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Carton's Sacrifice, A Tale of Two Cities | ICSE 8

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English LiteratureICSE Class 8 · A Tale of Two Cities

Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection (A Tale of Two Cities, ICSE Class 8)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859), Sydney Carton is a brilliant but idle and unhappy lawyer who saves Charles Darnay in London by their likeness and later takes his place at the guillotine in Paris. His sacrifice redeems a life he thought worthless and ties the theme of resurrection (recalled to life) to the power of love.

Follow the arrows: Carton's love for Lucie leads him to die in Darnay's place, and that sacrifice gives his own life meaning.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection

Status. The novel is on the Suggested Reading List for Class VIII; it is recommended, not prescribed. Charles Dickens published it in 1859, in weekly parts. It is set between London and Paris around the French Revolution of 1789.

Who Carton is. A brilliant but idle lawyer, unhappy and given to drink. In Book the Second he saves Charles Darnay at a London trial by pointing out how alike the two men look, so that a witness's identification is worthless. He loves Lucie Manette, who marries Darnay, and tells her he would give his life to keep a life she loves beside her.

The sacrifice. In Book the Third, which opens in 1792, Darnay goes to Paris and is arrested; at the end of 1793 he is condemned to the guillotine. Carton uses their likeness and the help of the spy Barsad to enter the prison, drug Darnay, change clothes with him and have him carried out. Carton takes his place and goes calmly to the guillotine, comforting a young seamstress, at peace for the first time in his life. The family escapes from France.

Resurrection. Book the First is called Recalled to Life: Doctor Manette is brought back from eighteen years in prison. Darnay is spared from death more than once, and Carton is spiritually recalled to life by his sacrifice. A man who believed his life worthless redeems it through love.

Other themes. Revolution, injustice and revenge (the cruelty of nobles causes the Revolution, but revenge becomes a new tyranny); the power of love (Lucie, the golden thread, restores her father); imprisonment and freedom (the Bastille, Manette's broken mind, Carton's wasted life).

Short quotations printed on the chapter page. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"; "a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you" (Carton). Use only short phrases like these.

Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection: key facts

Carton before and after
  • Brilliant but idle
  • Unhappy and drinks
  • Saves Darnay by likeness
  • Dies in his place
  • At peace
Change from waste to sacrifice.
Three books
  • Recalled to Life
  • The Golden Thread
  • The Track of a Storm
Dates: 1775, 1780 and 1789, 1792.
Themes
  • Sacrifice and redemption
  • Resurrection
  • Revolution and revenge
  • Love
  • Imprisonment and freedom
Carton links sacrifice, love and resurrection.

How to answer Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection questions

Use this for a character or theme answer.

  1. 1Name the character and the book; state one trait before and one after.
  2. 2Give two key events as evidence: the London trial and the prison exchange.
  3. 3Name the theme and link it to the events.
  4. 4End with the effect on Lucie, Darnay or the reader.
  5. 5Use short quotations only.

Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Choosing to take the blame

Suppose a hypothetical pupil who has often been careless takes the blame for a classmate's broken window so that the classmate, who is about to take an exam, is not punished.

How is this like Carton's sacrifice, and how is it different?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Like: one person takes a loss so another may go free.
  2. Like: it comes from care, not duty.
  3. Different: the pupil risks a punishment, Carton risks his life.

Answer: Both are selfless acts that change how the giver is seen, but Carton's sacrifice is far greater because it costs his life.

Memory hook: Love can turn waste into worth.

Tricks to remember Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Likeness is the key

    Their likeness saves Darnay twice.

    Use it when: Carton's role in both books.

  • RCL

    Recalled to Life: Manette, Darnay, Carton.

    Use it when: Theme of resurrection.

Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: How does Carton first save Darnay? · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

How does Sydney Carton save Charles Darnay at the London trial?
(a) He bribes the judge (b) He points out their likeness (c) He escapes with him (d) He lies about the date

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A witness identified Darnay.
  2. Carton shows how alike they look.

Answer: (b) He points out their likeness.

Example 2: Who is Carton at the start? · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Describe Sydney Carton as he first appears. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Brilliant but idle (1).
  2. Unhappy and given to drink (1).

Answer: Carton is a brilliant but idle lawyer, unhappy with his life and given to drink.

