ABSTRAKSI :
Novel is one of literary works, the story in novel has a purpose to give consolation, and provide life values lesson. It also constitutes an interesting story, this attraction will motivate people to read. Through the story, readers are indirectly capable of learning, experiencing, and comprehending variety of life problems offered. A Tale of Two Cities, a novel of written by Charles Dickens, the most popular novelist of the century that England has produced, was born at Landport in Portsea on Friday, February 7, 1812. This novel is colored with tale of the French Revolution and historical romance set between Paris and London. In this novel, we can find the most outstanding character namely Sydney Carton who is admired because of his courage to sacrifice himself for the sake other people. This novel is very interesting to discuss. Therefore, the writer tries to discuss it through literary research, by using qualitative method and structural approach and emphasis on the analysis of theme. In this research the writer found the problem, how far the self-sacrifice theme in a Tale of Two Cities. So that the writer wants to explore the self-sacrifice theme in A Tale of Two Cities as dominant theme in this story By doing this research, the writer has a conclusion that the major theme of a Tale of Two Cities is self-sacrifice which is best exemplified in the character of Sydney Carton whose willingness to give his own life for Lucie’s happiness and creates the means for Charles Darnay’s salvation A Tale of Two Cities is filled with romance, action, and violence. It is a story of the people of two countries struggling to rise out of poverty and cruelty. It is a story of friendship and family loyalty. It is also a story of heroic action. Its characters are driven by important human emotions: the need for friendship, love, and freedom. Through the story, characters’ attitude and behavior, the readers are expected to take wisdom from messages conveyed.