Heart of Darkness

creepy face

Read the novel Heart of Darkness at any one of these sites:
http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ConDark.html

http://www.online-literature.com/conrad/heart_of_darkness/

http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Joseph_Conrad/Heart_of_Darkness/


spear

  1. Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness

    1. Click on link for "Thames Estuary" and read. Though the novel story originally takes place in the Congo, it is being recounted by the narrator on a boat in this estuary in England …why is this significant?

    2. What was Africa known as in the Victorian era?

    3. What did the Victorians assume was the heart of civilization?

    4. What are two possible inspirations for Kurtz's character? (include the connection of the one possible inspiration to Dr. Livingston)

    5. One theme in the book is the European naiveté about…..


  2. Read Chinua Achebe's essay "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" at this site: http://social.chass.ncsu.edu/wyrick/debclass/achcon.htm

    1. Compare/contrast Achebe's view of the native woman and Kurtz's fiancée in the novel.

    2. What evidence is there to support or contradict Chinua Achebe's assertions about the book's racism?


  3. Read David Livingston's account of ivory acquisition in the Victorian era: http://www.ctnow.com/extras/slavepdf/68%20NE%20SLAVERY%200929.pdf

    1. Write a short summary of the account.

red elephant

  1. Go to: http://www.namibian.com.na/2002/November/national/029861ECE6.html

    1. List the 19th century uses for ivory.

    2. How did Belgian King Leopold figure into the ivory trade?


  2. Go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3837247.stm

    1. Where was the leading market for ivory in the 19th century?


  3. Go to: http://www.online-literature.com/conrad/

    1. Where was Conrad born?

    2. How was Conrad exposed to literature early on?

    3. Why were he and his parents exiled?

    4. What spawned health troubles for Conrad and his parents?

    5. How did Conrad come to be shot in the chest?

skull

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