Analysis Assignment Chapters 2 & 3 Heart of Darkness

Analysis Assignment – Chapters 2 & 3 – Heart of Darkness

AP English Lit./Grad. Project –

DIRECTIONS: Read the following questions and record your answers in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

Chapter 2 Questions/Tasks:

1. Analyze the use of the minor character of the red-haired pilgrim in this chapter. How does he support Conrad’s development of key Themes within the story? Identify the Themes.

2. Discuss the crew of Marlow’s steamboat. How are they more civilized than the ‘pilgrims’?

3. Describe the fog that descends as Marlow’ and his passengers near the Inner Station. What might the fog symbolize or represent? What stylistic elements does Conrad use to present the fog?

4. Discuss the Harlequin – how does his role or purpose contribute to the novel? How do his actions in the story reveal the impact that Kurtz has had on the young man?

5. Explain how Conrad’s depiction of Marlow, the Europeans, and the jungle in this chapter changes from that presented in Chapter 1. How does this support Conrad’s overall purpose? Use at least 3 exs. from the text to support your answer.

Chapter 3 Questions/Tasks:

1. Explain how Conrad uses imagery and diction to establish the foil relationship between the Intended and the African warrior woman. Include at least 3 examples from the text for each character to support your analyses.

2. What is ‘the horror, the horror’ that Kurtz refers to as he dies? How does this statement relate to the novel as a whole? Why would Conrad leave this scene so ambiguous?

3. How does Marlow’s lie to Kurtz’s Intended reveal a significant change in him?

4. Re-read the final scene between Marlow and the Intended. Discuss/analyze Conrad’s use of diction, imagery, and syntax to characterize the Intended. Include how this scene relates to the overall purpose of the novel.

5. How does the ending of the chapter reflect Conrad’s use of narrative layers? What ambiguity is reflected in the ending and how does it relate to the story’s overall purpose?