Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

CharactersJohn Barsad - This is the alias for a spy working for the English government, then the French government.

Sydney Carton - This dissipated English lawyer spends a great deal of his life drunk. He has a brilliant legal mind, but his alcoholism keeps him from becoming a success.

Jerry Cruncher - This character is the literal symbol of Dickens' theme of resurrection in the novel. He steals fresh corpses from graveyards and delivers them to medical schools so that students can study human anatomy.

Charles Darnay - This character is the nephew and heir of the Marquis St. Evremonde, the wicked aristocrat who is responsible for the imprisonment of Dr. Manette.

Lucie Darnay - This seventeen-year-old discovers her father's existence in a French jail.

Ernest Defarge - This man is another force in the Revolution.

Madame Therese Defarge - She plots the downfall of the St. Evremondes and other aristocrats.

Charles St. Evremonde - This French aristocrat lives in England because he disagrees with the social castes of France.

Marquis St. Evremonde - This uncaring aristocrat is responsible for the imprisonment of Dr. Manette, a woman's rape, the death of a family, and the death of a young boy.

Jarvis Lorry - This character is the representative of Tellson's Bank, an old, established English institution.

Dr. Alexandre Manette - This man is imprisoned at the start of the story because he tries to bring the crimes of two of the St. Evremondes to public trial.

Lucie Manette - She influences others with her love, even with the cruelty and evil around her.

Miss Pross - This character is blunt-spoken, nationalistic, and short tempered.

Solomon Pross - This character is the brother of Lucie Manette's nurse.

C. J. Stryver - This man is the quasi-law partner of Sydney Carton.

The Vengeance - The companion of Madame Therese Defarge.

Object Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major objects in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

ObjectsLondon - One of the two cities where the book takes place and where the Manettes and Darnay make their home after they are persecuted in France.

Paris - This is a scene of a violent and brutal revolution that wreaks havoc on the lives of the book's main characters.

The guillotine - This is the violent revolutionaries' method of choice for executions.

One Hundred Five, North Tower - Dr. Manette is imprisoned in this cell.

Shoemaker's bench & tools - Dr. Manette comforts himself with these when he reverts back to his trance-like state.

Madame Defarge's knitting - This is a register of people who are marked for execution.

The chateau - This is the home of Monseigneur the Marquis and scene of his assassination.

Saint Antoine - This suburb of Paris where the residents are extremely poor.

Red Caps - These are worn by the revolutionaries, and are symbolic of the newfound freedom of the peasants.

La Force - This is where corrupt revolutionaries imprison anyone they deem a traitor to the new Republic.

The Tribunal - This corrupt court hears the cases of prisoners.Tellson's - This is the bank that employs Mr. Jarvis Lorry and raises Lucie as a ward.

NAME_______________________ A Tale of Two CitiesBook 1, Chapter 1 | Book 1, Chapter 21. Chapter 1 -- What is the physical appearance of the Kings and Queens of England and France?

2. What is the year the story is taking place?

3. Why are families in England cautioned to put their furniture in storage if they travel out of town?

4. Chapter 2 --What is the name of the hill that the Dover mail carriage is struggling to climb through the mud?

5. What is the name of the intruder who stops at the mail carriage, asking for Mr. Jarvis Lorry?

6. What is the message that Mr. Lorry sends back to a lady in Dover?

Book 1, Chapter 3 | Book 1, Chapter 41. What does Jerry ponder that every house, room, and heart in a city holds?

2. How do the three passengers in the coach relate to one another?

3. While Jerry is dreaming, what does he continue to understand as a spectre?

4. Chapter 4Who visits Lorry the day after he arrives at the Royal George Hotel?

5. What is the news that Lorry gives to his visitor?

6. Who revives Miss Manette with smelling salts after she faints?

Book 1, Chapter 5 | Book 1, Chapter 61. Chapter 5What are dozens of Parisians sipping off the ground before it soaks into the earth?

