“Jane Eyre" is an Anti-romantic Novel with a Romantic Ending.

The romantic novel is a literary genre which places primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people and must have an ‘emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending’. ‘Jane Eyre’ can be termed a romantic novel because of Jane’s deep attachment to Mr. Rochester. But Mr. Rochester is not a handsome romantic hero and Jane Eyre is not a pretty girl. There is a great disparity of their age- while Jane is twenty years old Mr. Rochester is almost forty.

“Jane Eyre" is an Anti-romantic Novel with a Romantic Ending"

The character of Jane isn’t the traditional heroine of the time. In many romantic novels of the Victorian era the heroine was beautiful. Jane is described by Charlotte as ‘simple and plain’. She also differs from the traditional heroine in her strength as a woman. Charlotte created a woman character that was equal to the male character. Jane is not equal in status or class but in emotional strength and maturity. This went against society’s beliefs of the time because Victorians traditionally believed that women were not capable of strong emotions.

Rochester is the husband of Bertha mason. As Bertha is insane he cannot divorce her. He takes several mistresses one after another but fails to establish any meaningful relationship with them. Then he falls in love with Jane and wants to marry her. When their marriage is to be solemnized at the church Mr. mason came to the church and accused Mr. Rochester of already being married. Mr. Rochester confessed and their marriage is stopped . Mr. Rochester then offers Jane to leave England with him for the south of France where they will live together as husband and wife. But Jane turns down the proposal because she does not want to be his mistress

Jane leaves thornfield and begins to live with the Rivers. St. John who is much younger than Rochester urges her again and again to be got married to him. She refuses the proposal because she knows that she does not love him nor he does love her. Mr. Rochester offers her real love. She return to him and finds that he has lost his left hand and went blind while rescuing his insane wife Bertha. She marries him and takes the dominating partner. Before the marriage Jane was always maintained a subservient position to Mr. Rochester. However with the inheritance from her uncle Jane is now an independent woman and can take charge of her own destiny and even the destiny of her husband. As Mr. Rochester has lost his eyesight he becomes vulnerable and dependent on Jane. He can no longer maintain his former position as the superior male. However this inequality is resolved when Mr. Rochester regains the use of one of his eyes. Jane and Mr. Rochester are finally able to support a relationship of mutual respect and quality. Jane finds true happiness in marriage. One becomes the very life of the other. No woman is ever nearer to her husband than Jane is. She is the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. She bestows all her confidence on him and all his confidence is devoted to her.

Thus Jane and Rochester no longer remain separate identity. They have merged sharing one heart each possessing the ‘bone’ and ‘flesh’ of other.

Discuss the auto biological elements/treatments of childhood in Jane Eyre.

Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre gives a graphic description of childhood in which we find none of the children is well adjusted or happy.

Jane is orphaned and left to the merciless treatment first of her cousins, then of the orphanage. While she had a few good moments in her young life, hers could not be called a happy or even normal childhood. Through no real fault of her own and through circumstances generally beyond her control, she lived a rather difficult life.

The Reed children, though they appeared to have everything as children, were terrors of the worst kind. They were cruel to Jane and those mean-spirited traits followed them through their adult lives. The other girls at the orphanage are, to various degrees, unhappy with their circumstances--they are, after all, in an orphanage for a reason.

▶Even Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward, has the benefits of wealth around her but is not in an ideal situation. Her mother has died, she is living as a ward to a benefactor who is rarely home, and the kind of woman he would have married (if he hadn't met Jane) would have shipped her off to boarding school.

▶Bronte thought childhood was a hard thing, something which must be endured. However, since at least a few of the children in this work did grow up to be well adjusted, a bad childhood did not have to carry over into adulthood. At some point we all have choices--John Reed chose a life of dissolution while Jane chose a life of moral integrity and service.

▶In the seventeenth and eighteenth century there was both a philosophical and psychological debate about how the mind was formed and stocked with ideas. In short, Bronte held children as unregenerate beings. The Romantics, however, held that children were naturally good and it was society that corrupted them later. They believed in the "natural child" and felt that children should not be hurried into adulthood.

