Slide 1

Sydney Carton: A Tale of Two Cities Chapter 4

Slide 2
Characters Introduced
• Charles Darnay: The man who was on trial
• Dr. Manette: A former prisoner, now recovered
• Lucie Manette: Dr. Manette's daughter
• Mr. Lorry: A friend of the Manettes
• Mr. Stryver: Darnay's lawyer
• Sydney Carton: A lawyer working for Mr. Stryver
Slide 3
The Trial's Aftermath
• Darnay is found not guilty
• His friends meet him outside the court
• Dr. Manette seems recovered from his prison experience
• Lucie has the power to help her father when he remembers his past
• Darnay thanks Mr. Stryver for saving his life and honor
Slide 4
Strange Reactions
• Dr. Manette looks at Darnay with dislike and fear
• Sydney Carton invites Darnay for a drink
• Carton reveals his negative view of the world
• Carton asks Darnay if he thinks Carton likes him
• Darnay and Carton part ways, but not as friends
Slide 5
Sydney Carton's Self-Reflection
• Carton looks at himself in the mirror
• He sees a man with:
• Great mental powers
• A good heart
• Unused potential
• Carton feels angry at Darnay because:
• They look alike
• Darnay seems more successful
• Carton is jealous of Darnay's connection to Lucie
Slide 6
Carton and Stryver's Work
• Carton goes to Stryver's rooms to help with legal work
• Carton does the actual work while Stryver watches
• They drink wine while working
• Stryver praises Carton's work on the case
• Carton admits he's always been good at helping others
Slide 7
Carton's Past and Present
• Carton and Stryver were schoolmates
• Even in school, Carton did work for others
• Carton describes himself as having "bad luck"
• Stryver is successful, while Carton is not
• Carton says he was "always nowhere" while Stryver was "always somewhere"
Slide 8
Discussion of Lucie Manette
• Stryver calls Lucie pretty
• Carton disagrees, saying she's not pretty
• Stryver thought Carton was attracted to Lucie
• Carton denies this and leaves
Slide 9
Carton's Inner Struggle
• Carton goes home to his messy room
• He's described as:
• A good man
• A clever man
• Unable to make anything of himself
• Unable to find peace
• His bed sheets are wet from "wasted tears"
Slide 10
Themes and Questions
• Wasted potential: How can someone with talent fail to succeed?
• Jealousy: How does Carton's jealousy of Darnay affect him?
• Self-destruction: Why does Carton seem to sabotage himself?
• Appearances vs. Reality: How do characters hide their true feelings?
• Hope and Despair: How do different characters view their futures?
Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay: An Assessment
1. Who met Charles Darnay outside the court?
a. Dr. Manette and Lucie Manette
b. Mr. Lorry and Mr. Stryver
c. Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver
d. All of the above
2. What was difficult to recognize about Dr. Manette?
a. His cheerful appearance
b. His time in prison
c. His shoemaking skills
d. His relationship with his daughter
3. How did Charles Darnay feel after the trial?
a. Confused but relieved
b. Angry and upset
c. Indifferent
d. Overjoyed
4. What was Sydney Carton's attitude towards the world?
a. Optimistic and hopeful
b. Indifferent and careless
c. Pessimistic and resigned
d. Enthusiastic and energetic
5. Why did Sydney Carton feel hatred towards Charles Darnay?
a. Because Darnay was more successful
b. Because Darnay was similar to him in appearance
c. Because of Lucie Manette
d. Because of Darnay's wealth
6. What did Carton and Stryver frequently use while working?
a. Tea
b. Coffee
c. Water
d. Wine
7. How did Carton feel about his own life?
a. Content and satisfied
b. Frustrated and regretful
c. Proud and accomplished
d. Excited and adventurous
8. What did Mr. Stryver think of Sydney Carton’s performance in the
courtroom?
a. Disappointing
b. Excellent
c. Average
d. Terrible
9. How did Carton feel about the admiration for Lucie in court?
a. He agreed with it
b. He was surprised by it
c. He was indifferent to it
d. He dismissed it
10. What was a recurring problem in Carton’s life, according to his reflection?
a. Lack of friends
b. Unused potential
c. Poor health
d. Financial struggles
Answer Key (Always review AI generated answers for accuracy - Math is more
likely to be inaccurate)
1. d
2. c
3. a
4. c
5. c
6. d
7. b
8. b
9. d
10.b
Sydney Carton: A Character Study
Read the passage below to understand the character of Sydney Carton from "A
Tale of Two Cities."
Sydney Carton is a complex character who experiences a range of emotions
throughout Chapter 4. After a challenging court case involving Charles Darnay,
Carton finds himself reflecting on his life and his relationship with the people
around him. Sydney Carton works for Mr. Stryver and is known for his
intelligence, but he often struggles with feelings of inadequacy and failure. Despite
his talents, he feels disconnected from the world and often turns to alcohol to cope
with his emotions. His interactions with Charles Darnay and his observations of
Lucie Manette reveal a man who is both envious and self-reflective, wrestling with
his own shortcomings.
Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the correct words.
1. Mr. Carton worked for Mr. __.
2. After the court case, Mr. Darnay and Mr. Carton went to drink __.
3. Sydney Carton felt that the world had no __ in it for him.
4. Carton was envious of Darnay because he was __ him in appearance.
5. Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver prepared __ together for the next day's cases.
Word bank: papers, wine, Stryver, good, like
Multiple Choice Questions: Choose the correct answer from the choices for each
question.
1. Who did Mr. Darnay thank after the trial?
o A) Dr. Manette
o B) Mr. Lorry
o C) Mr. Stryver
 2. What expression did Dr. Manette have when he looked at Darnay?
o A) Happiness
o B) Dislike and fear
o C) Surprise
3. How did Mr. Carton feel about belonging to the world?
o A) Happy
o B) Confused
o C) Indifferent
4. What did Mr. Carton see when he looked in the mirror?
o A) A successful man
o B) A man with great powers of mind but unused
o C) A tired man
5. Why did Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver drink heavily?
o A) To celebrate
o B) It was common for most men in those days
o C) To forget their problems
Open Ended Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. Describe Sydney Carton's feelings towards Charles Darnay.
2. How does Lucie Manette influence Dr. Manette's mood?
3. Why does Sydney Carton feel disconnected from the world?
Answer Key:
Fill in the Blank:
1. Stryver
2. wine
3. good
4. like
5. papers
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. C) Mr. Stryver
2. B) Dislike and fear
3. C) Indifferent
4. B) A man with great powers of mind but unused
5. B) It was common for most men in those days
Open Ended Questions:
1. Sydney Carton feels envious of Charles Darnay because Darnay is similar in
appearance but seems more successful and admired, especially by Lucie
Manette.
2. Lucie Manette has a calming effect on Dr. Manette, helping to lift the "black
cloud" of his past when memories of his time in prison trouble him.
3. Sydney Carton feels disconnected from the world because he believes he has
not lived up to his potential and struggles with feelings of inadequacy and
failure.