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Name: ____________________________________________ Heart of Darkness: Reading Schedule for January 27-February 13 Total Pages: 72 Note: Unless specified as CW (Classwork), the pages assigned below are HOMEWORK assignments for that evening (e.x. on the evening of Tuesday, Jan 27, you will read pages 1-8 of the DOVER edition of Heart of Darkness – if you’ve another edition, email me and I’ll tell you which paragraph to read to). Reading Schedule Monday January 26 “White Man’s Burden” Tuesday January 27 1-8 Wednesday January 28 9-16 Thursday January 29 17-24 Friday January 30 25-32 “Meeting Mr. Kurtz” (CW) Monday February 2 33-40 “Open Letter to King Leopold” (CW) Tuesday February 3 41-48 Wednesday February 4 49-56 Thursday February 5 “King Leopold’s Soliloquy” Friday February 6 57-65 Monday February 9 67-72 Tuesday February 10 “An Image of Africa” Wednesday February 11 “Shooting an Elephant” Thursday February 12 Friday February 13

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Page 1: docmadson.files.wordpress.com  · Web viewThe narrator who is telling the story of Marlow telling the story

Name: ____________________________________________Heart of Darkness: Reading Schedule for January 27-February 13Total Pages: 72

Note: Unless specified as CW (Classwork), the pages assigned below are HOMEWORK assignments for that evening (e.x. on the evening of Tuesday, Jan 27, you will read pages 1-8 of the DOVER edition of Heart of Darkness – if you’ve another edition, email me and I’ll tell you which paragraph to read to).

Reading ScheduleMonday January 26

“White Man’s Burden”

TuesdayJanuary 27

1-8

WednesdayJanuary 28

9-16

ThursdayJanuary 29

17-24

FridayJanuary 30

25-32

“Meeting Mr. Kurtz” (CW)

MondayFebruary 2

33-40

“Open Letter to King Leopold” (CW)

TuesdayFebruary 3

41-48

WednesdayFebruary 4

49-56

ThursdayFebruary 5

“King Leopold’s Soliloquy”

FridayFebruary 6

57-65

MondayFebruary 9

67-72

TuesdayFebruary 10

“An Image of Africa”

WednesdayFebruary 11

“Shooting an Elephant”

ThursdayFebruary 12

FridayFebruary 13

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Name____________________________________Heart of Darkness: Part I Informational Material

Part I: New Characters

“I” The narrator who is telling the story of Marlow telling the story

The Director of Companies Captain and owner of the boat on the Thames River

The Lawyer and The Accountant Other people on the boat in the Themes

Charlie Marlow On the boat on the Thames, tells his story of going up the Congo

Two Knitting Women Sit outside the office in Brussels

The Doctor Examines Marlow before his journey

The Aunt Related to Marlow, secures his appointment on the ship

The Swedish Captain Takes Marlow from the mouth of the Congo into Africa

The Company’s Chief Accountant Meets Marlow at the Company Station, maintains a neat appearance

The Dying Agent A man at the station who is sick; works for the company

The Manager Leader of the inside station

The Brick Maker Works at the inside station, does not make bricks

The Boilermaker Worker at the inner station, helps Marlow get his rivets

The Pilgrims Workers who carry long sticks, have traveled from other countries to work in Africa

The Manager’s Uncle Leader of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, speaks only to his nephew, the Manager

Part I: Timeline Four men are waiting for the Nellie to set sail on the Thames (London, England) Marlow begins talking, telling his story and narrating Marlow secures a job with his aunt helping him Marlow goes to Brussels, signs his contract and gets a physical examination Marlow begins his journey to Africa; he reaches the mouth of the Congo River Marlow takes a small steamer up the Congo and reaches the Outer Station. Marlow meets the Company’s chief accountant After 10 days Marlow travels 200 miles on foot to the Central Station After 15 days of traveling Marlow reaches Central Station Marlow finds Kurtz’s boat at the bottom of a river Marlow meets the manager and the brick maker Marlow learns of Kurtz Back in London it has grown dark, some are sleeping and the narrator/Marlow are still talking

Part I: Timeline (cont)

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Marlow demands rivets (mechanical fasteners) to repair his boat. They take weeks to arrive The Eldorado Exploring Expedition arrives

Part I: Reading Questions

1. In your own words, describe the mood of the men while they wait to exit the Thames.

2. Summarize Marlow's reasoning behind his statement that the Thames "has been one of the dark places

of the Earth."