▶Charlotte Bronte possessed an awareness of the vulnerability of the child at the mercy of a Mrs. Reed, who finds them tiresome. She was also very aware of such institutions as Lowood School which summarily categorized children and forced them into more adult-like situations for which they were unprepared. For instance, the hypocritical Mr. Brocklehurst, who professes that girl's bodies should be starved in order to save their souls when he merely enjoys being cruel, punishes Jane for breaking her slate, saying that the Evil One has already found a servant in her. He tells the other girls that Jane is a castaway and must be shunned; she is not a member of the true flock, but evidently an interloper and an alien.

▶After he maligns Jane further to her incomprehension, Brocklehurst calls her "a liar." He explains that he has learned this from her "benefactress" who sent her to Lowood. With this castigation of Jane, he instructs that she be made to stand on a stool and no one speak to her for an half an hour. In this passage, Charlotte Bronte placed much value upon the perception of children, and strives for as much verisimilitude in describing Jane's experience through her eyes.

▶Poor Helen is a true Christian, but in the environment of the stringent and hypocritical Calvinist, Mr. Brocklehurst, she, like Christ, becomes a sacrificial victim to the thinking of such cruel men.

The disturbing treatment of children is part of Charlotte Bronte's theme of the importance of the individual; a worth that should be recognized.

Discuss "Jane Eyre" as a Gothic Novel

Gothic novel is a type of romance or fiction the setting of which was medieval and often a gloomy castle full of dungeons and underground passages. These kinds of novels replete with ghosts, mysterious disappearance and other sensational and supernatural occurrences and violent incidents. Jane Eyre uses may forms of the Gothic genre in order to create emotion and get an audience reaction. The most common Gothic form Bronte uses is Jane’s descriptions of the red room, Thornfield Hall the use of supernatural, mysteries, suspense, a ghostly atmosphere, a setting in a castle, the appearances of a fortune-teller etc.

"Jane Eyre" as a Gothic Novel

Gothic paraphernalia is first shown in the novel in the form of the red room. It is the frightening chamber in which Mr. Reed died. It is a spare bedroom furnished with red curtains, red carpet, red tablecloth, reddish wood furniture. It’s cold, quiet and lonely. When Jane is locked in the room she catches a glimpse of her ghastly figure in the mirror and shocked by her meager presence. Suddenly she is struck with the impression that her uncle Reed’s ghost is in the room and she imagines that he has come to take revenge on his wife for breaking her promise. Jane cries out in terror.

▶In the novel there are allusions to supernatural occurrences such as in the red room scene when Jane senses the ghost of her uncle her ears fill with sound which she said she ‘deemed the rushing of wings, something seemed near me..’ Mr. Rochester’s telepathic communication to Jane towards the end of the novel is also a supernatural phenomenon. All these give a lack of realism and a feeling of the supernatural contributing to the Gothic genre.

▶Another example of the use of Gothic element is the description of Thornfield Hall. The idea of it being an ancestral home gives it a Gothic feel. The decoration is dark, dated and labored with secrets and memories of the past creating an archaic and enigmatic vision of a Gothic castle image. It is a Gothic castle is reinforced by the strange laugh from the attic door. Later in her description of the house Jane comments on the passages and the house having trap doors ‘like a corridor in some of Bluebeard’s castle’.

▶‘Jane Eyre’ has been called a new type of Gothic novel because of Charlotte’s use of poetic symbolism. In the garden of Thornfield there is chestnut tree which is struck by lightning. Bronte here indicates that the chestnut three could have powers that foreshadow the separation of Rochester and Jane that followed the next day and the disaster and danger for the couple that lay ahead of them almost as if nature is predicting human fate.

▶The appearance of the fortune teller gives the novel a sense of the supernatural which is particularly Gothic. Bronte also uses the Gothic form death throughout the novel. the predominant example is the death of Helen Burns Jane’s friend at Lowood. Jane is portrayed as the damsel in distress in parts of the novel which is a Gothic form but also adds a fairy tale feel. For example when Jane flees John Rivers finds her and gives her a place to rest. ‘Jane Eyre’ combines conventions of Gothic literature and romanticism. Like most romantic novels initially the two protagonists hide their feelings and cannot be together.

