
posts average about 14
feet
The falling blade has a
rate of speed of about 21
feet/second
Just the actual beheading
takes 2/100 of a second
The time for the guillotine
blade to fall down to
where it stops takes 70th
of a second
Music
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During the Revolution, music and singing
played a very essential role. Novices and
professional composers alike produced
thousands of songs and hymns for or against
the French Revolution.
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The thousands of compositions are divided
into two categories: hymns and songs.
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Hymns were more formal in both its
composition and performance. Each hymn
original music, and learned, memorized
poetic lyrics.
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On the contrary, songs were informal
compositions that consisted of new verses,
which were poorly rhymed to a well-known
tune.
CLICK: LISTEN TO SONGS
Essay Contest
• The University of California runs the
“Charles Dickens Project.” Each year they
hold a conference and an essay contest,
which provides a free opportunity to attend
the conference.
• ENTER BELOW
The Dickens Project
Sources Used
http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/cities.html
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http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/life_ghill.shtml
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http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/index.php
http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/
http://www.joslinhall.com/graphics/diamond-bastille.jpg
http://www.joslinhall.com/diamond_necklace_affair.htm
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http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/REV/LOUISXVI.HTM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVI_of_France
http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/Guillotine.htm
http://www.madehow.com/images/hpm_0000_0007_0_img0054.jpg
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http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Graphics_M-O/maps_o1.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body-snatching
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