3.Who is the narrator?

4. How reliable does the narrator appear to be?

5. What is the significance of Conrad comparing the river to a snake?

6. Why do you think the Africans are so tentative to fight Fresleven and why does Conrad refer to him as

"the supernatural being"?

7.Summarize the difference between Marlow's perception and his Aunt's perception of the company's

main purpose.

8. Why does Conrad use animalistic characteristics to describe the Africans dying under the trees?

9. What does Marlow think of the Accountant?

10. What is your first impression of Kurtz as he is portrayed in this paragraph?

11. In your own words, explain why Marlow feels he is "becoming scientifically interesting" through this

series of events.

12. What is the secret to this trader's success that sets him apart from all the other station managers and

traders?

13. What conclusions can be drawn from this portrayal of the Europeans at the post? How is Conrad

portraying colonizers and the colonial effort?

14.What do you think the significance of this painting might be?

15. What slowed the repairs on the steamboat?

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Name____________________________________Heart of Darkness: Part II Informational Material

Part II: New Characters

Part II: Timeline Marlow is pretending to be asleep, and eavesdrop on the manager and his uncle as they talk

about Kurtz. His eavesdropping pays off; as he learns that Kurtz is very ill, and still managers to collect more ivory than all the stations together. The two sees Kurtz as a threat to them, and hopes he dies in the wilderness

Once the repairs are finally made to the steamship, Marlow begins his journey to the station where Kurtz’s stationed. Marlow is traveling with the manager, the Brickmaker, and the white Pilgrims and black cannibals

Marlow has an eerie feeling s well as the strange silence and the hostile feelings of the wilderness. During this time, Marlow’s feelings become surreal or warped, until he can barely tell if time has stopped or he is in a dream

Fifty miles before the steamship reaches the Inner Station, Marlow spots an abandoned flag pole, with a warning, telling travelers to approach with caution

Farther in, Marlow spots a deserted hut. As he goes through it, he finds a book written by a sailor. There are parts in which Marlow cannot read, and, at that point he thinks they are written in some type of code

The boat runs into unnatural fog 8 miles from Kurtz’s station The boat is attacked by the natives The helmsman is killed Everyone supposes Kurtz is dead At the Inner Station, this is where Marlow meets a man; he refers to as the Harlequin. He is

dressed so flashy with different colors of patches, and he goes from one extreme to another. As it turns out, the Harlequin is a close personal friend of Kurtz’s. He also discovers the book belongs to the Harlequin

The Helmsman Black man killed by arrows, shot by nativesThe Russian A Russian sailor who has gone into the African interior

as the trading representative of a Dutch company. Greets Marlow at Kurtz’s Station

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Part II: Reading Questions

1. Pay attention to how Marlow describes ascending the river. What do you think is the significance of the metaphor of going back in time as the river is ascended?

2. Based on the description of the trip up the river, do you think that Conrad is subverting or enforcing contemporary European notions of civilization and savagery?

3. What does this passage suggest about how the author regards African people?

4. Explain in your own words what “affair” Marlow is referring to in this last sentence.

5. Summarize and compare Marlow's descriptions of Europeans and Africans in the last two paragraphs, including their responses to the war-cries from land. Who looks better?

6. Evaluate Marlow’s reasons for thinking the boat will not be attacked.

7. Which crew members does Marlow identify as having been hit in the attack?

8. Based on information that Marlow has been gathering about Kurtz, why is he so disappointed at the thought that he will not get to speak with Kurtz?

9. Paraphrase this description of Kurtz. What do you think is the reason that there are so many conflicting images and assessments?

10. Predict what the state of Mr. Kurtz might be.

Name____________________________________Heart of Darkness: Part III Informational Material

Part III: New CharactersKurtz The chief of the Inner Station and the object of Marlow’s quest.

Kurtz’s MistressA fiercely beautiful woman loaded with jewelry who appears on the shore when Marlow’s steamer arrives at and leaves the Inner Station.

Kurtz’s Intended Kurtz’s naïve and long-suffering fiancée, whom Marlow goes to visit after Kurtz’s death.

