GROUP I Morgan Evans, Doug Judice, Brian Decker, Allison Mooney Discussion questions: Marlow constantly uses vague and and often redundant phrases like “unspeakable secrets” of powerful imagery and “inconceivable mystery.” At other times, however, he is capable considerable eloquence. Why does Marlow use vague and “inconclusive” language so frequently? Theme work: Lack of truth and for meaning: The novella is rife with imagery and man’s ongoing quest language that confounds the reader and leaves Marlow questioning his reality. Though the novella assumes the archetypal genre of the quest (in which the hero must undergo a set of hero’s trials and tests on the path to enlightenment), the typical form of that quest becomes corrupted in (You may or may not argue that—due to the frame of the story—the Heart of Darkness. hero’s quest may actually get turned right-side up.) Consider 4 basic steps of the journey, and hero’s apply them to If you note corruptions (or deviations from the archetypal Heart of Darkness. pattern) identify any significance or authorial intent that arises from such deviations. Four basic steps of the hero cycle are: Call to Adventure, Temptations/Obstacles, Supernatural Aid (this can be an actual supernatural being or a spiritual one), Return Home (after the journey, the hero must return home to merge with his prior self).
GROUP I Morgan Evans, Doug Judice, Brian Decker, Allison Mooney Discussion questions: Marlow constantly uses vague and often redundant phrases like “unspeakable secrets” and “inconceivable mystery.” At other times, however, he is capable of powerful imagery and considerable eloquence. Why does Marlow use vague and “inconclusive” language so frequently? Theme work: Lack of truth and man’s ongoing quest for meaning: The novella is rife with imagery and language that confounds the reader and leaves Marlow questioning his reality. Though the novella assumes the archetypal genre of the hero’s quest (in which the hero must undergo a set of trials and tests on the path to enlightenment), the typical form of that quest becomes corrupted in Heart of Darkness. (You may or may not argue that—due to the frame of the story—the hero’s quest may actually get turned right-side up.) Consider 4 basic steps of the hero’s journey, and apply them to Heart of Darkness. If you note corruptions (or deviations from the archetypal pattern) identify any significance or authorial intent that arises from such deviations. Four basic steps of the hero cycle are: Call to Adventure, Temptations/Obstacles, Supernatural Aid (this can be an actual supernatural being or a spiritual one), Return Home (after the journey, the hero must return home to merge with his prior self).
Heart-of-Darkness-Discussion-groups.docx