Dickens Pre-reading quiz Flashcards
(29 cards)
when was the book published
1859
what genre is the book
historical novel
what source was used to make the book
Carlyle’s - french revolution
where was the book originally published
Dicken’s own serial magazine - “All the year round”
Themes
resurrection, redemption, sacrifice, oppression, doubles, social injustice, revolution, fate/coincidence
Motifs
Shadows, imprisonment, footsteps, mobs
Book the first
during 1775, involves a trip between London and Paris (2 major cities)
Book the second
opens 5 years later (1780), ends at the beginning of the french revolution (1789-1791)
Book the third
opens in 1792, and contains the novel’s furious climax
What is Dover road
The mail route used to bring mail from Dover, England to London. People paid to ride the mail coach, it was unsafe due to robbers hiding in the shadows and attacking
When was Dickens born
1812
What systematic problems did 18th Century France have in the way it collected taxes?
They had a system with kings and nobles - this is called the Ancien Regime, The people with money (nobles and the clergy) never paid taxes, By 1789 France was in great debt , King Louis the 16th spent half of his national budget to the federal debt, France eventually declared bankruptcy
Other than bankruptcy, what other factors contributed to tensions in France?
Peasants were hungry, Intellectuals were starting to wonder whether God should save the King, nobles/higher power spent their time wondering about food and birds, unable to figure out financial reform
What radical move was carried out by the National Assembly on August 4th?
They abolished most of the Ancien Regime - feudal rights, tithes, privileges for nobles, and unequal taxation
What was the Women’s March and what fueled it?
There was a rumor that Marie Antoinette was hoarding grain somewhere in her palace so a group of women peasants came with weapons demanding that Marie and Louis move from Versailles to Paris - and they did
Why might the first phase of the French Revolution be considered not so revolutionary?
The National Assembly wanted to create a constitutional monarchy and believed that the King was necessary for a functioning state and was concerned that voters and officeholders should be men of property - only a small group of people actually called for the creation of a republic
Why did Louis XVI and the National Assembly decide to invade Austria? What was the result?
They invaded Austria because they wanted to steal Austria’s wealth and possibly grain as well to help the French’s food supplies. This resulted in Prussia joining Austria and fighting the French which lead to the Assembly voting to suspend the monarchy, hold elections where everyone can vote (if a man), and make a new republican constitution.
What time period of the revolution was marked by the death of Louis XVI and why is it significant?
The time period is called “The Terror” and it is important because it made people believe that if you kill the King, you can just about kill anyone.
If not revolutionary, what does John Green argue made the French Revolution so radical?
What made it so radical was its insistence on the universality of ideals. People believed that laws come from citizens, not kings or gods, AND that the laws should apply to everyone equally.
Who is the 1st estate, how do they deal with taxes, what percentage do they make up
Clergy (born into), they didn’t pay taxes - they make up 3% along with the 2nd estate
Who is the 2nd estate, how do they deal with taxes, what percentage do they make up
nobility + workers for the government + land owners, they didn’t have to pay most taxes - like the big ones like salt for example, they make up 3% along with the 1st estate
Who is the 3rd estate, how do they deal with taxes, what percentage do they make up
Everyone else - farmers, doctors, laborers, peasants, were heavily taxed, the first time around they were allowed to vote, but couldn’t outvote 1st and 2nd because they voted together to protect their interests.
What age was Dicken’s when he left school to work in a factory?
12 - it was because his father was poor and in debt so he went to a debtor’s prison
Background (childhood, parents, home life, schooling, etc.)
John Dickens was his father, People knew him as a child to have a “performance personality”, Father was transferred to the Chatham and Rochester area near London, The golden times of his childhood - still had a stable family and stable life
9 years old when he and his father found the nice house on the hill,1822 his father was transferred to London and their family went into dept