2. What is a typical condition of the common people in France?

3. Who owns a prosperous wine shop in Paris?

4. Chapter 6What is Doctor Manette doing for a living which is far below a medical practice?

5. What is the first thing Doctor Manette recognizes about his daughter?

6. What is the physical and emotional condition of Doctor Manette?

Book 2, Chapter 1 | Book 2, Chapter 21. Chapter 1Describe Tellson's Bank.

2. What is the punishment for forgers, thieves, and counterfeiters?

3. Who does odd jobs for Tellson's Bank?

4. Chapter 2What is the punishment for treason?

5. Who is the prisoner accused of treason?

6. What is the prisoner's reaction as he waits before the large crowd to be tried?

Book 2, Chapter 3 | Book 2, Chapter 41. Chapter 3What is the name of the prosecutor's witness?

2. Who is the prisoner's counsel?

3. What is the reason for the prisoner's acquittal?

4. Chapter 4Who does the acquitted prisoner dine with after the trial?

5. What are Mr. Carton's feelings toward Charles Darnay?

6. Who does Charles Darnay find attractive?

Chapter 5 | Book 2, Chapter 61. Chapter 5What do most men do as a pastime during the time the story is taking place?

2. Who does Dickens describe as the idlest and most unpromising man?

3. What is the relationship Carton has with Stryver?

4. Chapter 6Where are Doctor Manette's lodgings located?

5. How many people does Miss Pross tell Mr. Lorry come calling for Miss Lucie?

6. What type of person is Miss Proust's brother, Solomon?

Book 2, Chapter 7 | Book 2, Chapter 81. Chapter 7How many men does it take to serve the Monseigneur his chocolate every morning?

2. What does the Monseigneur believe the world was made for?

3. What does Defarge tell the grieving man who cries over the child that is killed by Monsieur the Marquis' carriage?

4. Chapter 8What does the man hanging onto Marquis Evremonde's carriage do?

5. What does a woman ask the Marquis to provide for her husband?

6. Who does the Marquis look for when he arrives home?

Book 2, Chapter 9 | Book 2, Chapter 101. Chapter 9How does Charles Darnay react to dining with Marquis Evremonde?

2. What does Charles decide to do about his future inheritance?

3. What is the commotion at the Marquis' home after dinner with Charles?

4. Chapter 10What does Charles Darnay choose as a career?

5. How does Charles feel about Lucie Manette?

6. What is the condition of Doctor Manette at this time?

Book 2, Chapter 11 | Book 2, Chapter 121. Chapter 11What does Stryver confess to Carton after a night of carousing?

2. What advice does Stryver give to Carton?

3. How does Carton react to Stryver's advice?

4. Chapter 12Why does Stryver visit Mr. Lorry at Tellson's bank?

5. What is Mr. Lorry's reaction to Stryver's upcoming plans?

6. What does Stryver say to Mr. Lorry about the advice Lorry gives him?

Book 2, Chapter 13 | Book 2, Chapter 141. Chapter 13 How does Sydney Carton feel when he visits the Manettes?

2. What does Carton confess to Lucie when he visits her?

3. What does Carton say he would do for Lucie and anyone dear to her?

4. Chapter 14What is Jerry Cruncher's secret trade?

5. What does Jerry's son tell him later in the evening?

6. What is the common view of Jerry's secret trade?

Book 2, Chapter 15 | Book 2, Chapter 161. Chapter 15What is the gossip of the day at Defarge's wine shop?

2. What does Defarge take to the King and Queen about Marquis Evremonde's murderer?

3. What does it mean when Defarge and his followers register the inhabitants of the Marquis' chateau?

4. Chapter 16Who is the spy that is commissioned for Defarge's neighborhood?

5. What news does the spy relate to Defarge?

6. What does Madame Defarge do in her usual spot in the wine shop?

Book 2, Chapter 17 | Book 2, Chapter 181. Chapter 17Why is Lucie so happy as she sits under the tree with her father?

