Register today for this course to experience the thrill and the drama of the Reign of Terror in one of the most popular novels of all time. Students will follow the incomparable Charles Dickens into the complex and violent history of the French Revolution.
How to get the most out of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859) (Victorian Classics) with Eleanor Bourg Nicholson:
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First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.
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Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.
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Read assignments before class meetings
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Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.
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Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.
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Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.
Special notes: Optional writing component available.
Total classes: 6
Duration per class: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Reading Book the First (Chapters 1-8) before the first day of class.
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested High School Credit: ½ semester Victorian Literature or English
Instructor: Eleanor Bourg Nicholson
Instructor email: ebnicholson@protonmail.com
Course Description: Come and experience the thrill and the drama of the Reign of Terror in one of the most popular novels of all time. Follow the incomparable Charles Dickens as he delves into the complex and violent history of the French Revolution. We will explore the author’s passionate concern for the downtrodden poor, his disgust with the self-indulgent aristocracy, and his horror at the violence of the mob. We will interpret and study Dickens’ fascinating range of characters, and, through them, study the author’s deep articulation of humanity, violence, and salvation. In addition to cultivating artistic appreciation and a love of reading, this class facilitates the development of critical reasoning, the disciplined use of the imagination, and a strong knowledge of historical and literary context.
Course Outline:
Class one: Book the First, Chapters 1-6.
Class two: Book the Second, Chapters 1-8.
Class three: Book the Second, Chapters 9-16.
Class four: Book the Second, Chapters 17-24.
Class five: Book the Third, Chapters 1-8.
Class six: Book the Third, Chapters 9-15.
Course Materials: Recommended edition, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens (Ignatius Critical Edition), ISBN 978-1586174422. The novel is also available for free online via Project Gutenberg.
Homework: Approximately three hours of reading per week, one identification quiz per week, review quizzes every few weeks, and miscellaneous small assignments. A literary-critical writing project opportunity is available for extra credit.
- Teacher: Eleanor Nicholson