ICSE CHAMP

The Shoemaker

by Charles Dickens

(Mulberry) (Standard Version)

On the map given below, mark the cities of London and Paris.

Making Connections

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct number or name.

(a) The number in the name of the novel from which this story is taken.

Answer: Two

(b) The number that represents the year in which this story begins.

Answer: 1775

(c) The number of years Dr Manette was imprisoned.

Answer: Eighteen years

(d) The number Dr Manette was given in prison.

Answer: One Hundred and Five, North Tower

(e) The name of the two cities where the novel is set.

Answer: London and Paris

(f) The name of the bank where Mr Lorry worked.

Answer: Tellson's Bank

(g) The name of the person who kept Dr Manette immediately after he was released from prison.

Answer: Monsieur Defarge

(h) The name of a tool cobblers use.

Answer: Awl

(i) The name given to a small room at the top of a house.

Answer: Garret

Reference to Context

2. "You have a visitor, you see," said Monsieur Defarge.

(a) Who was Defarge speaking to?

Answer:

Defarge was speaking to Dr Alexandre Manette, the former prisoner who had become a shoemaker after spending eighteen years in the Bastille.

(b) Who was the visitor?

Answer:

The visitor was Mr Jarvis Lorry of Tellson's Bank. He had come with Lucie Manette, Dr Manette's daughter, whom her father had never seen since she was a little child.

(c) Why had the visitor come?

Answer:

Mr Lorry had come to meet Dr Manette and reunite him with his daughter, Lucie. He wanted to take Dr Manette away from Paris to England so that he could begin a peaceful and happy life with his daughter after his long imprisonment.

3. "Monsieur Manette," Mr Lorry continued, "do you remember nothing of this man? Look at him. Look at me. Is there no old banker, no old business, no old servant, no old time, rising in your mind, Monsieur Manette?"

(a) What question had Mr Lorry asked Monsieur Manette just before this?

Answer:

Just before this, Mr Lorry had asked,

"Monsieur Manette, do you remember nothing of me?"

He wanted to know whether Dr Manette could recognise him after so many years.

(b) What reaction did Mr Lorry hope to draw from Monsieur Manette?

Answer:

Mr Lorry hoped that Dr Manette would recognise him, remember Tellson's Bank and his past life, and recover some of his lost memories. He wanted to awaken the doctor's old identity and restore his confidence.

(c) How did Monsieur Manette react to the question Mr Lorry asked in the given lines?

Answer:

Dr Manette looked fixedly at Mr Lorry and Monsieur Defarge for a long time. Some forgotten memories seemed to return for a brief moment, but they quickly disappeared. He sighed deeply, picked up the shoe he was making, and silently resumed his work. This showed that years of imprisonment had severely affected his memory and mind.

4. "All that I may tell you, here and now, is, that your agony is over, and that I have come here to take you from it, and that we go to England to be at peace and at rest."

(a) Pick out the contrasting description given in these lines.

Answer:

The contrasting description is:

"your agony is over"

"to be at peace and at rest."

The contrast is between Dr Manette's painful life in prison and the peaceful life that awaited him in England.

(b) Who says these lines and to whom? What is the relationship between these two people?

Answer:

These lines are spoken by Lucie Manette to Dr Alexandre Manette.

They are daughter and father. Although they had been separated for many years because of Dr Manette's imprisonment, Lucie had come to take her father home and care for him with love and affection.

(c) Where were the speaker and the listener at this point in the story? Where did one of them wish to take the other and why?

Answer:

The speaker and the listener were in the small garret where Dr Manette lived with Monsieur Defarge in Paris after his release from prison.

Lucie wished to take her father to England because she wanted him to live peacefully, recover from the terrible effects of imprisonment, and begin a new life surrounded by love, care, and happiness.

Read, Reflect and Write

5. How do you think Lucie felt when she first saw her father? Do you think that was what she had expected to see?

Answer:

When Lucie first saw her father, she was overwhelmed with shock, sadness, sympathy and love. She had spent her whole life believing that her father was dead. When she finally learned that he was alive, she imagined meeting a healthy, respected doctor who would lovingly embrace her. Instead, she found a frail, old man sitting alone in a dark garret, making shoes like a poor cobbler. His white hair, weak body, vacant expression and faint voice showed the terrible effects of eighteen years of imprisonment.

