Heart of Darkness

By Joseph Conrad

Part I

...and after a time let his wooly head

fall on his breastbone (14 or 381)

Before we begin our discussion...

Read the opening passage from HOD again and answer the multiple choice questions
that follow.
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. A
8. D
9. D
10.D

LONDONTHE THAMES SETTING

With the person sitting behind you.
Passage I: Marlows Account of Early Explorers: In the text section
starting with Forthwith a change came over the waters to offer a
sacrifice to
Marlow recalls great British explorers, their ships, and their exploits.
Make two lists of the elements in the passage. One that lists the
positive side of exploration or benefit and the other that lists the
negative side of exploration or crimes.
Looking at the examples that you have listed from this passage, what
constitutes good exploration and what constitutes bad exploration.
Write each in a complete, clear sentence.

BRUSSELSPREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY

What are some of Marlows ideas and values? What is his background?
Look at the description of the map that Marlow studies as he
contemplates his journey. Why is the river like a snake? Why does
Marlow want to go to the Congo?
What is Marlows attitude toward women? Look at the references to his
aunt, for example.
Who is Fresleven?

BRUSSELSPREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY

Explain the comparison of Brussels to a whited sepulcher.
Marlow builds a series of images to describe the Company Office. Many
of these detail have traditional symbolic meanings. Think about the
meanings of the following, and if possible connect them to either the
Bible or classical mythology: two women knitting, the doctor who
prophesies madness, the deadly snake

THE JOURNEY: THE FIRST STAGE - COAST OF AFRICA

As Marlow journeys down the coast of Africa on the French steamer, he
is struck by the appearance of the coastline, the brightness of the sun,
the ridiculous shooting into the jungle of the warship, and the mixture of
death and trade. What feelings about Africa, about Europeans, and
about the job he is about to assume are aroused by these first
encounters of his journey?
What scenes of the journey reveal to Marlow the heartless exploitation
of the natives and the futility of the colonial system?

THE GROVE OF DEATH

With the person sitting to your right
Passage 2: Marlows Experience in the Grove of Death: Reread the
text section starting with At last I got under the trees to I made haste
towards the station.
Marlow provides detailed descriptions of the plight of these dying men;
however, rarely does he use words that underscore their humanity. Create
a catalog of the many ways Marlow describes the men. List images, diction,
and actions (both of the men and of Marlow).
Reflect on the reasons why a person might describe something so
unsettling in such impersonal terms. Write a brief paragraph explaining
whether or not Marlows descriptions of the Africans are reasonable given
his emotional state.

Part I
End

THE OUTER STATION

Describe what Marlow sees at the First Station. What is signified by the
abandoned machinery, the chaotic appearance, and the suffering of the
slaves?
Describe the Chief Accountant. Why does Marlow notice him? What
does he do? What does the accountant represent? Do you admire or
dislike him? Why?
What does Marlow learn about Kurtz?

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRAL STATION

Marlow emphasizes the motif of paths as he describes the land
journey to the Central Station. What is the symbolic significance? What
does Marlow say about death? (16-17/383)

THE CENTRAL STATION

Who is the flabby devil who is running the show? (17/384)
Marlow finds his steamer at the bottom of the river and a manager who
seems to take it for granted that nothing will be done efficiently. How
does Marlow react? How does he adjust? What does he mean when he
says there are no external checks?
What sort of character is the manager; how is he described? (18/384)
What is Marlows attitude toward the manager and toward the work of
the Central Station?
What do you make of the strange episode of the fire and the hole in the
bottom of the watering pail? What does this event contribute to
Marlows and the readers sense of European life in Africa?

FOCUS ON THE BRICKMAKER

Annotate the text focusing on what you learn about the Brickmaker and Kurtz.

KURTZS PAINTING
Look at the description of the oil
painting by Kurtz of the blindfolded
woman. Remember this image; it will
have important connections at other
points in the novel. What is the
meaning of Kurtzs painting?
What impression does the painting
give of Kurtz the painter?
What impression does the painting
give of the woman?

LONDON - THE THAMES SETTING

In the midst of the narrative, Marlow stops and speaks to his listeners:
Do you see him? Do you see the story? Do you see anything? It seems
to me I am trying to tell you a dream
What effect is created? What is the significance of the repetition of the
verb to see?
Marlow seems to call special attention to the particular episode that is
occurring, suggesting that it is important and especially difficult to
understand. What do you think he wants us to see?
What does Marlow tell us about lying?

THE CENTRAL STATION

Why are rivets important to Marlow?
Again, he talks about work: I dont like workbut I like what is in the
workthe chance to find yourself. Your own reality (25/390). What
does Marlow mean?
As the novel progresses, think about whether or not this is true for the
European invaders of Africa, for Marlow, for Kurtz.

ELDORADO EXPLORING EXPEDITION

What does Marlow say about the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? What
is the true nature of the expedition?
To what themes is the Eldorado Exploring Expedition connected?

Part 2

...and in its essence was purely

protective (middle of 39 or end of 1st
paragraph 402)

THE CENTRAL STATION

What does Marlow learn when he overhears the manager and his uncle?
What new image of Kurtz is suggested? Note the mixture of idealistic
beliefs and rumors.

LIFE ON THE RIVER

With the person sitting to your left
Passage 3 Marlows Feelings Going Up River: Going up the river was like traveling
back to the earliest beginnings of the world (30/394) to leaving hardly a sign - and
no memories (32/396).
Marlow gives some insight into the logistics of getting an unreliable steamer with an
unqualified crew up a dangerous river. Review the passage and identify the difficulties
of the trip. You may want to look for types of images, groups of similar words, physical
challenges, psychological burdens and/or any other elements.
How do these separate elements work together as a whole to convey meaning? What is
the elements effects on readers? How effective are they? What emotions do they help
create?

