Heart of Darkness Study Guide
Heart of Darkness Study Questions
Chapter 1
1. The setting of the story begins on the Nellie, a ship. The turn of the tide is significant because it gives the men on board extra time to talk, and Marlow begins telling his story. In addition, symbolically, the turning of the tide conveys a change, and perhaps, foreshadowing of the story. The author spends a lot of time dealing with light because it is the main symbol in the novella. Light and darkness are universal symbols that represent good and evil. Although not explicitly stated, those who have the light are those who are “civilized”, and those who have the darkness are those who remain “uncivilized”, particularly the people living in Africa.
2. Marlow appears different from everyone else on the ship because of how the author describes Marlow’s character. Conrad describes Marlow as having “sunken cheeks”, a “yellow complexion”, and resembling that of an “idol”. Marlow seems ill through this description. Sunken cheeks convey a lack of nourishment, as well as exhaustion. The color yellow in literature has two meanings: happiness and sickness. In this context, one may infer the color yellow to symbolize Marlow’s sickness, or corruption, as it correlates to the rest of his description. Lastly, an “idol” connotes a phantom. Marlow appears to be different from everyone on the ship through his description. The audience is civilized. All of the men have jobs, a lawyer, an accountant, the director, and the outside narrator. The story also explains how Marlow remained the only one out of the men to still follow the sea. He also portrays how he did not “represent his class.” This suggests that Marlow may not be as “civilized” as the other men. As Marlow begins to tell his story, the narrator explains how Marlow is about to embark on another “inconclusive” experience. The word inconclusive suggests not fully answering doubts and questions. In addition, Marlow begins to remark the “weakness of many tellers of tales who
Chapter 1
1. The setting of the story begins on the Nellie, a ship. The turn of the tide is significant because it gives the men on board extra time to talk, and Marlow begins telling his story. In addition, symbolically, the turning of the tide conveys a change, and perhaps, foreshadowing of the story. The author spends a lot of time dealing with light because it is the main symbol in the novella. Light and darkness are universal symbols that represent good and evil. Although not explicitly stated, those who have the light are those who are “civilized”, and those who have the darkness are those who remain “uncivilized”, particularly the people living in Africa.
2. Marlow appears different from everyone else on the ship because of how the author describes Marlow’s character. Conrad describes Marlow as having “sunken cheeks”, a “yellow complexion”, and resembling that of an “idol”. Marlow seems ill through this description. Sunken cheeks convey a lack of nourishment, as well as exhaustion. The color yellow in literature has two meanings: happiness and sickness. In this context, one may infer the color yellow to symbolize Marlow’s sickness, or corruption, as it correlates to the rest of his description. Lastly, an “idol” connotes a phantom. Marlow appears to be different from everyone on the ship through his description. The audience is civilized. All of the men have jobs, a lawyer, an accountant, the director, and the outside narrator. The story also explains how Marlow remained the only one out of the men to still follow the sea. He also portrays how he did not “represent his class.” This suggests that Marlow may not be as “civilized” as the other men. As Marlow begins to tell his story, the narrator explains how Marlow is about to embark on another “inconclusive” experience. The word inconclusive suggests not fully answering doubts and questions. In addition, Marlow begins to remark the “weakness of many tellers of tales who