Triumph

Sorry for the delay, I got home later than I thought. Explain the title of this chapter, what triumph is it referring too? First off if you were in Darnay's shoes, what do you think of the Evening Paper joke between the gaolers? If you were a prisoner, how would you react to hearing that?

"... "Take of his head!" cried the audience. "An enemy to the Republic!"(pg 288) What do you think of the audiences initial reaction and how it changed suddenly when Manette's name was mentioned? Also, what do you think of Manette's continuing rise in popularity among the citizens? Is it good or bad? Will it get him into trouble? After the vote has commenced describe Dicken's use of vocabulary to express the happiness of the crowd, why do you think he went into so much detail about this? Also what do you think of the: "... Reddening the snowy streets with the prevailing Republican color (red), in winding and tramping through them, as they had reddened them below the snow with a deeper dye ..." (pg 291) What do you think Dicken's is trying to say? Lastly what do you think of the difference of the two dances we witnessed, the one in this chapter and the one in the previous? How were they different, and how differently did the crowds act? Feel free to answer any of these questions or go off on your own. 

Calm in Storm

What do you think the importance of the title is in this chapter? What is the calm, what is the storm? Why do you think they let Darnay live and not kill him like the rest of the prisoners? What did the members of the Tribunal decide about Charles Darnay?

"...that he had obtained the permission, and had remained in that Hall of Blood until the danger was over." (p. 275) Why did Dickens refer to the courtroom as the Hall of Blood?

"The mad joy over the prisoners who were saved, had astounded him scarcely less than the mad ferocity against those who were cut to pieces." (p. 275) Why is this?

As Dr. Manette explained his experience watching an innocent prisoner being stabbed and killed in the streets, Mr. Lorry becomes nervous about these terrible incidents. What does Mr. Lorry think will happen and why is he worried about Dr. Manette? What has changed about Dr. Manette? What job does Dr. Manette now have and why is it important to Lucie that he has this job? Lastly, what is said about the guillotine, and what method of writing is used to describe it? 

The Wood-Sawyer

It has been a long time since Darnay was imprisoned in La Force. How much time exactly? It has also been a long time waiting for the Manettes. Surprisingly, they still remain hopeful that Charles will survive even though "Every day...the tumbrils now jolted heavily, filled with the condemned,"(page 279). Also on this page (279) Dickens refers to the blood of the victims of the guillotine as "...red wine for La guillotine..." What do you think of this? This isn't Dickens' first time substituting red wine for blood (Book 1, chap 5: the Wine Shop; Book 3, chap 2: the Grindstone).

Later, on page 280, how does Dickens describe the guillotine? What do you think of the personification? "She was truest to them in the season of trial, as all the quietly loyal and good will always be,"(page 280). 

Also in this chapter, Lucie finds a way for her husband to see her. What does she do? On her way back from this, Lucie comes across a man. What is he called? What does he call his saw? Why? What do you think of this one encounter? "[The Wood Sawyer] cast a glance at the prison, pointed at the prison, and putting his ten fingers before his face to represent bars, peeped through them jocosely. 'But it’s not my business,' said he. And went on sawing his wood." On page 283 and 284, what did Lucie see happening in the streets? Finally, the Manettes hear the news they have been waiting for. What is the news? Respond to any of the questions; feel free to go into other topics.

The Grindstone
On page 264, Dickens writes, "on his honest and courageous face there was a deeper shade than the pendent lamp could throw, or any object in the room distortedly reflect--a shade of horror." Who is he talking about? What are they horrified of? Who came to visit Mr. Lorry? Why did Manette have respect among the patriots? Why didn't Lorry want them to look outside, and what were they not looking at? How was the mob in the courtyard described? What word in particular did Dickens use in describing the mob on page 267? What are they doing with the grindstone? What is the significance of the grindstone? Feel free to answer any of the questions, or discuss something completely different.    

In Secret

This chapter begins with Darnay, encumbered by the various patriot patrols and barriers, traveling through France. Along his journey, he is woken in the middle of the night by a band of patriots who require that he be "escorted" by them to Paris. When they stop in Beauvais, Darnay is confronted by a crowd who brand him as a "cursed emigrant... and a cursed aristocrat." When he finally reaches Paris, Darnay is met by Defarge, who explains to him his position as a prisoner. Then Darnay is taken to the prison of La Force.

What is Dickens' opinion of the justification of the patriots who man the barriers? On his journey, what conclusion does Darnay come to regarding his future in Paris? Why was Darnay forced to take an escort? What was the postmaster's opinion of decrees? How does Dickens show the respectability and good-naturedness of the patriot guards? What does Defarge mean when he asks Darnay, "In the name of that sharp female newly-born, and called La Guillotine, why did you come to France?"What mannerism defines Defarge's attitude as he talks to Darnay? What did you think of the ghost metaphor on Pg. 260? What does Dickens mean when he writes, "The ghost of beauty, the ghost of stateliness, the ghost of elegance, the ghost of pride, the ghost of frivolity, the ghost of wit, the ghost of youth, the ghost of age, all waiting their dismissal from the desolate shore, all turning on him eyes that were changed by the death they had died in coming there?" Do you think Darnay deserves the treatment he receives in France, or is being unjustly imprisoned based only on his lineage? What is "in secret?" To whom does Darnay identify now that he has been placed "in secret?"

Feel free to answer all of these questions, none of these questions, any assortment of these questions, or any questions that you pose yourself. Cheers!

Drawn To The Loadstone Rock

In the beginning of the chapter, its explained that three years had gone by, and the echoes of footsteps still continue. Mr. Lorry, also goes to Paris, to protect the wealth in France in the banks. Why do you think this happens? On the other hand, a letter is received at the bank entitled to Marquis St. Evrémonde. Who is this man? Why does Charles Darnay act strange about the letter? Why does Charles Darnay want to go to Paris so badly? What does he think it will make him feel? Also, how do you feel about him leaving certain people behind? Feel free to answer any of these questions.

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE! Chapter 23.

Fire rises, fire rises indeed.  Revolutionaries are everywhere, burning expensive buildings and overthrowing the rich.  In the chapter, a tired man approaches the mender of the roads, a situation that would be unusual a few years back - why do you think that is?  The two men greet each other by the name "Jacques;" why do they do this?  The Mender lets the man sleep on his watch, and at sunset, they depart together towards the château, and subsequently the château is burned TO THE GROUND.  “With the rising and falling of the blaze, the stone faces showed as if they were in torment…As if it were the face of cruel Marquis, burning at the stake, and contending with the fire.” (234) What do you think this quote represents? 

As it is burning, a rider from the Château urges the villagers to save some of the valuables, but instead, everyone goes into their respective houses and put “candles in every dull pane of glass.” (234) Why do they do this?

Lastly, Four figures moving east, west, north, and south are mentioned multiple times in the chapter.  What is their significance in the chapter, and why did Dickens mention it multiple times?

Answer and discuss these questions, or converse on a topic that you found interesting in this climactic chapter by Charles Dickens.