Although the sight deeply saddened Lucie, she did not lose hope or turn away from him. She silently moved closer, sat beside him and treated him with great patience, kindness and affection. Her love gradually awakened his forgotten memories and gave him comfort. No, this was not at all what she had expected to see. However, instead of feeling disappointed, she became even more determined to care for him, restore his health and fill his life with happiness again.

6. What was the "hard, hard" history of Lucie's father?

Answer:

The "hard, hard" history of Lucie's father refers to the terrible suffering he had endured for many years. Dr Alexandre Manette was once a famous and respected doctor in Paris. He was honest and refused to support the cruel actions of two powerful French noblemen. As a result, they had him arrested without any trial and imprisoned in the Bastille.

Dr Manette spent eighteen long years in solitary confinement in the North Tower of the prison. During these years he lost his freedom, his family and almost his identity. To escape loneliness and despair, he taught himself shoemaking and spent his days making shoes. His prison number, "One Hundred and Five, North Tower," became so deeply fixed in his mind that he identified himself by this number instead of his own name.

When he was finally released, he was physically weak, mentally disturbed and unable to remember many people from his past. He spoke in a faint voice, answered questions slowly and preferred working as a shoemaker in a dark room. This painful and tragic life was the "hard, hard" history that Lucie referred to.

7. What part did Mr Lorry play in reuniting Lucie and her father?

Answer:

Mr Jarvis Lorry played a very important role in reuniting Lucie with her father. He was a trusted employee of Tellson's Bank and had been closely connected with the Manette family for many years. After learning that Dr Manette was alive, Mr Lorry informed Lucie of this surprising news and prepared her for the emotional meeting.

He accompanied Lucie from London to Paris and took her to the house of Monsieur Defarge, where Dr Manette had been living after his release from prison. Mr Lorry patiently tried to awaken Dr Manette's memory by reminding him of Tellson's Bank and the past. Although Dr Manette could not recognise him immediately, Mr Lorry did not lose hope.

He then allowed Lucie to meet her father. Their touching reunion gradually brought warmth and hope into Dr Manette's life. Mr Lorry also made arrangements to take both father and daughter safely to England so that Dr Manette could recover in a peaceful environment. Throughout the story, Mr Lorry acted as a loyal friend, guide, protector and well-wisher of the Manette family.

8. Give details from the story to show how the years in prison had had a terrible effect on Dr Manette.

Answer:

The story clearly shows that eighteen years of imprisonment had completely changed Dr Manette both physically and mentally.

Physically, he had become extremely weak and frail. His hair had turned completely white, his beard was long and untidy, and his face looked pale and worn. His clothes were old and shabby, and his body showed signs of severe suffering and neglect. His voice was so faint that it was compared to the weak echo of a sound made long ago.

Mentally, the effects were even more serious. He had lost much of his memory and failed to recognise old friends like Mr Lorry. He answered questions very slowly and often repeated the questions before replying, showing confusion and difficulty in understanding. He had become so accustomed to prison life that he preferred sitting in a dark room and even said he "must" bear the light. He believed himself to be a shoemaker rather than a doctor and spent all his time making shoes. Most painfully, he identified himself as "One Hundred and Five, North Tower," the prison number given to him in the Bastille. Even after his release, he remained mentally trapped by the horrors of imprisonment. These details show that the long years in prison had almost destroyed his body, memory and identity.

9. "His cold white head mingled with her radiant yellow hair, which warmed and lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him." Do you think these lines convey a sense of hope or despair? Give a reason to support your answer.

Answer:

These lines clearly convey a strong sense of hope rather than despair. Dr Manette's cold white hair symbolises the suffering, loneliness and hopelessness he experienced during his eighteen years in prison. On the other hand, Lucie's radiant golden hair symbolises love, warmth, happiness and a new beginning.

When Lucie lovingly embraces her father, it is as though her affection brings light into his dark and lonely life. The comparison with "the light of Freedom" suggests that Dr Manette is finally leaving behind the painful memories of imprisonment and entering a life filled with peace, care and family love.

The author uses this beautiful image to show that although Dr Manette has suffered greatly, there is still hope for his recovery. Lucie's love becomes the force that helps him regain his confidence, dignity and desire to live. Therefore, these lines represent hope, healing and the beginning of a brighter future.

10. Extended Writing: What are the duties that a child has towards his or her parents? Do you think Lucie fulfils these duties?

