A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens Enter via Table of Contents

Table of Contents -Novel’s Background -Author’s Background -Monarchy of France -Monarchy of England -Paris -London -French Revolution

Novel’s Background - 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 • 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. Scanned Digital Photo • • •

Marie Antoinette • • 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 Above: Versailles, outside Above: Versailles, landscaping Below: Versailles, inside the hall of mirrors Below: Versailles, outside Personal Digital Photos • Versailles: Home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

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

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 • • 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 • 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.

Accomplishments of the Rev. The French Revolution accomplished some of what the intended goal was, but accomplishment did not seem to outweigh failure. • • 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 These Declarations were been made three times 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 Socialism was not yet persisted, Privileges were thought of still sought 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 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 • • • 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 70 th of a

Music • 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. • The thousands of compositions are divided into two categories: hymns and songs. • Hymns were more formal in both its composition and performance. Each hymn original music, and learned, memorized poetic lyrics. • 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

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