A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a historical novel set in London and Paris during the French Revolution, following the story of Dr. Alexandre Manette.
Reading and Writing Workshop: Exploring A Tale of Two Cities Through Historical Primary Sources
General Instructions:
Begin by reading A Tale of Two Cities either in groups or as a class. To complete a work quickly, use groups to read the work. This helps with longer texts. Divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Historical Thinking Guide. After reading and reporting on the entire work, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of the life and times of characters through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as migration, cultural exchange, conflict, and resilience.
Objective: Participants will analyze historical events from this work using public domain primary resources and create original creative writing pieces inspired by these events.
Session 1: The French Revolution – Causes and ImpactReading:
Session 2: The Storming of the BastilleReading:
Session 3: The Reign of TerrorReading:
Session 4: The Guillotine and Public ExecutionsReading:
Session 5: The Role of Banks and Economics in the RevolutionReading:
This workshop integrates historical texts with creative writing, providing an engaging way to explore the events of A Tale of Two Cities through primary sources.
Here is a list of historical events referenced in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:
General Instructions:
Begin by reading A Tale of Two Cities either in groups or as a class. To complete a work quickly, use groups to read the work. This helps with longer texts. Divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Historical Thinking Guide. After reading and reporting on the entire work, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of the life and times of characters through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as migration, cultural exchange, conflict, and resilience.
Objective: Participants will analyze historical events from this work using public domain primary resources and create original creative writing pieces inspired by these events.
Session 1: The French Revolution – Causes and ImpactReading:
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp
- Imagine you are a journalist reporting on the signing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Write an article explaining its significance.
Session 2: The Storming of the BastilleReading:
- Eyewitness Account of the Storming of the Bastille (1789)
URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1789deboule.asp
- Write a diary entry from the perspective of a Parisian who participated in the attack on the Bastille.
Session 3: The Reign of TerrorReading:
- Maximilien Robespierre's Speech on the Justification of Terror (1794)
URL: https://www.marxists.org/history/france/revolution/robespierre/1794/terror.htm
- Write a letter from a citizen to Robespierre, either supporting or criticizing the Reign of Terror.
Session 4: The Guillotine and Public ExecutionsReading:
- Execution of King Louis XVI (1793) – Eyewitness Account
URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1793louis.asp
- Write a fictional news article covering the execution of Louis XVI, using eyewitness details.
Session 5: The Role of Banks and Economics in the RevolutionReading:
- The Assignats and the Financial Crisis of the Revolution
URL: https://oll.libertyfund.org/title/say-a-treatise-on-political-economy
- Write a speech from the perspective of a banker explaining the economic challenges of revolutionary France.
This workshop integrates historical texts with creative writing, providing an engaging way to explore the events of A Tale of Two Cities through primary sources.
Here is a list of historical events referenced in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:
- The French Revolution (1789-1799) – The central historical backdrop of the novel, depicting the rising tensions in France that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.
- The Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) – A pivotal event in the French Revolution where revolutionaries attacked and seized the Bastille prison, symbolizing the fall of tyranny.
- The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) – A period of extreme violence during the revolution, characterized by mass executions via the guillotine, which is depicted in the novel.
- The Guillotine and Public Executions – The novel frequently references the guillotine as a symbol of revolutionary justice and terror.
- The Aristocracy vs. The Third Estate – The deep class divides between the ruling aristocracy and the struggling peasantry, which fueled revolutionary sentiment.
- The English Legal System in the Late 18th Century – The novel also references the legal systems in both England and France, highlighting corruption, injustice, and mob rule.
- Tellson’s Bank and International Finance – The role of financial institutions like Tellson’s Bank in managing money between England and France during the period.