Vocabulary Review The words below appear in the order they ...



BEFORE YOU READ

Heart of Darkness Part II

FOCUS ACTIVITY

Recall a time when other people’s opinions of someone you did not know influenced your impression of the person. When you got to know the person, was your impression accurate?

Journal

In your journal, describe the opinions on which your impression was based and explain whether it proved to be accurate.

Setting a Purpose

Read to discover how other people’s opinions of Kurtz influence Marlow’s impression of him.

BACKGROUND

Did You Know?

When Heart of Darkness was written, ivory was much in demand. That demand continued well into the twentieth century. In fact, during the 1980s the demand for elephant tusks reached its highest level ever. More recently, the demand for ivory caused the elephant population to fall to dangerously low levels. In response, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the international sale of ivory in 1990. In 1997, when the number of elephants rebounded, the ban was partially lifted.

Simile and Metaphor

A simile is a comparison of two unlike things signaled by the word like, than, or as. A metaphor is a comparison in which a likeness is suggested. In the following description, Conrad uses both a simile and a metaphor: “Going up that river was like traveling back to the beginnings of the world, when . . . trees were kings” (30). As you read Part II of Heart of Darkness, be alert to similes and metaphors, and think about what each one means. Quote TWO similes and/or metaphors from Part II. Include the MLA page citation and explain the meaning/ significance of the simile or metaphor in the lines provided.

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Vocabulary Review The words below appear in the order they are found in Part II.

Impudence—n—offensively bold behavior

Vex—v—to annoy, to bother

Pluck—n—courage, bravery; Plucky—adj—brave

Ominous—adj—threatening, like an evil omen

Impenetrable—adj—incapable of being penetrated, entered, understood

Implacable—adj—cannot be won over, cannot be placated or appeased

Inscrutable—adj—incapable of being scrutinized, analyzed or understood, mysterious, impenetrable

Intrepid—adj—fearless, with a lot of temerity, plucky

Melancholy—adj—sad, mournful, depressed

Cipher—n—a code

Malevolent—adj—evil, harmful

Languid—adj—lethargic, indifferent, not caring, lazy

Futile—adj—useless; futility—n—uselessness

Clamor—n—a loud outcry

Tumultuous—adj—noisy, disorderly, rioutous

Obstinate—adj—stubborn

Incontinent—adj—lacking self control, unrestrained

Row—n—a fight, disagreement

Curt—adj—rudely brief in speech or manner, rudely glib

Pensive—adj—in deep thought

Precarious—adj—unstable, insecure, tenuous

Recondite—adj—difficult to understand

Inexorable—adj—unbending, incorrigible, implacable, relentless

Apathy—n—laziness, indifference

Revile—v—to speak abusively about someone or something

Repulse—n—a refusal or rejection

Fusillade—n—a simultaneous or continuous discharge of firearems

Dubious—adj—of doubtful quality

Inestimable—adj—cannot be estimated or measures, priceless

Palpable—adj—tangible, capable of being touched or seen or felt, obviously there

Disparage—v—to belittle, to insult

Prodigious—adj--enormous

Exalt—v—to praise, to elevate

Wraith—n—ghost, apparition

Peroration—n—conclusion, an end

Rudimentary—adj—basic, elementary, initial

Harlequin—n—a colorfully painted/masked comic character

Countenance—n—the face

Despondent—adj—melancholy

ACTIVE READING

Heart of Darkness Part II

The mysterious Kurtz is described further in Part II. As you read, fill in the boxes below with quotations from the various characters who describe him, as well as from Kurtz’s own written messages. Include the MLA page citation of each quote so that you can easily find the quotes again for your essays and projects!

|The Manager and His Uncle |Marlow |

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|Kurtz’s Letters and Papers |The Russian |

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What is your overall impression of Kurtz after reading Part II? What conflicting information do you have about him?

Analyzing Literature

Recall and Interpret

1. How does Marlow view the cannibals? What is surprisingly civil about them? He mentions them again later in Part II, so add to your answer when you get there.

2. What is Marlow’s view of the natives in all of Part II? Add to this question as you read through all of Part II.

3. What book does Marlow find in the reed hut in the jungle? How does he feel when he puts the book away? Why?

4. How does Marlow treat the “savage” fireman?

5. Describe the fog that descends as Marlow and his passengers near Kurtz’s station. What might the color of the fog symbolize, or represent? What mental state might the fog symbolize?

6. What is the significance of the loud cry and the drums?

7. How does Marlow explain his fascination with Kurtz?

8. For what society does Kurtz write a report? What attitude toward the inhabitants of the Congo does he display in the report? What change in attitude is indicated by the handwritten note at the end of the report?

9. Who attacks the steamboat as it approaches the Inner Station? Why?

10. Conrad ends Part I between when the manager’s uncle arrives and the manager talks to his uncle about Kurtz. Part II ends right after the Russian greets Marlow and tells them preliminary information about himself and Kurtz. Why does Conrad end these sections here? Are they important breaks in the plot? Would Heart of Darkness have been different if Conrad had left the novel as one chapter, with no separate sections?

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