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Heart of Darkness
(1902)
Throughout the twentieth century Heart of Darkness became famous not only as one of Conrad's greatest achievements but also as a highly symbolic story--the story about Marlow's adventures in the Congo. It is also written out of a deeply felt concern with the whole question of darkness.--Submitted by azil lila.
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Commentary on key passage - face off in the forest
I'm putting together an oral commentary for class, and I would really appreciate any help that can be given regarding the use of diction, imagery, symbolism, key concepts etc. that are presented by Joseph Conrad in this passage here: "I kept to the track though -- then stopped to listen. The night was very clear; a dark blue space, sparkling with dew and starlight, in which black things stood very still. I thought I could see a kind of motion ahead of me. I was strangely cocksure of everything that night. I actually left the track and ran in a wide semicircle (I verily believe chuckling to myself) so as to get in front of that stir, of that motion I had seen -- if indeed I had seen anything. I was circumventing Kurtz as though it had been a boyish game. "I came upon him, and, if he had not heard me coming, I would have fallen over him, too, but he got up in time. He rose, unsteady, long, pale, indistinct, like a vapour exhaled by the earth, and swayed slightly, misty and silent before me; while at my back the fires loomed between the trees, and the murmur of many voices issued from the forest. I had cut him off cleverly; but when actually confronting him I seemed to come to my senses, I saw the danger in its right proportion. It was by no means over yet. Suppose he began to shout? Though he could hardly stand, there was still plenty of vigour in his voice. 'Go away -- hide yourself,' he said, in that profound tone. It was very awful. I glanced back. We were within thirty yards from the nearest fire. A black figure stood up, strode on long black legs, waving long black arms, across the glow. It had horns -- antelope horns, I think -- on its head. Some sorcerer, some witch-man, no doubt: it looked fiendlike enough. 'Do you know what you are doing?' I whispered. 'Perfectly,' he answered, raising his voice for that single word: it sounded to me far off and yet loud, like a hail through a speaking-trumpet. 'If he makes a row we are lost,' I thought to myself. This clearly was not a case for fisticuffs, even apart from the very natural aversion I had to beat that Shadow -- this wandering and tormented thing. 'You will be lost,' I said -- 'utterly lost.' One gets sometimes such a flash of inspiration, you know. I did say the right thing, though indeed he could not have been more irretrievably lost than he was at this very moment, when the foundations of our intimacy were being laid -- to endure -- to endure -- even to the end -- even beyond." please and thank you :)
Posted By Roon at Sat 3 May 2008, 7:56 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies
Patterns of Threes in Heart of Darkness
i'm doin a research paper on patterns of three's in heart of darkness. Can anyone tell me the significance of the three chapters? and of the three women as well.
Posted By tbrown08 at Sun 20 Apr 2008, 6:29 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies
what does the title Things Fall Apart mean
I need to find out what the Title Things fall Apart means and how does it relate to the story. I also need to compare the poem The second coming by william butter yeats to the story Things fall Apart So if you please help me out thanks
Posted By countryunder at Mon 31 Mar 2008, 3:07 PM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies
Help Asap
What does "The Horror! The Horror!" mean? Does anyone know what it means: We live in the Flicker and does this relate to the book and how?
Posted By lalala at Sun 16 Mar 2008, 12:10 PM in Heart of Darkness || 2 Replies
Insignificance of man
I'm having hard time finding textual support. I need to talk about how this work contains the theme that men are insignificant. Examples please!!!
Posted By dundundun at Sun 9 Mar 2008, 11:22 PM in Heart of Darkness || 7 Replies
Fundamentals of civilation
Fundamentals of civilization falling appart in Heart of Darkness. im looking for any primary and secondary sources that could help explain this.
Posted By kik31 at Tue 26 Feb 2008, 11:04 AM in Heart of Darkness || 0 Replies
Kurtz's influence
I am writing a paper on Kurtz's influence on Marlow, the russian and the Native. i was wondering if anyone could help me with any ideas. or Primary and secondary sources
Posted By kik31 at Mon 25 Feb 2008, 9:24 PM in Heart of Darkness || 1 Reply
Heart of Darkness questions help?
