Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

Lesson PlanLesson Plan

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

•Students will understand the Students will understand the followingfollowing::

Critics have debated some of Conrad’s Critics have debated some of Conrad’s choices inchoices inHeart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

Students will understand how the Students will understand how the novel reflects the world as Conrad novel reflects the world as Conrad

saw itsaw it . .

MaterialsMaterials

For this lesson, you will needFor this lesson, you will need::

Reference materials about colonization Reference materials about colonization throughout the worldthroughout the world

ProceduresProcedures

Elicit from students their emotional responses and Elicit from students their emotional responses and analytic interpretations of Conrad’s ending for the analytic interpretations of Conrad’s ending for the novel. As this activity proceeds, students will have a novel. As this activity proceeds, students will have a chance to write their own ending for the novel. (In chance to write their own ending for the novel. (In Conrad’s version, Marlowe decides not to tell Kurtz’s Conrad’s version, Marlowe decides not to tell Kurtz’s fiancée about her betrothed’s final degradation. When fiancée about her betrothed’s final degradation. When she asks what Kurtz’s final words were, Marlow she asks what Kurtz’s final words were, Marlow wants to say, “The horror! The horror!” but he can’t. wants to say, “The horror! The horror!” but he can’t. Instead, he tells her that Kurtz spoke her name.)Instead, he tells her that Kurtz spoke her name.)

ProceduresProcedures

After students discuss their responses and After students discuss their responses and interpretations of Conrad’s ending, share with interpretations of Conrad’s ending, share with them critics’ comments on the ending. Critics them critics’ comments on the ending. Critics have often written about Marlow’s white lie at the have often written about Marlow’s white lie at the end. Some critics say it illustrates Conrad’s ideas end. Some critics say it illustrates Conrad’s ideas about how we all must be protected from the about how we all must be protected from the savagery inside us, just as Marlowe protected savagery inside us, just as Marlowe protected Kurtz’s fiancée from the ugly truth about the Kurtz’s fiancée from the ugly truth about the decline of the man she intended to marry. Other decline of the man she intended to marry. Other critics, however, call it the novel’s one striking critics, however, call it the novel’s one striking moment of weakness, when Conrad just couldn’t moment of weakness, when Conrad just couldn’t bear to keep telling the novel’s heavy storybear to keep telling the novel’s heavy story . .

ProceduresProcedures

•With the preceding discussion in mind, as your students to write an alternative scene in which Marlow does tell Kurtz’s fiancée the truth, not only about Kurtz’s last words but also about everything Kurtz had become.

As students start prewriting, ask them to consider the following :•What words Marlow might use in talking to Kurtz’s fiancée .

•What feelings he might have while he talks to her and how he might show or not show those feelings

•How Kurtz’s fiancée might react to what she hears from Marlow •What might happen between Marlow and Kurtz’s fiancée after he

discloses the truth

ProceduresProcedures

When students proceed to drafting, When students proceed to drafting, encourage them to stay with Conrad’s encourage them to stay with Conrad’s tone and writing style.After time for peer tone and writing style.After time for peer editing and revision, ask volunteers to editing and revision, ask volunteers to read their new endings aloud, leading read their new endings aloud, leading into a discussion about the choices that into a discussion about the choices that students madestudents made..

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Some critics believe that in Some critics believe that in Heart of Heart of Darkness ConradDarkness Conrad illustrates how “the illustrates how “the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of social corruption.” What does darkness of social corruption.” What does this statement mean? How can one’s this statement mean? How can one’s environment affect one’s actions, feelings, environment affect one’s actions, feelings, and morals? Is this statement believable or and morals? Is this statement believable or not? Have you ever experienced a change not? Have you ever experienced a change in yourself that resulted from a change in in yourself that resulted from a change in your environment? What kind of change your environment? What kind of change

was itwas it ? ?

Discussion Questions( Homework 1)

Heart of Darkness seems to blur the line between the so-called “advanced” society of Europe and the “primitive” society of Africa. What makes one culture “civilized” and another “savage” in the eyes of the world? Are these distinctions valid? Do you think that the culture you live in is “advanced” or

“civilized”? Why ?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion QuestionsInInHeart of DarknessHeart of Darkness, Kurtz is depicted as an , Kurtz is depicted as an

outstanding European who has been transformed outstanding European who has been transformed by his time in the jungle—away from his home, by his time in the jungle—away from his home, away from familiar people and food, and away away from familiar people and food, and away from any community moral support that might from any community moral support that might have helped prevent him from becoming such a have helped prevent him from becoming such a tyrant. There was nothing and no one, in essence, tyrant. There was nothing and no one, in essence, to keep him on the straight and narrow. Have you to keep him on the straight and narrow. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Was ever found yourself in a similar situation? Was there ever a time in which you felt alone, in a there ever a time in which you felt alone, in a strange environment, or different from everyone strange environment, or different from everyone else around you? How did that experience affect else around you? How did that experience affect you or change you? Did you find yourself pulled you or change you? Did you find yourself pulled toward base, cruel instincts as Kurtz was? What toward base, cruel instincts as Kurtz was? What

did you do to cope with those feelingsdid you do to cope with those feelings ? ?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Kurtz’s dying words are a cryptic whisper: “The Kurtz’s dying words are a cryptic whisper: “The horror, the horror.” What “horror” could Kurtz horror, the horror.” What “horror” could Kurtz have been talking about? Is there more than one have been talking about? Is there more than one possibility? Why do you think Conrad made this possibility? Why do you think Conrad made this

scene so ambiguousscene so ambiguous??Some readers claim that Some readers claim that Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness is is

strictly a political novella. Others, however, say strictly a political novella. Others, however, say it’s really a story about the human condition. Can it’s really a story about the human condition. Can a work of fiction be interpreted in different ways? a work of fiction be interpreted in different ways? Should readers consider the author’s intent Should readers consider the author’s intent

when analyzing a storywhen analyzing a story??