Novel

1.Tale of Two Cities : Introduction
2.A Tale of Two Cities : Setting symbolism ,Style
3.A Tale of Two Cities: Plot
4.Tale Of Two Cities :Historical Background
5.Major Themes of the Novel "A Tale of Two Cities"
6.George Eliot: A Psychologist & A Novelist ''The Mill on the Floss"
7.George Eliot: A Moralist ''The Mill on the Floss”
8.Elaborate the End of the Novel The Mill on the Floss?
9.Discuss the Humour the Mill on the Floss
10.Whom the Bell Tolls
11.Things Fall Apart
12.Sons and Lovers Complete Analysis
13.Theme of “The Scarlet Letter
14.What is Plot construction in “The Scarlet Letter”?
15.The Scarlet Letter Complete Analysis
16.To the light House and Stream of Consciousness
17.What do you know about MODERN NOVEL?
18.THE REMARKABLE ROCKET by: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
19.THE SELFISH GIANT by: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
20.THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE by: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
21.THE DEVOTED FRIEND by: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
22.Virginia Woolf's Narrative Style In Mrs. Dalloway
23.Autobiographical Element in Heart of Darkness
24.Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness
25.Twilight in Delhi: A Critical Review
26.Tess of the D'Urbervilles: The Peasent World
27.Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Nature
28.Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Fate and Chance
29.Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Hardy as a Pessimist
30Heart of Darkness: Significance of Title
31.Heart of Darkness: Theme of Evil
32.Pride and Prejudice: Art of Characterization
33.Explain the Pride and Prejudice Title in detail
34.Pride and Prejudice: Love and Marriage Theme
35.Heart of Darkness: Symbolism
36.Jane Eyre is anti Romantic Novel
37.Discuss the auto biological elements/treatments of childhood in Jane Eyre.
38.Discuss Jane Eyre as a Gothic Novel

Joseph Andrews short Ques

Write the names of four novels of Fielding.

JOSEPH Andrews (1742), Jonathan Wild (1748), Tom Jones (1749) and Amelia (1751) are the famous novels of Henry Fielding.

Who is Lady Booby?

Lady Booby is the widow of Sir Thomas Booby. she is hot-blood young woman. She tries to seduce Joseph every possible way.

What is Fielding's concept of novel?

In his preface to "Joseph Andrews", Fielding claims that novel is a genre of writing "which I do not remember to have been hitherto attempted in our language". He defined it as the "comic epic-poem in prose": a work of prose fiction, epic in length and variety of incident and character, in the hypothetical spirit of Homer's lost comic poem Margites.

What factors influenced Fielding in his conception and composition of 'Joseph Andrews'?

Fielding's first venture into prose fiction came a year previously with the publication in pamphlet form of Shamela, a travesty of, and direct response to, the stylistic failing and moral hypocrisy that Fielding saw in Richardson's Pamela. The impetus of the novel, as Fielding claims in his preface, is the establishment of a genre of writing "which I do not remember to have been hitherto attempted in our language".

What is a Novel?

A novel is a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential story. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens are famous English novels.

Who is Mrs Slip Slop. Describe her personality in your own words?

Mrs Slip Slop is a woman servant of Lady Booby who pursues Joseph. Physically she was an ugly woman.

What is comic epic in prose?

Comic epic in prose is an epic presented comically that consist of comic hero, comic fights, comic journey etc not in poetry but in prose.

What are the major themes of ‘Joseph Andrews’?

The major themes of ‘Joseph Andrew’ are helplessness and power of goodness, affection, vanity, charity and religion, hypocrisy, and chastity, town and country, class and birth, reality verses appearance, etc.

Who is Fanny? Describe her personality in your own words?

Fanny is the heroin of the novel and she is a beautiful young girl. She is gentle, sweet and sensible girl.

Describe the personality of the Surgeon in ‘ Joseph Andrew’?

The Surgeon is a comic character. He tells Joseph that he will die soon due to his injuries.

Who is Betty? What is her role in the novel ‘ Joseph Andrew’?

Betty is a warm-hearted chambermaid at Tow-wouse Inn. She looks after Joseph at Tow- wouse Inn when he is injured by ruffains and fall in love with him. Joseph rejects her amorous advances.

Who is Mr. Trulliber? Describe his personality?

Mr. Trulliber is a hypocritical country parson and he is a hog dealer. He is completely lacking the virtue of charity.

Who is Peter Pounce?

Peter Pounce is a steward to Lady Booby. He is a dishonest man. He makes money from the wages of the servant’s of Lady Booby.

Briefly state two features of fielding’s comic epic in prose?

Two features of Fielding’s comic epic in prose are the combination of comic epic and prose epic, and the foundations for the novel.

What different services were performed by Joseph for Sir Thomas Booby?