Part III: Timeline1. At the Inner Station, this is where Marlow meets a man; he refers to as the Harlequin. He is

dressed so flashy with different colors of patches, and he goes from one extreme to another. As it turns out, the Harlequin is a close personal friend of Kurtz’s. The book belongs to the Harlequin

2. After speaking with the Harlequin, Marlow learns a great deal about Kurtz. He also learns how Kurtz gets his ivory. Kurtz befriends the Native’s leaders, raid villages, and the Africans appear to love Kurtz. Marlow don’t quite why, yet

3.Marlow soon learns the balls on the poles outside Kurtz’s hut are really very morbid. They are human skulls, enemies as it turns out

4. As they are talking, a group of native Africans arrive, carrying Kurtz’s sick skeletal body. Kurtz has heard of Marlow and is anxious to meet him and speak with him. Before Kurtz gets the chance to speak with Marlow, the manager rudely arrives, and asks to speak with Kurtz alone

5. As Kurtz is speaking with the manager, a group of Africans arrive, with a beautiful African

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woman. The Harlequin tells Marlow that she is very “close” to Kurtz6. When the manager leaves Kurtz, it’s obvious they had an argument. Marlow sides with Kurtz7. They evening before they are to leave, Marlow awakes around midnight, and finds that Kurtz gone.

For reasons he can’t explain, he takes it upon himself to go and find Kurtz. After all, he could not have gotten very far crawling. He finds Kurtz in the woods, not very far away

8. Kurtz tells him of his dream to be great have been ruined by the manager. Marlow is listening to Kurtz, and is even more fascinated by the wilderness. He thinks Kurtz is useless at this point; so, he picks him up and takes him back to the camp

9. During the next four days, the steamship breaks down, and Kurtz dies. 10.Marlow is affected by Kurtz’s last words, The Horror! The Horror!

11.When the rest of the crew finds out that Kurtz is dead, they rush to see him. 12.Marlow remains, and for a while he earns the reputation of callousness. This almost causes his men to mutiny against him. However, they don’t and they arrive safely in Europe

13.Marlow now feels he is back in civilization, but, he feels out of place and he cannot hide his contempt for normal people who have not traveled the Congo, and witness firsthand, the evil he has. This experience has changed him so; he cannot understand the troubles of everyday life

14.Marlow tries to decide what to do with the personal papers of Kurtz, which were entrusted to him. He refuses to give them to the Company

15.Marlow decides to give them to Kurtz’s fiancée, called the Intended. Marlow is instantly struck by her beauty and brilliance. As he talks with her, she learns that she did not know Kurtz at all. She idealizes Kurtz. She believes that every man that met Kurtz could not help loving him

16.The last thing that occurred, was the Intended asked Marlow, what where Kurtz’s last words. He lies! He could not repeat his final words, The Horror! The Horror!  He instead, tells her that called her name with his last breath. She instantly believes him and says, she knew it already

17.Marlow finds justice in his lie, by saying the truth would have been too dark to say18. The narrative ends

Part III: Questions

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1. Think back over the changing descriptions of Kurtz throughout this work. Early on he was described as benevolent and focused on his quest to “civilize” the Africans How and why has this motive changed?

2. Why, in this context, would Marlow refer to the Russian as Kurtz’s last disciple?

3. Explain what is happening in the previous two paragraphs? Why does everything hang on what Kurtz might say to the Africans? Why did they surround the stretcher bearers?

4. Based on the fact that one of the most powerful women in the story belongs to a group frequently referred to as “savages”, what can you infer about Conrad’s beliefs about the status of women in society? Or, the status of a society that allows women to rise to power?

5. What do you think Marlow means when he responds “No method at all” in reference to Kurtz’s actions?

6. Why do you think the Russian is so unique in Marlow’s mind?

7. Predict why Kurtz attempted to flee from the steamer that was ostensibly there to rescue him?

8. What do you think Kutz’s “immense plans” might have been?

9. How were the Africans frightened away?

10. Where is the "heart of darkness"?

11. What was Kurtz’s pronouncement of judgement “on the adventures of his soul”?

12. What does Conrad mean when he refers to the “conquering darkness” and indicates that Kurtz’s demise was “a moment of triumph for the wilderness”?

13. Compare Marlow’s and the Intended’s perceptions of Kurtz. What are the major distinctions?

14. Why did Marlow not tell the Intended the truth of Kurtz’s last words?