Heart of Darkness

What is the mood? Find words/phrases that enhance the mood. Marlow’s first words are “And this also has been one the dark places of the earth.” What does he mean? Why is the word ALSO so important? To what is Marlow compared and what does this comparison suggest?

How is the Congo river described and what does that suggest? Who is Fresleven and what happened to him? Why might Conrad include that anecdote? What is Marlow’s attitude toward that event and the story he is telling? Look for his diction for clues.

The Company’s offices suggest evil, mystery and even death. Evidence? When Marlow says, “I felt as though instead of going to the center of a continent I were about to set off for the center of the earth” what is being suggested? What is the point of the French man-o-war?

What does the Swedish captain intimate? THE OUTER STATION: Evidence of futility? Evidence of racism? Evidence of Marlow’s verbal irony again? Allusions to Hell?

THE GROVE OF DEATH: Impacting imagery? Racist?

Juxtaposition of the accountant to the grove of death – comments? Why does Marlow respect him? What is he meant to represent?

What do we learn of Kurtz?

The Central Station: What is the state of affairs there? Examples of futility? What are the Manager’s qualifications for running the Station? Point of the Brickmaker? Attitude toward ivory?

Part II In your groups, create a power point slide as if you were leading a discussion of your section of the reading Use my slides as a model, think about ideas from your reading log and what we’ve already discussed in class as well as any new ideas you noticed from the reading Be prepared to share and lead class through your ideas

Part III How was Kurtz able to become such a successful ivory “trader”? More evidence of the lawlessness in the Congo? What is the significance of the fence posts? Consider Marlow’s comments about restraint and the lines that follow.

Is Kurtz what Marlow expected? Evidence? Evidence of Kurtz being God-like to the natives? Re-read the description of Kurtz on the stretcher. What is revealed of his character? Key lines?

The native woman: her description, her role Diction, imagery

Has Kurtz gone mad? Evidence?

“And I remember I confounded the beat of the drum with the beating of my heart and was pleased with its calm regularity” – significance? “He had kicked himself loose of the earth” “The horror! The horror!” Ultimately, why does Marlow feel Kurtz was a remarkable man?

How is Kurtz’s Intended characterized? Why does Marlow give his lie? What has Marlow learned about himself due to his journey into the heart of darkness? Last paragraph of novel – back on the Thames – imagery? – meaning?