LIFE ON THE RIVER

What are we to think of the natives depicted in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow is very complimentary of the cannibals on board his ship. Why?
Think about the ways in which the Europeans Marlow has met have not
shown restraint.

Part 2
end

INVESTIGATE THE ATTACK

Marlows Company would like you to investigate the attack on his boat.
In groups, investigate the crime scene starting on pg. 40/403 I was looking down
at the sounding-pole to pg. 42/404 glaring at the wounded man.
One group member should interview Marlow
One group member should create a timeline (summary) of the plot events
One group member should recreate the scene with a drawing of that
demonstrates the layout and location of the scene.
One group member should interview other witnesses.
As a group, you will turn in each of these elements to create a file about the boat
attack.

LIFE ON THE RIVER

Why does Marlow react as he does to the murder of his helmsman? Why
does he throw away his shoes?
For what different reasons do the cannibal crewmen and the pilgrims
object to Marlows disposal of the dead helmsman?

THE INNER STATION - KURTZ

Consider the voices: the voice of Kurtz, of the first narrator, of the
Intended. What is the voice of civilization? What is its value? What do
these voices mean?
Marlow says that all of Europe is responsible for Kurtz. In what way is this
true?
What is the nature of Kurtzs report to the International Society for the
Suppression of Savage Customs? What is the contrast between the main
body of the report and its postscript?
What do we learn about Kurtzs methods of securing ivory and of his
relationship with the natives? Cite passages which indicate these things.
What is the bond Marlow feels for Kurtz? How is the theme of restraint
important here?

THE INNER STATION - THE RUSSIAN

Who is the harlequin? Describe him.
What is the young Russian sailors attitude toward Kurtz? What
information does he give Marlow about Kurtz?
How much credibility do you attach to the remarks of the Russian
harlequin? Explain.
(48/409)

Part 3

THE INNER STATION

What are the knobs Marlow describes?
What does the manager say about Kurtzs methods? Why does he say
this?
What details make up the scene in which Kurtz is carried on a stretcher
to the ship? (54/414)

THE INNER STATION - THE TRIBAL WOMAN

Passage 4 The Tribal Woman: Pg. 55/415 Dark human shapes could be made
to pg. 56/416 before she disappeared.
Identify and catalog the different techniques (imagery, diction, her actions, others
reactions to her) Conrad uses to depict the tribal woman. Discuss what associations
you make with the different elements and how she is characterized.
Analyze why Conrad characterized her the way he did, how she is characterized and
what this might say about her as a character and as a woman in a male filled
novella.

THE INNER STATION - KURTZ AND MARLOW

Passage 5 Kurtz and Marlow: Pg. 60/419 I came upon him... to pg. 61/420
not much heavier than a child.
In what ways does Marlow act differently on shore than on the steamer? In what
ways does he become like Kurtz? Marlow says that Kurtz had kicked himself loose
of the earth. What does this phrase represent? What is Kurtz free from or not
subject to?
Analyze the change that comes over Marlow on shore and how he becomes like
Kurtz. Be sure to use textual evidence to support your analysis.

RETURN DOWN RIVER

What different references does Marlow make to Kurtzs voice and why?
Examine Marlows feelings about Kurtz and the manager. What changes in attitude is
Marlow experiencing? How does he feel about each of these men by the time they
begin the journey back down the river and as that journey progresses?
What are the significance of Kurtzs last words? What do Kurtzs last words mean to
him? To Marlow? To you? What is the horror?
What is Marlows view of Kurtz at the end of this section? What has Marlow learned
from his journey? What darkness does he see in himself? (64/423) beginning with
However, as you see

BRUSSELS
After Marlows return to Brussels, what three people ask him about Kurtz? What is
the purpose of each?

BRUSSELS - THE INTENDED

Passage 6 The Intended: Pg. 69/427 You knew him well to pg. 71/429 your name.
Read the passage and analyze it for the Intendeds view of Kurtz and Marlow view
of Kurtz by looking at what they say.
Explain how the Intended viewed Kurtz compared to Marlow. What type of man did
she think Kurtz was? What type of man does Marlow think Kurtz was? Be sure to
use textual evidence to support your analysis.

BRUSSELS - THE INTENDED

Describe the Intended and her environment.
Contrast the Intended with the native woman on the docks. Are these negative or
positive portrayals of women?
Recall the painting by Kurtz and the description of the native woman mourning his
departure. What similarities do you see in colors and gestures? What differences are
there?
Why does Marlow lie to the Intended when he has said how much he hates lying?
Why not tell her the truth, or tell her that Kurtz had no last words, rather than
affirming her sentimental and mundane ideas?

LONDONTHE THAMES SETTING

How has Marlow been changed by his journey to Africa?
How does the last paragraph relate to the beginning of the story?

Body Biography

Trace a group members body outline on a sheet of paper and then cut the paper off of the roll.
Then, for either Kurtz or Marlow, carefully choose colors, graphics, and designs that represent
the character.
Place the following:
Heart: What represents the heart of the person and where should it be placed to identify what
the person loves most? What should it look like and what shape, color, pictures, or symbols
should be included?
Eyes: Where is this persons focus? What does this person see?
Backbone: What motivates this person the most? What gives them strength?
Hands: What does this person hold in their hands literal and figurative?
Feet: On what foundation is this person standing? What are their fundamental life beliefs?
The Background: What elements make up this persons environment/background?
Quotations: Quotes by or about this person that you feel represent them.
Virtues and Vices: Admirable and unadvisable qualities of this person.