Joseph performed the different services for Sir Thomas Booby are as stable boy and then footman to Sir Thomas’ wife Lady Booby.

How is the novel 'Joseph Andrews' related to 'Pamela'?

Fielding wrote "Shamela" as a satirical response to Richardson's "Pamela", and his longer and more serious "Joseph Andrews" likewise draws on Richardson's novel for an equivocal sort of inspiration. While "Shamela" is a straightforward travesty of "Pamlea", "Joseph Andrews" is something more complex, and its relation to "Pamela" is something other than the relation of parody to original.

Define digression.

A digression is a stylistic device authors employ to create a temporary departure from the main subject of the narrative to focus on apparently unrelated topics, explaining background details. However, after this temporary shift, authors return to the main topic at the end of the narrative. There are several famous digressions in Homer, such as the "wall scene" in Book 3 of the "Iliad".

What is the purpose of digression in 'Joseph Andrews'?

It is perhaps a development of Fielding's verbose writing style that he includes so many digressions in "Joseph Andrews". There are three main interpolated tales in the novel. In regards to these interpolated tales, Fielding employs a variety of tactics to make the stories more believable. These inserted stories also illustrate other tensions related to writing a novel, such as control and interruption.

Define the narrator?

A narrator is the voice that an author takes on to tell a story. This voice can have a personality quite different from the author's. For example, in his story "The Tell-Tale Heart", Edgar Allan Poe makes his narrator a raving lunatic.

Define burlesque.

Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of the subjects. Contrasting examples of literary burlesque are Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" and Samuel Butler's "Hudibras". W.S. Gilbert's "Robert the Devil" is an example of theatrical burlesque.

What is bildungsroman?

Bildungsroman is a special kind of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her youth to adulthood. "Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding and "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens are examples of bildungsroman.

What is important about the plot of the novel 'Joseph Andrews'?

"Joseph Andrews" is a picaresque novel in structure, for its plot-line is similar to the one-line structure of picaresque fiction. The plot of the novel progresses by "shutting', moving forward by "small oscillations of emotion", which, in the larger, all-over design, are small parts of a unified whole, episodic in nature. At times, events seem like reversals, followed by forward movement.

According to Fielding, what are the proper roles of clergy?

One role of the clergy would be charity, clearly evident in the character of Parson Adams. Adams also illustrates the clergy's role in instructing the members of their parish, as well as demonstrating and modeling Christian morals and propriety. Adam's character is the epitome of honesty.

What is the significance of the letter from Joseph to his sister?

Joseph's letter to his sister Pamela is significant because it illustrates his innocence. He thinks that Lady Booby is perhaps pursuing him, but charitably ascribes this to distraction over the death of Sir Thomas. In any case, he anticipates his dismissal and advises Pamela of his return to the Booby country-seat.

Parson Adam is considered as the real source of intrest in the novel . It is true?

Yes it is true that Parson Adam is considered as the real source of interest in the novel because of his absent mindedness, forgetfulness and simple-mindedness.

Who was Parson Barrabas?

Parson Barabas was a punch drinking clergyman. He is more intrested in discussions of legal matters than his religious purpose.

Who were the real parents of Joseph?

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the real parents of Joseph.

Pride and Prejudice Short Ques

Is Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley match is foil to Elizabeth and Darcy relationship?

Bennet and Charles Bingley are cheerful, friendly, and good-natured, always ready to think the best of others. They have no prickly egotism of Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane’s gentle spirit serves as a foil for her sister’s fiery, contentious nature, while Bingley’s eager friendliness contrasts with Darcy’s stiff pride.

Critically comment on the title of the novel, Pride and Prejudice.

It should be pointed out that the qualities of the title word are not exclusively assigned to one or the other of the protagonists; both Elizabeth and Darcy display pride and prejudice. This pride can be seen however more in the figure of Darcy. Intelligent and forthright, Darcy had a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth made him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. Darcy changes throughout the novel and becomes more humble and acknowledges that his pride governed his behaviour and he is prepared to rectify. Similarly as Elizabeth gradually comes to recognize the nobility of Darcy’s character, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him.

Make a comment on Mrs. Bennet‘s character.

Mrs. Bennet is a miraculously tiresome character. Noisy and foolish and almost a comic, she is a woman consumed by the desire to see her daughters married and seems to care for nothing else in the world. Ironically, her single-minded pursuit of this goal tends to backfire, as her lack of social graces alienates the very people (Darcy and Bingley) whom she tries desperately to attract.