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

►Heart of DarknessHeart of Darknesscan sometimes can sometimes seem to readers like an incredibly seem to readers like an incredibly dark, depressing story that paints dark, depressing story that paints civilizations in a very negative light. civilizations in a very negative light. Did it seem this way to you, or did the Did it seem this way to you, or did the story contain any positive moments? If story contain any positive moments? If so, what were they? Why did they so, what were they? Why did they

seem positiveseem positive ? ?

•Heart of Darkness has been considered for Heart of Darkness has been considered for most of this century not only as a literary most of this century not only as a literary classic, but as a powerful indictment of the classic, but as a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialismevils of imperialism. . It reflects the savage It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that timegenocide committed up to that time. . Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocitiesatrocities. . More recently, African critics More recently, African critics like Chinua Achebe have pointed out that like Chinua Achebe have pointed out that the story can be read as a racist or the story can be read as a racist or colonialist parable in which Africans are colonialist parable in which Africans are depicted as innately irrational and violent, depicted as innately irrational and violent, and in which Africa itself is reduced to a and in which Africa itself is reduced to a metaphor for that which white Europeans metaphor for that which white Europeans fear within themselvesfear within themselves . .

•The people of Africa and the land The people of Africa and the land they live in remain inscrutably alien, they live in remain inscrutably alien, otherother. . The title, they argue, implies The title, they argue, implies that Africa is the that Africa is the ""heart of darkness,heart of darkness," " where whites who where whites who ""go nativego native" " risk risk releasing the releasing the ""savagesavage" " within within themselvesthemselves. . Defenders of Conrad Defenders of Conrad sometimes argue that the narrator sometimes argue that the narrator does not speak in Conrad's own does not speak in Conrad's own voice, and that a layer of irony voice, and that a layer of irony conceals his true viewsconceals his true views..

In 1975, Chinua Achebe published an essay, "An Image of In 1975, Chinua Achebe published an essay, "An Image of Africa: Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'," wherein he labeled Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'," wherein he labeled Conrad a "thoroughgoing racist." The essay set off a storm of Conrad a "thoroughgoing racist." The essay set off a storm of controversy regarding Conrad's legacy. Achebe's point of view controversy regarding Conrad's legacy. Achebe's point of view is that Heart of Darkness cannot be considered "a great work is that Heart of Darkness cannot be considered "a great work of art" because it is "a novel which celebrates... of art" because it is "a novel which celebrates... dehumanization, which depersonalizes a portion of the human dehumanization, which depersonalizes a portion of the human

racerace".".

Referring to Conrad as a "talented, tormented man," Achebe Referring to Conrad as a "talented, tormented man," Achebe drew on several instances of apparent racism in Conrad's drew on several instances of apparent racism in Conrad's writings in which the author derided "niggers" as variously writings in which the author derided "niggers" as variously "unreasoning," "savage" and "inscrutable." Conrad's "unreasoning," "savage" and "inscrutable." Conrad's advocates, however, in defending his reputation and the advocates, however, in defending his reputation and the ongoing value of his work, have reproached Achebe with ongoing value of his work, have reproached Achebe with disregarding the "historical context" of Conrad's workdisregarding the "historical context" of Conrad's work..

Alienation and LonelinessAlienation and Loneliness

Throughout Throughout Heart of Darkness, Heart of Darkness, which tells of a Journey into the which tells of a Journey into the heart heart of the Belgian Congo and out again, the themes of of the Belgian Congo and out again, the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his of changes to his personalitypersonality that may be produced by a that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in seen to have damaging effects on many characters in

the bookthe book . .

1.1. Conrad suggests that civilization is necessary Conrad suggests that civilization is necessary to contain—give order to—the evil that to contain—give order to—the evil that constitutes our most inner being. The story constitutes our most inner being. The story negates Rousseau’s romantic idea of the noble negates Rousseau’s romantic idea of the noble savage, suggesting that there is nothing noble savage, suggesting that there is nothing noble at all about primitive life, for left to our own at all about primitive life, for left to our own ways, we would descend into evil.  Traveling ways, we would descend into evil.  Traveling into the center of Africa is traveling into the into the center of Africa is traveling into the heart of the individual, away from social rules heart of the individual, away from social rules and demands and into a place where people and demands and into a place where people act by impulse and greed, seeing their own act by impulse and greed, seeing their own benefit.  That is the meaning behind the words benefit.  That is the meaning behind the words “The horror! The horror!”“The horror! The horror!”