A Tale of Two Cities
Socratic Seminar Questions
These questions are just a starting point for our discussion tomorrow.
 What are examples of the best times & worst times in the
novel?
 Compare/Contrast the characters of Madame Defarge and Miss
Pross. Explore their motivations.
 Does Carton’s sacrifice serve as a redemption for his life long
misbehavior?
 How can the idea of being “recalled to life” connect to numerous
characters throughout the novel?
 What is Lucie’s role in redeeming the lives of various
characters?
 Can people who are callous and ruthless as Madame Defarge
and the Marquis ever find redemption?
 Can redemption be achieved by one’s own perception or must it
be achieved through the lens of others?
 Can an act be considered just if it is fueled by revenge?
 Can vengeance be justified?
 How does revenge not only affect the victim but the seeker?
 What is the relationship between sacrifice and love in the novel?
 How is Carton’s sacrifice similar to the biblical sacrifice of
Jesus?
 Can Madame Defarge’s life be considered a sacrifice?
 Various characters experienced traumatic events in the novel,
what seemed to be the various factors in how they coped with
these events?
 Was Madame Defarge justified in her action?
 How does the need for power affect the treatment of others?
 How is Power abused in the novel?
 Does the 1% today still continue to take advantage of the 99%?
 Explain how different character experienced an emotional
resurrection?
 How does Gaspard’s situation foreshadow/connect to Madame
Defarge’s situation?
 Is this a novel about a revolution or rape?
 How is Madame Defarge’s experience representative of the
revolution?
 Did the Revolution start with noble intentions or was it corrupt
from the beginning?
 Are revolutions necessary for society to evolve?
 Does power corrupt everything it touches?
 Why is it that those on the opposite end of the power spectrum
still abuse power when the shift occurs?