Answer:

Every child has certain duties towards his or her parents. Children should love, respect and obey their parents because parents make countless sacrifices for their happiness and well-being. They should always speak politely, behave respectfully and try to make their parents proud through good conduct and hard work. As parents grow older or face difficulties, children should care for them, support them emotionally and physically, and never neglect or abandon them. They should show gratitude for everything their parents have done for them and stand by them in times of sorrow as well as happiness.

Lucie Manette is an excellent example of an ideal daughter. Even though she had never known her father and had believed him to be dead, she immediately accepted him with love when she discovered that he was alive. She did not feel ashamed or frightened by his weak appearance and disturbed state of mind. Instead, she approached him gently, comforted him and treated him with great patience and affection.

Lucie promised to take her father away from the painful memories of prison and give him a peaceful life in England. Her loving words and caring behaviour slowly brought back hope and happiness into his life. She stood by him during his most difficult moments and became his greatest source of strength. Through her kindness, devotion and selfless love, Lucie fulfilled every duty that a child owes to a parent. She proved that true love, patience and care can heal even the deepest emotional wounds.

Integrate

11. The French Revolution was a period of time in France when the common people revolted against the injustice and cruelty of the nobility, overthrew the king, and took control of the government. The Revolution lasted from 1787 to 1799. Read up on the French Revolution. Find out the influence the motto of the revolution has had on the Constitution of India. In groups, draw up a set of six quiz questions on the revolution. Then hold a quiz in class, with each group asking their questions in turn.

Answer

(A) Influence of the Motto of the French Revolution on the Constitution of India

The motto of the French Revolution was Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. These three ideals greatly influenced the makers of the Indian Constitution and are included in the Preamble.

Liberty gives every citizen the freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.

Equality ensures that all citizens are equal before the law and are not discriminated against on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex or place of birth.

Fraternity promotes brotherhood, unity and dignity among all the people of India, helping to maintain national integration and harmony.

Thus, the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity form the foundation of India's democratic system and guarantee justice and equal opportunities to all citizens.

(B) Six Quiz Questions on the French Revolution

1. In which country did the French Revolution take place?

Answer: France.

2. In which year did the French Revolution begin?

Answer: 1789.

3. What was the famous motto of the French Revolution?

Answer: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

4. Which prison was attacked by the revolutionaries on 14 July 1789?

Answer: The Bastille.

5. Which king of France was overthrown during the French Revolution?

Answer: King Louis XVI.

6. Name one important document of India that reflects the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Answer: The Preamble to the Constitution of India.

WORD WALL

1. Lots of words that we commonly use when we speak English have come to us from French. Given below are just a few of them. Match the words and phrases to their meaning.

a. résumé → x. a document giving details of your education, skills and experience

b. bon voyage → iv. a greeting that says: have a good trip

c. sauté → vi. frying something quickly in a small amount of oil or butter

d. café → ii. a small restaurant selling light meals

e. en route → i. on the way

f. genre → iii. a style, type or category of music, art or literature

g. boutique → ix. a small shop selling clothes or accessories

h. chauffeur → v. a person employed to drive a car

i. depot → viii. a place where large quantities of goods are stored

j. silhouette → vii. a dark outline of someone or something seen against a brighter background

GRAMMAR TIME

Reported Speech

Read these sentences

1.

Direct Speech: "It is a young lady's walking-shoe," said the man.

Reported Speech:

The man said that it was a young lady's walking-shoe.

2.

Direct Speech: "You are not a shoemaker by trade?" said Mr Lorry.

Reported Speech:

Mr Lorry asked whether he was not a shoemaker by trade.

We use reported speech when we are speaking or writing about something that someone else has said.

We use said when we make simple reports about someone else's speech.

We use told + pronoun/noun when we want to name the person who was the audience of the speech being reported.

In some cases, we can choose to omit that in reported speech sentences.

For example:

► Peter said (that) he would be late.

► Peter told me that he would be late.

Read these tables for a quick revision of the main changes needed for reported speech.

Main Changes in Reported Speech

Tense Changes

Present Simple → Past Simple

He said, "I am sleepy."

→ He said that he was sleepy.

Present Continuous → Past Continuous

He said, "I am playing chess with Benjy."

→ He said that he was playing chess with Benjy.

Present Perfect → Past Perfect

He said, "I have finished my homework."

→ He said that he had finished his homework.

Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous

She said, "I have been reading to Mrs Grey for quite a few years."

→ She said that she had been reading to Mrs Grey for quite a few years.

Question Form

She said, "Who are you?"

→ She asked me who I was.

Simple Past → Past Perfect

She said, "I read the book in a single night."

→ She said that she had read the book in a single night.

Imperative → Infinitive

She said, "Don't go in there, please."

→ She asked me not to go in there.

Changes in Modals

can → could

may → might

must → had to / must

have to → had to

Changes in Time Words

today → that day

now → then

tonight → that night

last... → the ... before

yesterday → the day before

...ago → ...before

tomorrow → the next day

here → there

this → that

these → those

1. A traffic jam on the road caused a lot of delays and heated arguments. Report what was said by those who suffered the delay using the correct reported speech forms of the expressions given within the brackets.

(a) The driver of the stationary bus standing at the crossroads said that ________. ('I am sorry'.)

Answer:

The driver of the stationary bus standing at the crossroads said that he was sorry.

(b) The traffic policeman near the signal said that ________. ('I am confused and harassed.')

Answer:

The traffic policeman near the signal said that he was confused and harassed.

(c) The conductor of the bus, standing 500 metres behind the queue of buses, said that ________. ('I don't know the cause of the traffic jam.')

Answer:

The conductor of the bus, standing 500 metres behind the queue of buses, said that he did not know the cause of the traffic jam.

(d) The anxious student said ________. ('I am worried I'll miss my exam.')

Answer:

The anxious student said that he was worried that he would miss his examination.

(e) The old man said ________. ('I feel suffocated. I want to get out of this jam.')

Answer:

The old man said that he felt suffocated and wanted to get out of the traffic jam.

(f) The autorickshaw driver said ________. ('There was a similar traffic jam last Friday too.')

Answer:

The autorickshaw driver said that there had been a similar traffic jam the previous Friday too.

Reporting verbs

To write reported speech more effectively, we use a variety of reporting verbs to describe the expression and intention of the speaker.

For example:

► The stationmaster told me that the train was late.

The stationmaster informed me that the train was late.

► The teacher told us that the revolution of the Earth causes the seasons.

The teacher explained that the revolution of the Earth causes the seasons.

2. Choose suitable reporting verbs from the box to fill in the blanks.

Words given:

announced

reminded

invited

offered

encouraged

admitted

(a) He ________________________ that he had made a mistake.

Answer: He admitted that he had made a mistake.

(b) My sister ________________________ me that I had an early class.

Answer: My sister reminded me that I had an early class.

(c) My grandmother ________________________ me to do better the next time.

Answer: My grandmother encouraged me to do better the next time.

(d) The school captain ________________________ that the match was cancelled.

Answer: The school captain announced that the match was cancelled.

(e) The interviewer ________________________ the candidate to sit down.

Answer: The interviewer invited the candidate to sit down.

(f) John ________________________ to help us with the project.

Answer: John offered to help us with the project.

SPELLING

Spotting errors

1. Read this short passage and spot six misspelt words and correct them. Some words have been repeated.

Passage:

The form of government varies from one country to another. While many countries practice democacy, several others still have a monerchy. The French Revolution did away with absolut monerchy in France. India became a sacular democacy in 1947.

Answer

Misspelt Words → Correct Words

democacy → democracy

monerchy → monarchy

absolut → absolute

monerchy → monarchy

sacular → secular

democacy → democracy

WRITE WELL

Making a poster

Everyone has their rights, including children. In fact, children have special rights. The World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children says: "There can be no task nobler than giving every child a better future."

1. On the occasion of Children's Day, you and your team of schoolmates have been invited to address a gathering of parents, teachers and other professionals in your community. Design a poster and write the transcript of the speech that you would give.

For your reference, here are a few points from the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

All organisations concerned with children, for example, schools and the health service, should work towards what is best for each child.

All children should be protected from violence, abuse and neglect, by the government.

Children should not be allowed to do work that is dangerous or might make them ill, or stops them from going to school.

No child should be punished in a way that humiliates or hurts them.

All children have the right to an education.

All children have the right to relax and play, and to join a wide range of activities.

All children have the right to a decent standard of living.

Solution

Poster

CHILDREN'S DAY

EVERY CHILD HAS RIGHTS!

Let Us Protect Every Child

📚 Every child has the right to education.

❤️ Protect children from violence, abuse and neglect.

