“When the dragon awoke, new woe was kindled.
O’er the stone he snuffed. The stark-heart found
footprint of foe who so far had gone
in his hidden craft by the creature’s head. --
So may the undoomed easily flee
evils and exile, if only he gain
the grace of The Wielder! -- That warden of gold
o’er the ground went seeking, greedy to find
the man who wrought him such wrong in sleep.
Savage and burning, the barrow he circled
all without; nor was any there,
none in the waste.... Yet war he desired,
was eager for battle. The barrow he entered,
sought the cup, and discovered soon
that some one of mortals had searched his treasure,
his lordly gold. The guardian waited
ill-enduring till evening came;
boiling with wrath was the barrow’s keeper,
and fain with flame the foe to pay
for the dear cup’s loss.”
Excerpt from Beowulf
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Carton concludes the reading assignment expressing his hate for Charles Darnay. Darnay looks very similar to Carton, so when Carton is looking at Darnay he sees what the successful version of himself could look like.
Perhaps he sees himself intellectually similar to Darnay and but for different circumstances their positions might be reversed. Carton has ability and opportunity, but the destructive patterns he has formed have shaped his life.
Does Carton recognize the vices that are undermining his potential? If so what must happen before he can begin to overcome them?
What does his situation teach us about the difference between recognizing our potential and fulfilling it?
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816)
Playwright, writer, politician
In 1780, while Sydney Carton was fictionalized as a disillusioned young lawyer struggling with his wasted potential, another young man was making a name for himself in London.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan was only 29 years old, but had already established himself as one of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights.
His plays The Rivals (1775), The School for Scandal (1777), and The Critic (1779) demonstrated extraordinary wit, intelligence, and an understanding of human nature. He was also involved in managing London’s prestigious Drury Lane Theatre. In 1780, he was elected to Parliament, where he would eventually become renowned for his public speaking.
Yet Sheridan’s remarkable abilities did not protect him from his own weaknesses.
He enjoyed drinking, fashionable society, and an extravagant lifestyle. His spending habits, mounting debts, and financial difficulties would follow him throughout much of his life, eventually ...
