About A Tale of Two Cities Book
Charles Dicken’s classic historical fiction novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, is one of his best works, written in 1859 and set between London and Paris in the era before and during the French Revolution.
The story revolves around the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year imprisonment in France, and his release to live with his daughter, who lives in London. Both father and daughter had never met in these years. A tale of two cities highlights the conditions that led to the French Revolution.
It’s one of the bestselling novels of all time, ranked 63rd in BBC read polls in 2003, and adapted into Tv, Radio, Films, and Stage plays.
Book Summary:
The novel is about the tale of two cities, London and Paris; in 1775, Dr. Manette, the novel’s protagonist, was in Paris for work purposes. Meanwhile, while doctors were arrested in Paris, Dr. Manette was also arrested without giving him the right to trial.
He was locked up in one of the worst prisons, Bastille, where he served his 18 years of imprisonment; he was shattered to the core, heartbroken, and in a vulnerable condition. After his release, he was rescued by his loyal friend Jarvis Lorry; with all the pain and suffering he faced, he seldom speaks to anyone and mostly stays alone. To keep himself busy, he starts cobbling shoes. Charles dickens a tale of two cities shows the mental toll and its effect on human life.
He wanted to live with his daughter Lucy who lives in London. Lucy, on the other hand, was also doing efforts to bring his father back; she is a wise and caring girl. At last, she successfully retrieved her father and took him with her, and started living in London, where she took good care of the Doctor who eventually started regaining his strength and practicing.
A Tale of Two Cities quotes:
Following are some famous quotes from the novel.
- “A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.”
- “Think now and then that there is a man who would give his life to keep a life you love beside you.”
- “A multitude of people and yet a solitude.”
- “Death may beget life, but oppression can beget nothing other than itself.”
- “Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule.”
- “Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death; – the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine!”
- “It is a far, far better thing than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Essay Structure on A Tale of Two Cities:
A tale of two cities sketches the French Revolution in historical fiction; it’s one of the most famous novels by Charles dickens. To write an essay on a tale of two cities, you need to read it first to get an idea of what the book is all about and what the author tries to tell people.
Once you read it, you can extract some ideas and wire your brain to start thinking in a particular direction. You select a topic, or if it is already there, you have a pretty idea of how to explain or discuss it in your essay. The essay structure of a tale of two cities has the same fundamentals. Let’s try to explore in the context of the book.
Introduction:
The introduction of tales of two cities starts with a brief about the book and what it is about; you can use a hook to get the readers’ attention and engage them. The next part of the introduction focuses on the topic or idea you want to discuss. Lastly, in the thesis statement, you concisely put your idea or topic and end the introduction.
Body Paragraph:
The body paragraphs are where you explain and discuss your topic in detail; for example, a tale of two cities explains the effects of the French Revolution on People’s life or Love and Compassion is all you need to survive or bring back your mental health after an atrocity. Here you can use different outside sources to explain your topic and use references to strengthen your argument.
Conclusion:
The conclusion has your final argument; you can start with your main topic or, as discussed in the thesis statement, present your final argument and ask for readers’ opinions to engage their thought process or give them something to think about.
Tips to Consider While Writing an essay about a Tale of Two Cities
If you are writing an essay on a tale of two cities, you can use the below tips to write an effective piece of paper. Consider these tips; they will help you understand essay writing and brings clarity to your thought process.
Read the book thoroughly:
The first fundamental thing to do when writing an essay on a tale of two cities you need to read the book. It gives you ideas, content, and reasoning to support your argument. You can also extract a topic from it and know all the details need to explain that particular topic or idea.
Find a Compelling Topic:
Finding a compelling topic is your next big task in essay writing; a compelling topic attracts attention, and readers are also compelled to read your essay; if a topic is already given to you, then it is a different story, but if you have the opportunity to pick it on your own then choose a one that grabs readers attention. For example, Charles Dickens’s perspective of the French Revolution or its Effects on Metal health during the French Revolution is a good topic.
Create the outline:
Once you choose your topic, the next task Is to outline your essay. An outline is your essay building block; you search for content related to your topic, add references, prioritize and rearrange it.
It makes organizing and adjusting the material in the right place easier. It also increases your focus and helps you with time management. It is better to plan first and then execute any task.
Write the thesis statement:
A thesis statement is the center point of your topic; you write it concisely. You explain your topic and what you will explain in the body paragraphs; it represents your main argument. Keep your thesis statement clear and relevant in a way that is easily understandable by the readers, and they get an idea of what you will explain in the essay.
Include a lesson or moral:
The readability and authenticity of your essay increase if you add a lesson or moral to the essay. It gives the audience something to think about and encourages readers to participate and share opinions. A tale of two cities has many lessons or morals that you can add to your essay. You can talk about mental health, how to retain it, relationship, and their values, love, and compassion to overcome all sorrows and hardships.
Conclusion: Proofread your work:
Your essay ends with the conclusion, where you briefly explain the results or final thoughts about your argument or topic. You can start the conclusion by re-quoting the thesis statement and present your findings after it, giving the reader something to think about while concluding your essay.
The last step in essay writing is proofreading your work after completing it. It allows you to remove or correct grammatical mistakes, review your essay, and give insight. If you miss any point, you can edit it according to your argument or essay topic.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What Is The Story Told Of The Two Cities About?
The tales of two cities is a story of a French doctor who faced imprisonment for 18 years without any trial in the Bastille in Paris. The Doctor suffered a lot mentally during these years and was rescued by his daughter Lucy who took him to London to live with her. The story also highlights the events that led to the French Revolution.
2. Is A Tale Of Two Cities Hard To Read?
No, it’s not hard to read the tale of two cities if you are an avid reader; however, if you are a first-timer or recently started reading, you may find it hard, but you can overcome it by reading it in a slow pace.
3. Is A Tale Of Two Cities A Love Story?
Although you can’t take it as a love story at the start but later, when you finish it, you will find it’s a love story. It’s through love and hopes that Dr. Manette can live a normal life.
4. Is A Tale Of Two Cities A Happy Ending?
It is more about optimism and hope than a happy ending. Besides the dark past and unforeseen fighting circumstances, Dr. Manette can only survive imprisonment and its mental effects by remaining optimistic and believing in hope.