What is the point of providing a "frame narrator"? How does the presence of this kind of narrator affect your view of Marlow's authority as a narrator? 2. What does the frame narrator say distinguishes Marlow from other sailors? How is this distinction significant with respect to the adventure that Marlow recounts? What does Marlow say about the Roman imperial project? How does the Roman project compare to the Belgian (and British) motivations for seeking an empire? 4. Keep track of references to maps. What significance lies in Marlow's references to maps? How, for example, do they represent the novella's frequent opposition between light and "darkness"? 5. Marlow describes a map image of the Congo River in Africa as being like a snake. What snake-like qualities does this reference transfer to the River, and how does the transference set us up for the rest of the novel's events? 6. Marlow meets a pair of women weaving -- to what Classical myths does this scene appeal, and why would such an appeal be significant in the context of the story as a whole? 7. Describe the exchange between Marlow and his idealistic Aunt. How well does Marlow's self-description as a realist hold up over the course of the story? Explain. 8. Soon Marlow sets out for Africa on a French steamship, and gets his first look at native Africans along the shore. What qualities does he observe in them, and what seems to be his attitude about those qualities? 9. When Marlow reaches the Company's Outer Station, and offers us some observations about it. What does he say about the reigning "Devil" in this Outer Station? How does this "Devil" differ from others with whom he has made acquaintance? 10. What fundamental contrast or contradiction among the Outer Station inhabitants begins to appear right away, as soon as Marlow comes across dying workers and the smartly dressed Company Accountant? 11. What is the first description we hear of Kurtz? For what quality or activity is he praised? How does the praise bring up the novella's frequent oppositions between light or whiteness and darkness? 12. When Marlow reaches the Central Station, how does he describe nature's effects on the Station and its inhabitants? What power does the wilderness have over the Station, and what appears to motivate its occupants? 13. What view of Kurtz does the Brickmaker (a favorite of the Manager) take? Why does he appear to resent Kurtz? 14. Marlow says that he detests lies. Does this implied (and elsewhere stated) preference for truth hold constant in the novella? Does Marlow seem to understand his own character, or is he at times confused about his interests and beliefs? Explain. 15. How do the Manager and his nephew reveal their resentment of Kurtz in spite of that agent's obvious success as an ivory collector? What effect does their resentment have upon Marlow, who has overheard their conversation? 16. How does Marlow describe the Congo River and its environs? How does he describe his interaction with the River? What illusion does the River promote? What insight does it provide, at least so far as Marlow is concerned? 17. What does Marlow imply is the basis for his ability to respond to the African natives he observes? To what extent does he here invoke the distinction often made between nature and culture, primitive and civilized? Does he accept that distinction? 18. Marlow discovers a hut with some firewood and a book. Why does this book impress him? 19. Marlow says that he came to an important realization as he neared Kurtz's Station. What is the realization, and to what extent does it influence or explain his behavior in the rest of the story? 20. What commentary does Marlow offer on the issue of "restraint"? What accounts for the restraint shown by the natives, and what accounts for the restraint shown by the Manager? 21. Marlow speaks of Kurtz as "a voice." Soon thereafter, how does Marlow's manner of relating his story change? What seems to be the reason for his fascination with Kurtz' voice? 22. How does Marlow describe the partially completed report that Kurtz penned before lapsing into his fatal illness? What effect does that report have on Marlow? 23. Marlow meets a Russian devotee of Kurtz. What view of Kurtz does the Russian set forth? How does he differ from Kurtz? 24. Marlow sees the "symbolic" skulls lining Kurtz's hut? What reflections do those skulls lead Marlow to make regarding the nature of Kurtz' downfall in the wilderness? 25. The travelers meet Kurtz' mistress. Does her presence affect their (or your) understanding of Kurtz? If so, how? 26. After making some less than condemnatory remarks about Kurtz, Marlow is pegged as a "fellow traveler" of Kurtz. How does Marlow react when he finally closes in upon and then encounters Kurtz? 27. What does Kurtz say in his final illness? What, if anything, does Marlow learn from Kurtz? How does he interpret Kurtz's phrase "the horror, the horror"? 28. Kurtz finally passes away, and, at the text's conclusion, Marlow decides to visit Kurtz's "Intended," or fiancee. Why does Marlow lie to her about Kurtz's last words? Does his lie reflect any insight he has gained from his trip up the Congo and to "the Heart of Darkness"? Explain. For my buddys college class he needs to have these questions answered and he's struggling mightly. I personally have never read this book but have researched the questions online and found that they were taken off a website. The only problem is there are no references to the questions. Any help with these questions would be much appreciated.
Posted By Steelhead at Sun 17 Feb 2008, 3:48 PM in Heart of Darkness || 1 Reply
Women in Heart of Darkness
I have a mock AS exam approaching VERY soon and could do with a few more pointers on the role of women in the novella. I have a few points such as the speculation that the women can be both seen as weak and fragilic or they can be interpreted as the people that are truly in power of the actions that men take. The woman that I am finding hardest to pin down is the 'Jungle Queen' that makes an appearance in chapter three, just before Kurtz's death. If anybody could let me know of some interesting comparisons, particularly between her and 'the intended', I would greatly appreciate it...
Posted By Che Litto at Wed 13 Feb 2008, 4:16 PM in Heart of Darkness || 3 Replies
Conrad vs. Poe
I need help with a paper i'm writing...just a simple thought to push me in the right direction. how did Joseph Conrad's work influence Edgar Allan Poe in American Literature??? the dark side of the human psyche?? any ideas????
Posted By beautiful_nemo at Tue 29 Jan 2008, 12:58 PM in Heart of Darkness || 3 Replies