contemporary classics study...

Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad

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Contemporary Classics Study Questions

1. Who is the narrator? Under what circumstances did he hear the story he tells?

2. Contrast the narrator's view of the empire-building English with Marlow's view ofthe Romans.

3. Describe how the map of Africa changes during Marlow's lifetime. What does thischange foreshadow? .

4. How does Marlow secure a position with the trading company? Is this methodcharacteristic of him? Explain.

5. How did the position that Marlow takes become vacant?

6. Describe the company's headquarters. What feeling does the place give Marlow?

7. How does Marlow's aunt view his new assignment? Does Marlow agree with her?Explain.

8. What does Marlow mean when he says the journey down the African coast takeshim away from the "truth .of things"?


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9. What does Marlow find in the "grove of death"?

10. Why does Marlow say he "respects" the company's elegant accountant? Is hiscomment sincere?

11. What does the accountant tell Marlow about Kurtz? Why doesn't the accountantwrite to the ivory agent?

12. What horrors does Marlow encounter on the journey to the central station?

13. To what does the general manager owe his position?

14. How did the steamboat sink?

15. Who are the "pilgrims"? What is Marlow's opinion of them?

16. What is significant about the conversation Marlow overhears the night the shedburns down?

17. Describe the painting in the brickmaker's cabin. What is Marlow's reaction to it?

18. What mistake has the brickmaker made about Marlow? Why does Marlow notcorrect him?

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19. How long does it take Marlow to repair his boat? What is the reason for thedelay?

20. What is the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? How does Marlow react to it?

21. What does the conversation between the manager and his uncle, which Marlowoverhears, reveal about their attitude toward Kurtz?

22. What happens to the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? How does the news affectMarlow?

23. What mood does the jungle create as Marlow journeys upriver?

24. How does Marlow occupy his time during the trip upriver?

25. Discuss Marlow's reaction to the savages he sees along the shore.

26. What does Marlow find at the abandoned station?

27. Why, in Marlow's opinion, do the cannibals not murder and eat the white menaboard the steamer?

28. Why does Marlow refuse the manager's order to continue upriver?

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29. Describe the attack on the steamboat.

30. Why is the attack disappointing to Marlow?

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31. How does Marlow respond to the death of his helmsman?

32. Describe the person who greets Marlow at the inner station.

33. What is the Russian's opinion of Kurtz?

34. How has Kurtz managed to accumulate ivory without supplies for trading?

35. What does Marlow's first glimpse of Kurtz reveal?

36. Describe the scene acted out by the native woman. What effect does it create?

37. What is Kurtz's opinion of the general manager's rescue mission?

38. What information does the Russian confide to Marlow? Why does he trustMarlow?

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39. Why does the Russian return to the jungle?

40. Why does Marlow try to capture Kurtz alone?

41. What is the cause of Kurtz's madness?

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42. How and why does Marlow save the lives of Kurtz's grieving followers?

43. How does Kurtz approach death? What do his final words mean?

44. Who visits Marlow when he returns to Europe? What do they want and what dothey reveal about Kurtz?

45. What lie does Marlow tell Kurtz's "Intended"? What are his reasons for lying?

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Contemporary Classics Discussion Questions

An Examination of Character1. Is Marlow, in your opinion, an objective narrator? Could any other characterprovide an unbiased account?

2. Find evidence in the novel to support the statement that Marlow is, and alwayshas been, an outsider.

3. Describe the white traders' attitude toward the native population.

4. What is Marlow's attitude toward the natives? Does his attitude change in thecourse of the novel?

5. Discuss the source of the conflict between Kurtz and the general manager.

6. How does Marlow first learn about Kurtz? Why does he become obsessed withmeeting him?

7. How does Marlow become aware of his own "dark self"?

8. In what sense are the cannibals aboard the steamboat more "civilized" than thewhite passengers?

9. What flaw in Kurtz's character leads to his downfall? Explain.

An Examination of Technique1. Why does Conrad use the "story within a story" structure for this novel? Is iteffective?

2. How is Conrad's writing style distinctive and individual?

3. Why does Conrad never identify geographical locations? Why are Marlow andKurtz the only characters with names?

Speculation1. What, in your opinion, does the title of the novel signify?

2. How, in your opinion, does the colonialism depicted in Heart of Darkness helpexplain the anti-Western attitude of many Third World countries?

3. Do you agree or disagree with Conrad that every man has a "dark self"? Explainyour answer.


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Contemporary Classics Enrichment Activities

Research1. Research and prepare a report on Conrad's African experiences that inspired Heartof Darkness. To what extent is the novel factual? To what extent is it fictional?(See Conrad's Congo Diary for an account of his actual experiences.)

2. Read Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country. Prepare a report comparingthis novel with Heart of Darkness.

3. The Congo (site of Heart of Darkness) was, like most regions of Africa, a Euro-pean colony in ~900. Prepare a map of the continent showing the colonial empiresat the turn of the century.

4. Research and prepare a report on the Congo River.

5. Using books, magazines, and newspapers, prepare a report on the Congo's fightfor independence.

Reaction1. In Heart of Darkness, we see the evils of colonialism. In your opinion, is it possi-ble for colonialism to achieve good as well as bad?

2. Note that the perception of colonialism in Europe differed from what it really wasin Africa. Could we, as Americans, be equally misled about our own nation'sforeign policy? Discuss.

3. Have you personally encountered racial prejudice? Describe the incident anddiscuss your reaction.

4. Have you ever met a person as brilliant and forceful as Kurtz? Describe thatperson.

5. Why, in your opinion, do the listeners aboard the Nellie show little interest inMarlow's story?

Imagination1. Sketch several scenes from the novel for classroom display.

2. Write a letter from the general manager to the European council describing thecircumstances leading up to Kurtz's death.

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3. Marlow states that his experiences in Africa "seemed somehow to throw a kind oflight on eveything about me." Have your ever had a similar experience? Explain .

. 4. Write Kurtz's obituary as it might appear in his hometown newspaper.

5. Rewrite a scene from the novel in dramatic form and present it to the class.

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