How much money does Mr. Bingley earn annually?

He earns four or five thousand pounds per year.

What is meant by the word “let” in this sentence?“Netherfield Park is let at last.”

It means the estate is rented.

Where does the opening scene take place?

It takes place in the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

What does Mrs. Bennet want her husband to do?

She wants him to be among the first to visit their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley.

Why does Mrs. Bennet seem excited?

Mr. Bingley is a single man of wealth. She has five marriageable daughters.

What does Mrs. Bennet consider to be her mission in life?

The business of her life is to get her daughters married.

Why does Mr. Bennet favor Lizzy?

He thinks Lizzy is smarter than the rest of his daughters.

How many daughters does Mrs. Bennett have?

5.

Why does Darcy's proposal make Elizabeth angry?

Elizabeth already hates Darcy because she thinks he is responsible for breaking up Jane and Bingley, he has hurt Mr. Wickham, and has been rude to Lizzy. Now Darcy tells her outright in the proposal that he does not want to be in love with her, because of their class differences, but he can't help it. Thus Darcy's first proposal make Elizabeth angry.

How do Elizabeth Bennet's ideas on marriage differ from her society's?

Elizabeth wants to marry someone she actually loves and respects, and not just for a good name or money. Her society's belief is that young ladies should make good matches for their families' sake, to keep up a good reputation and be wealthy.

Who does Mrs. Bennet say will probably visit Mr. Bingley first?

She says Sir William and Lady Lucas will go for the same reason.

How many years have the Bennets been married?

They have been married for 23 years.

What does Mrs. Bennett think all single men are in pursuit of?

A wife.

Write a note on Georgiana.

Georgiana is Darcy's younger sister. She is immensely pretty and just as shy. She has great skill at playing the pianoforte. She has great reverence and affection for her brother and gets along well with Elizabeth from their first meeting. Bingley's sisters had hoped that Mr. Bingley would marry Georgiana, thus uniting the fortunes of the two families.

In which ways is Elizabeth different from the rest of the Bennet family?

Elizabeth is judgmental and that she speaks out what she wants and what she knows. She is the only character who changes significantly over the course of the story. On the other hand, other Bennets are stuck in their ways.

How has Meryton community been described in 'Pride and Prejudice'?

Meryton is a little village where a militia regiment is quartered for a time, and where the Meryton Ball takes place. This Ball is an event that shows community life in Meryton. The people in Meryton are middle-class and every woman is in search of a man to ensure social stability. People's opinions change really quickly and are general.

What does Mrs. Bennett complain of when her husband denies the request to meet the man who has bought Netherfield?

Her nerves.

Who is Mr. Bennett's favorite daughter?

Elizabeth.

What is the name of the man who has just bought Netherfield?

Mr. Bingley.

What does Mary spend most of her time doing?

Reading.

Who gives Mrs. Bennett a description of Mr. Bingley when her husband will not?

Lady Lucas.

How much money does Darcy make every year?

10,000 pounds.

what are the admirable qualities of Elizabeth Bennet ?

The second daughter in the Bennet family, and the most intelligent and quick-witted protagonist of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth has many admirable qualities —she is lovely, clever, and, in a novel defined by dialogue, she converses as brilliantly as anyone. Her honesty, virtue, and lively wit enable her to rise above the nonsense and bad behavior that pervade her class-bound and often spiteful society.

How does the prejudice in Elizabeth Bennet break free?

Pride and Prejudice is essentially the story of how Elizabeth Bennet overcomes all obstacles—including their own personal failings—to find romantic happiness. Elizabeth had her own mistaken impressions of Darcy, which initially lead her to reject his proposals of marriage. As she gradually comes to recognize the nobility of Darcy’s character, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him.

How does the pride in Darcy break free?

INTELLIGENT and forthright, Darcy had a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth made him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. It was his pride. Indeed, his haughtiness made him initially bungle his courtship.

Write a short note on Pride and Prejudice as a love story.

Pride and Prejudice contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between Darcy and Elizabeth. As in any good love story, the lovers must elude and overcome numerous stumbling blocks, beginning with the tensions caused by the lovers’ own personal qualities. Elizabeth’s pride makes her misjudge Darcy on the basis of a poor first impression, while Darcy’s prejudice against Elizabeth’s poor social standing blinds him, for a time, to her many virtues. After overcoming their pride and prejudice as well as countless other smaller obstacles they are happily married.

