Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Layout
Pages 3-13: Introduction: Biographical and Historical Contexts
Heart of Darkness Chapter I: pages 17-46 (29 pages)
Heart of Darkness Chapter II: pages 46-70 (24 pages)
Heart of Darkness Chapter III: pages 70-94 (24 pages)
“A Critical History of Heart of Darkness”: Pages 137-159
Feminist and Gender Criticism and Heart of Darkness: pages 163-202
Deconstruction and Heart of Darkness: pages 205-244
The New Historicism and Heart of Darkness: pages 245-183
Postcolonial Criticism and Heart of Darkness: pages 285-322
Combining Postcolonial, Feminist, and Gender Criticism with Queer Theory: pages 325-343
Combining the New Historicism and Postcolonial Criticism with Psychoanalytic Criticism: pages 345-366
Characters
Name Role in the story Significance Adjs.
Marlow He is a European sailor who narrates the story. He goes to Africa to pilot a riverboat for a Belgian ivory trading company. It becomes Marlow’s duty to seek out Kurtz, another riverboat captain, and bring him back to the trading companies central.
Kurtz He is the most successful agent for the Dutch trading company. Kurtz becomes so entwined in his trade that he breaks the rules of his company and employs savage techniques to get ivory. He becomes very ill and before his death, he tries to escape civilization and go into the jungle.
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Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Accountant He lives at the Outer Station and is the company’s main accountant. He greets Marlow and tells him about Kurtz.
Cannibals They work on the boat with Marlow as the boat moves towards the inner station.
Marlow’s Aunt
She is in the top social circle in Brussels, and she helps Marlow get the job in Brussels.
Kurtz’s mistress
She is Kurtz’s lover at the inner station; she belongs to the tribe which Kurtz controls.
General Manager
He runs the company and is not particularly talented. He makes people uneasy.
General Manager’s Uncle
He is in charge of the corrupt Eldorado Expedition, which Marlow hears came to a bad fate in the wilderness.
Harlequin Russian
He is Kurtz’s assistant and devoted follower at the inner station.
Kurtz’s intended
She is Kurtz’s fiancée back in Europe, whom Marlow visits months after Kurtz’s death.
The helmsman
He was an African who helped Marlow navigate. When the boat comes under attack, he goes crazy on the deck and is killed by an arrow.
Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Reading and Study Guide
Annotations to consider while you read:
Themes: o Imperialism / Colonizationo Civilization vs. Savageryo Racismo Conflict and Moral/Ethical Implicationso Absurdity of evilo The journey may be more important than the goal
Symbolism:o Lighto Coloro Departure of shipso Words of art/paintingo Womeno The Rivero Ivoryo Heads on poles around Kurtz’s tento Rivets
Character notes and descriptions Balanced phrases and parallel structure Elements of the Frame Story Setting Significance of the opening scene Significance of the closing/ending
Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Timeline
Monday 3/5 – Tuesday 3/6
Biography and Historical Context, pages 3-5 and 5-13 Homework:
o Reviewo Read and annotate Part I, pages 17-46 (29 pages)
Monday – pages 17-30 Tuesday – pages 31-46
o Character notes and Journal At least one quote
Wednesday 3/7 – Thursday 3/8
Discuss Homework:
o Read and annotate Part II, pages 46-70 (24 pages) Wednesday – pages 46-57 Thursday – 58-70
o Character notes and Journal At least one quote
Friday 3/9 – Monday 3/12
Discuss Homework: Read and annotate Part III, pages 70-94 (24 pages)
o Friday – pages 70-82o Monday – pages 83-94
Character notes and Journalo At least one quote
Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Tuesday 3/13
Discuss Read and annotate Critical History, pages 137-147
Wednesday 3/14
Read and annotate Critical History, pages 148 - 159 Group up and Discuss
Thursday 3/15
Assign groups for Literary Criticisms Class work
o Read, annotate, and prepare comments for your group’s assigned theory
Friday 3/16
Class worko Read, annotate, and prepare comments for your group’s assigned theory
Saturday – Sunday 3/17-18 – Continue to prepare for your theory if necessary
Monday 3/19
Last Day in Class to prepare your theory presentation HOMEWORK
o Email Mrs. Ryder your PPT tonight!
Tuesday 3/20
Begin Major Works Data Sheet
Wednesday 3/21 - Mrs. Ryder at CAOLA Conference
Finish Major Works Data Sheet
Thursday 3/22 - Mrs. Ryder at CAOLA Conference
AP Practice Exam for HoD
Friday 3/23: - Mrs. Ryder at CAOLA Conference
AP Practice Exam for HoD
Saturday and Sunday 3/24 and 3/25
Take a Break!
Monday 3/26
Turn in Major Works Data Sheet Feminist and Gender Criticism Presentation
Tuesday 3/27
Heart of Darkness AP Lit. & Comp.Joseph Conrad March 5th – April 3rd
Deconstruction Criticism Presentation
Wednesday 3/28
The New Historicism Presentation
Thursday 3/29
Postcolonial Criticism Presentation
Friday – Monday 3/30 – 4/2
No School! – Relax
Tuesday 4/3
Heart of Darkness Essay Test Have Shakespeare’s King Lear purchased and ready to go by this date.