🚫 Say NO to child labour.

⚽ Every child has the right to play and relax.

🏠 Every child deserves a safe home and a decent standard of living.

🤝 Respect every child's dignity and dreams.

Children are the future of our nation.

Let's work together for a happier childhood!

Transcript of the Speech

Respected Principal, teachers, parents, honoured guests and my dear friends,

A very good morning to everyone.

Today, on the occasion of Children's Day, I feel honoured to speak about the rights of every child. Children are the future of our country, and it is our duty to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, healthy and loving environment.

Every child has the right to education, healthcare, protection and a decent standard of living. No child should be forced to work in dangerous places or be deprived of school. Every child should be protected from violence, abuse and neglect. They should be treated with kindness, love and respect.

Children also have the right to play, relax and take part in activities that help them learn and grow. Schools, parents, governments and society must work together to ensure that these rights are protected.

Let us all promise to create a world where every child is happy, safe and respected. By protecting children's rights today, we build a brighter tomorrow.

Thank you. Have a wonderful Children's Day!

LISTEN AND SPEAK WELL

1. The motto of the French Revolution was Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Listen to a story about Rosa Parks who stood up for these universal values and then tick the correct answers in the exercise given below.

(a) Rosa Parks was born

i. Rosa Louise McCaule

ii. Rosa Lisa McCaule

iii. Rose Louise McCaule ✓

(b) By profession Rosa Parks worked as

i. a teacher at a school

ii. a seamstress at a department store ✓

iii. a conductor at a bus depot

(c) When bus driver James F. Blake ordered Rosa to give up her seat, Rosa

i. refused to obey ✓

ii. shifted to another seat

iii. quietly obeyed

(d) Rosa Parks' defiance became a beacon for those fighting for

i. foreign rule

ii. civil rights ✓

iii. segregation

(e) The Montgomery Bus Boycott was led by

i. Martin Luther King Senior

ii. Martin Luther King Junior ✓

iii. Martin Luther King Senior and Junior

(f) Rosa Parks later said that she refused to give up her seat that day because

i. She was physically tired after a long day of work.

ii. She was rebellious by nature.

iii. She was tired of giving in. ✓

2. Work in pairs or small groups and talk about the advertisements that you see every day. Discuss the cultural biases that many of them propagate. Often, these biases lead to unjust discrimination against certain groups of people. Suggest changes to do away with the biases in the advertisements.

You could talk about one of the following:

advertisements for cosmetics

advertisements for household goods

advertisements for vehicles

Model Answer

Advertisements for Cosmetics

Many cosmetic advertisements promote the idea that only fair skin is beautiful and successful. This creates unfair discrimination against people with darker skin tones and lowers their confidence. Advertisements should instead show that beauty comes in all skin colours and that confidence, kindness and talent are more important than appearance. Companies should feature people of different skin tones, ages and backgrounds and avoid making false promises about changing one's natural complexion. Such advertisements will promote equality, self-confidence and respect for everyone.

Advertisements for Household Goods

Many advertisements for household goods show only women doing cooking, cleaning and other household chores. This creates the false impression that household work is only a woman's responsibility. Advertisements should show men and women sharing household duties equally. They should encourage teamwork and mutual respect within families instead of reinforcing gender stereotypes.

Advertisements for Vehicles

Vehicle advertisements often show only men as drivers, while women are shown only as passengers. This promotes gender bias and suggests that driving is mainly a man's job. Advertisements should feature both men and women driving confidently and responsibly. They should also include people from different age groups and backgrounds to promote equality and inclusiveness.

About the Author

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was one of the greatest English novelists of the Victorian Age. He was born in Portsmouth, England. As a young boy, Dickens had to work in a blacking factory because of his family's financial difficulties. These early experiences made him aware of the hardships faced by poor and working-class people.

Dickens used his novels to expose social injustice, poverty and the miserable condition of children during his time. His stories are known for their memorable characters, emotional depth, humour and powerful messages about kindness, justice and humanity.

His famous works include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Bleak House, Hard Times, and Nicholas Nickleby. His novel A Tale of Two Cities, from which The Shoemaker is adapted, is set during the French Revolution and is one of the best-selling novels of all time.

Charles Dickens died in 1870, but his works continue to be widely read and admired throughout the world. His writings remain important because they combine engaging storytelling with a strong concern for social reform and human compassion.