What are the major Courtship in the novel, Pride and Prejudice?

In a sense, Pride and Prejudice is the story of two courtships—those between Darcy and Elizabeth and between Bingley and Jane. Within this broad structure appear other, smaller courtships: Mr. Collins’s aborted wooing of Elizabeth, followed by his successful wooing of Charlotte Lucas; Miss Bingley’s unsuccessful attempt to attract Darcy; Wickham’s pursuit first of Elizabeth, then of the never-seen Miss King, and finally of Lydia.

What does Pemberley estate symbolize?

Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, sits at the center of the novel, literally and figuratively, as a geographic symbol of the man who owns it. Elizabeth visits it at a time when her feelings toward Darcy are beginning to warm; she is enchanted by its beauty and charm, and by the picturesque countryside, just as she will be charmed, increasingly, by the gifts of its owner as well as his personality.

Write a short note on Jane Austen’s narrative technique.

This novel is written in the third person narrative voice. Austen uses irony in her narrative as a means of showing the truth about situations and people. Irony is a means of moral and social judgment. She also makes use of humour as a tool to entertain and sometimes to satirize.

what is the central topic of this novel?

Throughout this novel relationships between men and women are a central topic. It becomes evident that the right selection of a marriage partner is a critical and a central choice to be made in life. The novel shows us the development of various relationships between different types of people and how they culminate in marriage.she feels she should give up thinking of her own beauty.

Why is Darcy intrigued and attracted by Elizabeth?

Darcy is intrigued by refreshing disregard for his title. Elizabeth is one of those rare women, the only one around him, whose self respect matches his pride. At the same time, he is attracted by Elizabeth's eyes, wit and intelligence.

How did Wickham agree to marry Lydia?

Wickham married Lydia for money. If Wickham did not marry Lydia, the reputations of both Lydia and the entire family would have been ruined. Wickham agreed to marry Lydia because Mr. Dacry agreed to pay off all his debts and pay him thousands pounds.

Why does Lydia risk by eloping with Wickham?

Lydia is all about money and social stature. Wickham is a pompous jerk but Lydia feels he is her best chance at improving her fortunes both monetarily and socially.

A Tale of Two Cities Short Ques

Dickens studied "The French Revolution: A History" to prepare himself. Who wrote this essay?

A lot of details in France are based on fragments of this essay. Dickens also visited France and read works by French authors. Carlyle opposed the methods of the radical republicans, who killed a lot of people via the guillotine. This opinion is echoed in "A Tale of Two Cities", although Dickens agreed with the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity.

What is Mr. Lorry's occupation?

He works for Tellson's Bank in London.

Between what years did the book take place?

The book starts out in 1775, the year that Dr. Manette released from the Bastille, and also the year that he finally meets his daughter, Lucie. In Book the Second, it is five years later (1780), and then it skips later to 1789, and then to 1792 and 1793. It also cites many events happening to the characters in the years 1781.

Who is "the jackal"?

Carton is first referred to as "the jackal" in Chapter 5 of Book 2. Note how this name is rather ironic since, while Carton does scavenge off the success of Mr. Stryver, he does the work himself.

What purpose does the comparison of England and France serve?

It serve to show that people are very similar, no matter where they are.

What further comparison is implied by the connection of England and France?

This connection makes the larger point that Dickens’ readers are not much different from people during the time of the French Revolution.

Why is the coachman nervous when he hears a horse approaching?

The coachman fears that it may be a highwayman wanting to rob them.

What is the man on horseback’s true purpose, and what exchange takes place?

He has a message for Jarvis Lorry: ―Wait at Dover for Mam’selle.‖ Lorry, in return, gives him the message: ―RECALLED TO LIFE.‖

What does the narrator reflect upon concerning humankind?

The narrator reflects on the fact that no person can really know another person.

For how long has the man in Jarvis Lorry’s thoughts been buried?

He has been buried for 18 years.

What were the conditions in France that led to the revolution?

Struggle for hegemony, social antagonism between aristocracy and the bourgeoisie, debt, ineffective ruler Louis XVI, economic hardships, the rise of enlightenment ideals, resentment of royal absolutism, food scarcity, and American influence were the major conditions in France that led to revolution.

What is Dickens' attitude towards the French Revolution?

