1. The Heart of Darkness A novella study

2. Konrad Korzeniowski

9. Section 1 Discussion Points Fresleven = Conflict A framing story – the narrator, Marlow, Conrad England v. Africa (page 10) The map The images of death (page 14, 17, 20, 22, 23) The images of evil/darkness (page 10, 14, 16, 19, 29, 30, ) The images of morality/religion (page 23, 26, 29, 33)

10. Section 1 Discussion Points Why work for Belgium? Efficiency/leadership of the Company Specific characters Natives Women “In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulchre” (13). Is Marlow’s (or Conrad’s) opinion regarding colonialism clear? The picture Kurtz painted

11. Christopher Booker’s 7 Plots Overcoming the monster Rags to riches Quest Voyage and return Comedy Tragedy Rebirth

12. Section 2 Juxtaposition of ideas – pilgrims are savages, cannibals are polite Fog – literal and metaphorical Conversation The Kurtz manuscript Criminal report of the attack project – diagram, witness statements, timeline

13. Discussion Questions General concerns – the big words, the time period of the setting, the lack of action Marlow’s hypocritical tendencies The role/characterization of the narrator The role/characterization of Kurtz

14. 20 Minute Quick Write Keeping in mind the picture in section 1, the manuscript in section 2 and the ultimate behavior in section 3, how does the evolution of Kurtz demonstrate the meaning of the work as a whole?

15. Section 3 20 minute results Marlow’s “scientific” detached evaluation of heads on sticks Marlow’s conclusions regarding Kurtz’s behavior “Shamefully abandoned” God? Bronze age of man Woman “Oh the horror, the horror—” The lie to the intended

16. Voyage and Return Going to the other world Initial fascination (Kurtz) Frustration stage (fog and death) Nightmare stage (heads on sticks) Thrilling escape and return (for some)

17. Three Act Plot Act I – main character drawn completely into conflict Act II – farthest away from goals Act III – story resolved

18. Thematic Concerns Hypocrisy Ambiguity Moral confusion Obsession Ambition Darkness Madness Create a theme statement

19. Levels of Understanding Story of Exploitation Travelogue Adventure Story Epic Journey Study in Race Relations Journey to Self Knowledge

20. Chinua Achebe The book is “offensive and deplorable” that “set(s) Africa up as a foil to Europe, as a place of negations at once remote and vaguely familiar, in comparison with which Europe’s own state of spiritual grace will be manifest.” Does he have his yams in a wad over nothing or is there something there? Africa is to Europe as the picture is to Dorian Gray

21. “The Mark of the Beast” “For pure horror, this tale is, perhaps, unmatched in English literature.”—Knowles “…this story may be curious, but it is also loathsome, and shows Mr. Kipling at his very worst.”—Spectator “…As a tale of sheer terror (this story) could not be easily surpassed.”—Pall Mall Gazette Literary 3 x 3 Three, three word sentences that more than summarize the work. Move beyond plot, to state and analyze the essence of a work you have read.

22. Literary 3 x 3 Complete sentences Effective word order Strong words Cannot use proper nouns/names Repeated words “to be” verbs Pronouns Cliches A, an, the

23. Literary 3 x 3 “A Jury of Her Peers” Apathy strangles devotion. Tidiness uncovers truth. Sympathy chokes justice Unpredicted fate evolves. Curiosity unearths reality. Empathy conceals truth. Guilt consumes women. Curiosity unveils evidence. Lost heart’s saved.

24. “The Mark of the Beast” It’s an allegory Even the “mark” is two levels Biblical references: Revelation 13:2; Leviticus 13:12-13; Exodus 4:6 “Take your friend away. He has done with Hanuman, but Hanuman has not done with him.” “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” - Hamlet (1.5.166-7), Hamlet to Horatio

25. The Hollow Men Heart of Darkness Julius Caesar The Divine Comedy Gunpowder Plot Biblical/mythological Find the allusions

26. Critical Interpretations Robert LaBrasca and Ian Watt – Dante Parallels/Aenied parallels

28. Critical Interpretations Marxist interpretation Stewart – psychological interpretation id, ego, superego What does the title mean?