Chapter 9

  1. Locate several references in this chpter to Monseigneur Evremonde’s face, and explain howDickens uses them to develop the symbolism and imagery of the Gorgon’s head (stone face) that is chiseled into the stone of the chateau’s walls.
  2. What is learned about Darney’s relationship with Evremonde and Darney’s feelings about his inheritance and recent events in France?
  3. What had previously prevented Evremonde from writing a letter de cache on Darney ? (125)
  4. What does Darney tell Evremonde, and how does Evremonde respond? (124-129)
  5. What does Evremonde know about Darney’s relationship with the Manettes in England? (129)
  6. What is meant by the statement that, in the morning, “there was one too many stone faces, up at the chateau?” (133)

Chapter 10

  1. What are the “Two Promises” alluded to in the chapter title, who gives them, and to whom are they given? [Note: There are actually three promises in this chapter—137, 139, 140.]
  2. Following Dr. Manette’s conversation with Darney, Lucie returns home to find her father engaged in what activity? (140) What might the reader infer from this?

Chapter 11

  1. What announcement does Stryver make to Carton? (141)
  2. Why is it ironic that Stryver accuses Carton of being a “fellow of no sensitiveness of delicacy of feeling”? (143)
  3. What are Stryver’s motives in pursuing Lucie? (144)

Chapter 12

  1. What is ironic about the title to this chapter?
  2. What reaction does Mr. Lorry give to Stryver announcement? (146—147)
  3. Where is the humor in Stryver’s reaction to Lorry’s reaction?
  4. How and why does Stryver insult Lucie at the conclusion of this chapter? (148)
  5. How does Mr. Lorry come to Lucy’s defense (149), even putting her interests above the bank’s, and how does this demonstrate that he is, in fact, more than a “mere business machine,” as he insisted in Book 1?

Chapter 13

  1. What is ironic about the title of this Chapter?
  2. What promise does Sydney Carton make to Lucie?
  3. What do we learn of Sydney Carton’s self-image?

Chapter 14

  1. Whose funeral procession begins this chapter?
  2. Young Jerry secretly follows his father to learn more about his nocturnal avocation—what does he discover?
  3. How does Dickey employ Young Jerry’s point-of-view to infuse humor into this account?

Chapter 15

  1. What does the Mender of Roads report to the Jacques?
  2. What is “the register,” and how is it maintained? (175)

Chapter 16

  1. Who enters the Wine Shop to get information from the Defarges?
  2. What information does this person seek?
  3. What is Madame Defarge knitting (ironically) while the visitor speaks to her?
  4. What do we learn about Charles Darney from the visitor?

Chapter 17

  1. What is the time setting of this chapter, and why is it significant to the events of the chapter?
  2. What do Lucie and Dr. Manette say to each other?
  3. What is Dr. Manette’s state of mind?