Dickens regards the French Revolution with some ambivalence. He seems to support the revolutionary cause but also condemns the way the Revolution is conducted, often criticizing the evil of the revolutionaries themselves. The message seems to be that in fighting oppression with oppression, and acts of barbarism with acts of barbarism, there is no true revolution.

Interpret 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'.

This is the opening line of the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. It describes the time of French Revolution. It means, in simple terms, that the time period was filled with great contradictions and extremes, from good to bad.

What is Bastille? What is its significance?

The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was uses as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stormed by a crowd on July 14, 1789 in the French Revolution.

Why the Bastille was attacked by the mob?

The Bastille was a prison where the French government kept its political prisoners. On July 14, 1789, a mob of revolutionaries attacked the fortress. It was a blood-thirsty, unruly mob that Dickens metaphorically describes as "a raging sea" and "a whirlpool of boiling water". The attack was a flash-point of the French Revolution.

What is the significance of Hotel De Ville?

The Hotel De Ville is a building in Paris, France, housing the city's local administration. The Hotel De Ville is a nice sounding name for a not-so-nice place. It was where the government took prisoners to be tortured.

What is the physical appearance of the Kings and Queens of England and France?

The kings have large jaws and the queens have plain faces

What is the year the story is taking place?

1775

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

Burglaries take place every night.

What is the name of the hill that the Dover mail carriage is struggling to climb through the mud?

Shooter's Hill

What type of novel is "A Tale of Two Cities"?

A historical novel takes place in a historical period, before the author was born. The story is invented, but the background is based on real events. Other examples are Tolstoy's "War and Peace" and Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe".

What are the two cities of the novel’s title?

The two cities are Paris and London.

What else do we know of this man who has been ―buried‖?

We know nothing else of this man.

Why is this all of the information the reader has on this subject?

This is all the information that the author supplies in order to build suspense so that the reader will continue reading.

How does this scene end?

The scene ends with Jarvis Lorry looking out the coach window to see the sun rising.

How and by whom Madame Defarge was killed?

In a scuffle with Miss Pross, Madame Defarge was killed by a bullet from her own gun. It symbolizes Dicken's belief that the sort of vengeful attitude ultimately proves a self-damning one.

What is the slogan of the revolutionaries in "A Tale of Two Cities?

The slogan of the revolutionaries is "Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death". The revolutionaries were the people engaged in changing the government of France. They wanted the many freedoms that people deserve: liberty, equality, and fraternity. They also wanted everyone on their side and were willing to "take out" those who did not agree.

Write a short note on Tellson's Bank.

Tellson's Bank near Temple Bar was an old-fashioned place, even back in 1780. It was a very small, very dark, very ugly, and very uncomfortable. The partners who ran the bank were old-fashioned too. They were proud of its smallness, darkness, ugliness, and discomfort.

What does the red wine symbolize in 'A Tale of Two Cities'?

Throughout the novel wine symbolizes the French Revolution's intoxicating power. Drunk on power, the revolutionaries change from freedom fighters into wild savages dancing in the streets and murdering at will. The red wine spilled in the street in Paris symbolizes the blood that will be spilled in the Revolution.

Who is Madam Defarge?

Madam Defarge is a fictional character in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. She is a tricoteuse, a tireless worker for the French Revolution, and the wife of Ernest Defarge. She is one of the main villains of the novel, obsessed with revenge against the Evremondes.

What is the significance of Madame Defarge pinning a rose in her hair?

Madame Defarge pinning a rose in her hair indicates to the revolutionaries to stop talking about their revolutionary things. It is a signal that a spy is nearby and the revolutionaries must watch what they say.

Why is Madame Defarge so merciless towards Charles and his family?

Madame Defarge is merciless towards Charles and his family because Charles' family has killed her family and she thinks they should be avenged.

What is the people's reaction to the broken wine cask?

People's reaction to the broken wine cask is to get on the ground and lick the wine as it flows on the ground. They are excited that the rich lost something, and that they get to have it. So hungry, and poor, are the people that they don't mind drinking off the street. Obviously, this shows how bad the conditions in France are.

How is 'honour' defined in 'A Tale of Two Cities'?

There are multiple versions of honour in the novel. However, the most effective is that a person has honour who stands up for what is right and is willing to sacrifice all he or she has for the betterment of others. Monsiur Defarge is honourable because she stands up for what she believes, and Carton is honourable because he gives his life for a friend.