Book 2 Discussion Questions
1. What is Tellson's Bank being compared to?
A very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious an dark house.
2. What is significant about descending "two steps" to go into Tellson's?
senses in a miserable little shop, with two little counters, where the oldest of men made your cheque shake as if the wind rustled it, while they examined the signature by the dingiest of windows, which were always under a shower-bath of mud from Fleet-street
3. What does "putting to death was a recipe much in vogue" mean?
Death is Nature's remedy for all things
4. What types of crimes In England were given death?
the forger was put to Death; the utterer of a bad note was put to Death; the unlawful opener of a letter was put to Death; the purloiner of forty shillings and sixpence was put to Death; the holder of a horse at Tellson's door, who made off with it, was put to Death; the coiner of a bad shilling was put to Death; the sounders of three-fourths of the notes in the whole gamut of Crime, were put to Death.
Basically everything.
5. Describe Mr. Cruncher and his son.
That cruncher throws a muddy boot at his wife for praying against him and his son follows ever little thing his farther dose no matter what it is, it is like a small cruncher.
6. Why does Mr. Cruncher get upset with his wife?
He gets upset because he walks in and his wife is on her hands and knees praying for him and he takes it in the wrong manor.
7. What clues are you given that he secretly digs up the dead at night?
Cruncher and his young son camp outside Tellson’s Bank and wait for the message to come then mr. Cruncher leaves and jerry his son wonders why his father’s fingers always have rust on them.
8. What punishment(s) will be given to the traitorous prisoner?
He will be half hanged, then sliced while watching, and then his insides would be taken out and burnt, then his head would be chopped off, and then he would be cut into quarters.
9. What is above the prisoner's head to "throw the light down upon him?"
An axe or guillotine.
10. Who are the two witnesses in the court brought to speak against the witness?
A young lady and a distinguished father were going to be the witnesses, Mr. and Ms. Manette.
1. What metaphor does Dickens use to describe the people in the court?
Dickens uses the metaphor comparing blue flies to the people in the court.
2. What has Mr. Darney done, according to the judge?
Mr. Darnay,
according to the judge had been a traitor to
3. What slanderous comments does Lucy say against Darnay?
That Darnay
thought
4. Who notices that Lucy feels ill?
Mr. Carton.
5. Who is "recalled to life?"
Charles Darnay is recalled to life.
6. Why is the chapter entitled "A Disappointment?”
It is entitled “A Disappointment” because all the people watching the trial were disappointed that they did not get to see someone get executed.
BOOK TWO, CHAPTER FOUR
1. How does Dr. Manette look at Darnay after the trial?
He looks at Darnay in a congratulatory way after the trial.
2. Who is "The Golden Thread?"
The Golden Thread is his daughter
3. Why does Mr. Lorry get upset with Mr. Carton?
Because he gets involved in something that is none of his business.
4. How does Sidney Carton feel about Darnay?
He feels almost bitter toward him
5. To whom do both men toast?
Miss Manette (Lucy)
6. How does Carton finish his evening?
He passed out from drinking so much.
BOOK TWO, CHAPTER FIVE
1.
Who is the Lion?
Mr. Stryver
2. Who is the jackal?
Mr. Carton
3. Who do you learn was the genius behind saving Darnay?
Mr. Carton
4. What does Carton call Lucy? (Golden_____________ ______________)
A golden haired doll
5. Write the 3-4 BEST sentences of Dickens' that describe the tragedy of Carton's
unfulfilled life.
a) “idlest and most unpromising of men,”
b) “now in spirits and now in despondency!”
c) “in rust and repose.”
BOOK TWO, CHAPTER SIX
1. Where does Mr. Lorry go for refuge on Sundays?
Mr. Lorry goes to the Manettes for refuge on Sundays.
2. Mr. Lorry tells Miss Pross he is worried about Dr. Manette. Why is he worried?
He is worried that Dr. Manette
3. What does Darnay say that physically upsets the doctor?
That in a prison cell in the tower he was in, had the letters DIG in which told others to dig up the floor which revealed a burnt paper. Presumably something Dr. Manette wrote.
4. Who is the visitor that comes after Darnay?
Mr. Carton
5. What is this strangely mood/ visitor's prediction about this group?
That they will bring the dead out of their graves.