Example 3: The prison exchange · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain how Carton makes Darnay's escape possible. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Uses likeness (1).
  2. Help from Barsad (1).
  3. Drugs Darnay and changes clothes (1).
  4. Darnay is carried out and the family escapes (1).

Answer: Carton uses his likeness to Darnay and the help of the spy Barsad to enter the prison. He drugs Darnay, exchanges clothes with him and has him carried out, so Darnay and his family escape from France while Carton takes his place.

Example 4: Theme of resurrection · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Show how the idea of being "recalled to life" appears for Manette and for Carton. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Manette is freed from eighteen years in prison (1).
  2. Lucie's love slowly revives him (1).
  3. Carton is spiritually revived (1).
  4. His sacrifice gives his life meaning (1).

Answer: Manette is literally recalled to life when he is released from eighteen years in the Bastille and Lucie's love restores his mind. Carton is recalled to life spiritually: a man who thought his life worthless gives it meaning by dying for Darnay.

Example 5: Was Carton right? · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Some readers think Carton's death is a waste of a brilliant man. Do you agree? Give two reasons. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A clear view (1).
  2. Reason 1 from the story (1).
  3. Reason 2 from the story (1).
  4. Acknowledge the other side (1).

Answer: I do not agree that it is a waste. First, his death saves Darnay, and with him Lucie and their family. Second, it gives Carton the peace and purpose that his idle life lacked. Yet some may feel sorrow that he died young, which shows how costly the sacrifice is.

Where students lose marks in Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Calling Carton the villain

    He is the hero by the end.

    Wrong working

    Carton is idle so he is the antagonist.

    Right working

    Carton is flawed but redeems himself.

    Do this: Show change.

    Usually costs: 2 marks

  • Mistake: Mixing up Darnay and Carton

    They look alike but are different.

    Wrong working

    Carton is the nephew of the Marquis.

    Right working

    Darnay is the nephew of the Marquis.

    Do this: Learn the two names.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Retelling instead of explaining

    Theme questions want the idea.

    Wrong working

    Only listing events.

    Right working

    Event plus theme.

    Do this: Link events to ideas.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks

Exam tips

  • Use short quotations only.
  • State the book and year for events.
  • Link every event to a theme.
  • Mention Lucie in answers on love.

Practice questions on Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Who is the "golden thread" in the novel?
    (a) Madame Defarge (b) Lucie Manette (c) Miss Pross (d) Jarvis Lorry

    Hint

    She restores her father and holds her family together.

    Answer

    (b) Lucie Manette.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Name the three books of the novel. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Recalled, Golden, Storm.

    Answer

    Book the First: Recalled to Life; Book the Second: The Golden Thread; Book the Third: The Track of a Storm.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why does Carton love Lucie, and how does she change him? (3 marks)

    Hint

    Think of what he says to her.

    Answer

    Carton loves Lucie though she marries Darnay. Her goodness makes him feel that his life could have been worthwhile, and he tells her that he would give his life to keep a life she loves beside her.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    How does Dickens show that revenge can become cruelty, using Madame Defarge? (4 marks)

    Hint

    Knitting and her end.

    Answer

    Madame Defarge knits the names of those marked for revenge and pursues the Evrémondes and Lucie. Her revenge falls on the innocent as well as the guilty, so the Revolution becomes a new tyranny. She is killed in a struggle with the loyal Miss Pross.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Compare Darnay and Carton as men who each "give up" something. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Name and wealth versus life.

    Answer

    Darnay gives up his family name and wealth in disgust at the nobles' cruelty and returns to Paris to help Gabelle. Carton gives up his life itself. Darnay's sacrifice is moral and costly, Carton's is final, and together they show goodness acting against injustice.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Who wrote A Tale of Two Cities?Show answer

    Charles Dickens.

  2. 2.What year was it published?Show answer

    1859.

  3. 3.Who is Darnay's uncle?Show answer

    The Marquis St. Evrémonde.

  4. 4.Who kills Madame Defarge?Show answer

    Miss Pross, in a struggle.

  5. 5.Which cities are in the title?Show answer

    London and Paris.

  6. 6.Is it prescribed by CISCE for Class 8?Show answer

    No, it is suggested reading.

Sydney Carton's Sacrifice and the Theme of Resurrection: frequently asked questions

Is this novel compulsory?

No, it is suggested reading; your school decides.

Which edition should I read?

Use the edition your school chooses.

How many words may I quote?

Only short phrases.