Ch. 1 - Ms. Norton - Home



Name __________________Heart of Darkness Study Guidech. 1p. 1-7 (stop at “offer a sacrifice to…”)Who is the narrator? Describe the context in which he is telling his story (i.e. where is he, who is he with, etc.)? Contrast the narrator’s view of the empire-building English with Marlow’s view of the Romans. Why do you think Marlow is repeatedly likened to Buddha? p. 7-16 (Stop at “a place thirty miles higher up”)Describe how the map of Africa changes during Marlow’s lifetime. What does this change foreshadow? How did the position that Marlow takes become vacant? Describe the company’s headquarters. What feeling does the place give Marlow? Why does the doctor measure Marlow’s head with the calipers? How does Marlow’s aunt view his new assignment? How does Marlow view women? What does Marlow mean when he says the journey down the African coast takes him away from the “truth of things”? p. 16-23 (stop at “However, all that is to no purpose”)What does Marlow find in the grove of death (beginning with “‘Black shapes crouched’”) at the Outer Station? Why does Marlow say he “respects” the company’s Chief Accountant? Are his comments sincere? What does the accountant tell Marlow about Kurtz? What horrors does Marlow encounter on the way to the Central Station? What does Marlow mean when he says “I felt I was becoming scientifically interesting”? p. 23-35 (stop at end of ch. 1)To what does the General Manager (at the Central Station) owe his position? Describe the situation with the steamboat. What happened? What does Marlow have to do? What happens to the shed with trading materials? Describe the painting in the Brickmaker’s cabin. What might be the deeper symbolism in the painting? What does Marlow want more than anything? What is the larger point here? What is Marlow’s view of work? What is the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? What is Marlow’s attitude towards it?ch. 2What does the conversation between the General Manager and his uncle (the leader of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition), which Marlow overhears, reveal about their attitude towards Kurtz? What eventually happens to the Eldorado Exploring Expedition? How does the news affect Marlow? What mood does the jungle create as Marlow travels upriver towards the Inner Station and Kurtz?Discuss Marlow’s reaction to the “savages” he sees along the shore. What does Marlow find at the abandoned station? Why, in Marlow’s opinion, do the cannibals not murder and eat the white men aboard the steamer? Describe the attack on the steamboat. What did Kurtz write at the end of the report on the Suppression of Savage Customs? How does Marlow respond to the death of the helmsman? Describe the person who greets Marlow at the Inner Station. What is the Russian Harlequin’s opinion of Kurtz? ch. 3How did Kurtz manage to accumulate ivory without supplies for trading? Describe the imagery surrounding Kurtz’s house. What is the significance of these <ehhem> “decorative choices”? “It echoed loudly within him because he was ______________ at the core.” Explain what this means. Describe Kurtz’s physical appearance and state. Describe the scene with the African Woman. What effect does it create? How does it compare to Marlow’s previously-stated views on women? What is Kurtz’s opinion of the General Manager’s rescue mission? Why does the Russian Harlequin return to the jungle?Why does Marlow try to capture Kurtz alone? What is the cause of Kurtz’s madness? How does Kurtz approach death? What are his final words? What might they mean? How does Marlow describe the European city he returns to? Who visits Marlow when he returns to Europe? What do they want and what do they reveal about Kurtz? What lie does Marlow tell Kurtz’s Intended? What are his reasons for lying? What do you make of the last paragraph of the text? ................
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