2. What does Doctor Manette tell Lucie he thought about as he looked at the moon while in prison?

3. What does Lucie pray as she watches her father sleep?

4. Chapter 18What is the condition of Doctor Manette when Charles leaves his room on Lucie's wedding day?

5. What does Mr. Lorry observe about Doctor Manette after Lucie's wedding?

6. What does Doctor Manette proceed to do after his daughter's wedding?

Book 2, Chapter 19 | Book 2, Chapter 201. Chapter 19 How does Mr. Lorry begin his conversation with Doctor Manette on the tenth day after Lucie's wedding?

2. What does Lorry do with Doctor Manette's shoemaking implements?

3. Where does Doctor Manette go two weeks after Lucie's wedding?

4. Chapter 20Who is the first person to visit the newlyweds when they return home?

5. What does the newlywed's visitor ask of Charles?

6. What does Lucie request of her husband regarding Mr. Carton?

Book 2, Chapter 21 | Book 2, Chapter 221. Chapter 21What is the grief that strikes the Darnay household?

2. What is Monsieur Defarge's roll in the storming of the Bastille?

3. What does Madame Defarge do when the Governor of the Bastille is killed?

4. Chapter 22What does old Foulon tell the starving people to do?

5. What steps does Foulon take to protect himself from the revolutionaries?

6. What is the fate of old Foulon?

Book 2, Chapter 23 | Book 2, Chapter 241. Chapter 23How do the common people of France feel about the aristocracy?

2. Who is guarding the Marquis' countryside chateau?

3. What becomes of the Marquis' chateau?

4. Where does Mr. Lorry decide to relocate?

5. What is in the letter that Gabelle sends to Charles Darnay?

6. What becomes of the corrupt Court of France?

Book 3, Chapter 11. While Charles Darnay is on his way to Paris, he is awakened in the middle of the night by French patriots. What do they insist he must do to get to Paris?

2. Where does Defarge take Charles Darnay when he arrives at the gates of Paris?

3. Why does Charles Darnay feel completely lost when he returns to Paris?

4. What is Defarge's response when Charles Darnay asks him to contact Mr. Lorry at Tellson's Bank?

5. What is Darnay's first impression of the imprisoned men and women?

6. What is the first thing Charles does when he is put in his cell?

Book 3, Chapter 21. What is Mr. Lorry grateful for as he sits in Tellson's Bank in Paris?

2. Who is Mr. Lorry amazed to see come through the door of Tellson's Bank in Paris?

3. What is the message that the visitors relate to Mr. Lorry?

4. What disguise are the two men turning the grindstone wearing?

5. Why do men and women gather in the courtyard to sharpen weapons on the grindstone?

6. What is the physical appearance of the men and women sharpening weapons in the courtyard?

Book 3, Chapter 31. What is bothering Lorry about providing shelter for Lucie at Tellson's Bank?

2. Who does Mr. Lorry leave with Lucie, her child, and Miss Pross at their new lodgings?

3. What is in the note Defarge brings to Mr. Lorry from Doctor Manette?

4. Who accompanies Mr. Lorry to go see Lucie?

5. What does Mr. Lorry tell Lucie before he leaves her lodging?

6. What bothers Lorry about the Defarges?

Book 3, Chapter 41. How many defenseless men and women held prisoner were killed during the four days Doctor Manette is away to help Charles?

2. Who decides which prisoners will be released or murdered at the prison?

3. How does Doctor Manette manage to visit Charles in prison?

4. What becomes of the King of France in this new era of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, and Death?

5. What becomes a symbol of the regeneration of the human race, superseding the Cross?

6. How long has Charles been in prison at this point?

Book 3, Chapter 51. What is the plan Doctor Manette tells to Lucie so that Charles can see her from a prison window?

2. What is the new mode of address decreed by the patriots?

3. What has the wood-sawyer named his saw?

4. What reaction does Lucie have when she sees men and women dancing the Carmagnole?

5. What is the news Doctor Manette brings to Lucie about her husband?

6. Who does Doctor Manette go to see after delivering his news to Lucie?

Book 3, Chapter 61. Who makes up the Tribunal?

2. What becomes of the first fifteen prisoners to go in front of the Tribunal before Charles?

3. Who is sitting in the front row during Darnay's trial?

4. What does the audience yell out as Darnay's name is called?

5. Who are the two witnesses Darnay names in his behalf?

6. What is the verdict rendered to Charles Darnay?

Book 3, Chapter 71. Why is Doctor Manette sure that there will be no more shoemaking or North Tower for him ever again?

2. Why do Lucie and Charles not hire a housekeeper?

3. How does the universal fear and distrust of the times affect daily life of the citizens?

4. What is the question that Miss Pross has for Doctor Manette?

5. What startles Lucie as she sits in her home listening to her father tell Little Lucie a story?

6. Who denounces Charles Darnay, causing him to be arrested once again?

Book 3, Chapter 81. Where does Miss Pross run across her long lost brother, Solomon?

2. What is Solomon's secret identity in England?

3. Who cries out Solomon's English identity when he sees Jerry and Miss Pross talking to him?

4. Who does Solomon blame for his secret identity being exposed?

5. What does Carton use as a means to convince Solomon to cooperate with him in helping Charles Darnay?

6. What is the position of Solomon that Sydney Carton is most interested in?

Book 3, Chapter 91. What is Mr. Lorry's reaction when Jerry admits that he was once a gravedigger?

2. What are Carton's true feelings about Mr. Lorry?

3. What is the arrangement Carton makes with Solomon with regard to Darnay?

4. What does Carton purchase after talking to the wood-sawyer?

5. What words continue to repeat in Carton's mind as he wanders the streets throughout the night?

6. Who are the three witnesses against Charles Darnay at his trial?

Book 3, Chapter 101. What is the main source of evidence presented against Charles Darnay?

2. What does the evidence against Charles call up in the crowd at the trial?

3. What is the family name that is detested by Saint Antoine?

4. What is one of the frenzied aspirations of the people?

5. What is Madame Defarge's reaction to the fate of Charles Darnay?

6. What is the unanimous vote at Charles' trial?

Book 3, Chapter 111. What request does Lucie present to the four men holding her husband?

2. What does Darnay tell Doctor Manette about the evidence brought against him in court?

3. What is Lucie's reaction when she is finally pulled away from Charles?

4. What does Little Lucie recall later in her life that Carton said to Lucie while she was unconscious?

5. What advice does Carton give to Mr. Lorry about Charles' fate?

6. What does Carton believe will happen to Charles?

Book 3, Chapter 121. Where does Sydney Carton stop on the morning after Charles' trial?

2. What does Madame Defarge reveal about her past?

3. What is Doctor Manette's condition when he returns home from trying to find leniency for Charles?

4. What do Mr. Lorry and Carton find falling out of the doctor's pocket?

5. What is Madame Defarge plotting?

6. What does Carton tell Mr. Lorry about taking Lucie, her father, and her daughter out of Paris?

Book 3, Chapter 131. How many people are condemned to die on the same day as Charles?

2. What does Charles realize about the future peace of his family as he awaits execution?

3. Who does Charles forget about as he writes letters to family and friends?

4. What does Carton instruct Charles to do when he goes to his prison cell?

5. How does Carton manage to get Charles out of his prison cell?

6. What is Sydney's intention now that Charles is out of the prison?

Book 3, Chapter 141. What is the matter in which Madame Defarge cannot trust her husband?

2. What does Madame Defarge carry inside her coat as she walks through the streets of Paris?

3. What is Mr. Lorry's plan for the safe departure of Lucie, her daughter, her father, her husband, Miss Pross, and Jerry Cruncher?

4. What is Madame Defarge's destination as she walks through the streets?

5. What does Madame Defarge find when she reaches her destination?

6. What is the outcome of the struggle between Madame Defarge and Miss Pross?

Book 3, Chapter 151. How many death carts head toward La Guillotine?

2. What does Barsard tell a man who is ridiculing Evremonde as he rides in the death cart?

3. What is Carton doing as he rides in the death cart?

4. How does Carton comfort the seamstress who is executed before him?

5. What do the people of the city have to say about Sydney Carton's execution at La Guillotine?

6. What does a woman waiting to be executed ask to do when she sees Carton's face?