Writing Assignment #4: Heart of Darkness Literary Analysis

Choose one of the following prompts to write an essay that demonstrates your understanding of and critical thinking on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Your answer to the chosen prompt is your thesis. Specific examples and quotes from the book serve as evidence to support your argument, and your essay should be filled with them.

Writing Choices:

1. How do the river, the jungle, and the African landscape that Marlow experiences along his journey symbolize his own internal journey?
2. How does Conrad use the setting to help symbolize the themes of good and evil, civilized and uncivilized?
3. How does Conrad develop Kurtz as a symbol through the book? What does Kurtz represent for Marlow?
4. Marlow’s Worldview. Choose one of the following perspectives:
   • Do you think Marlow is racist and anti-African? OR
   • Do you think Marlow is speaking out against the treatment of Africans by Europeans? Does Marlow represent someone who is more enlightened? Does he have a more progressive view of humanity?
5. Creative writing essay. Choose one of the following ideas:
   • Continue your discussion from last week’s activity about a discussion between Joseph Corrad & Chinua Achebe. OR
   • Write a letter from Joseph Conrad to the African writer, Chinua Achebe, explaining why you are an ally of the Africans and a critic of European colonialism. OR
   • You could also write a letter from the African writer, Chinua Achebe, explaining why you think Joseph Conrad is racist and has a backwards view of Africans. Explain to Conrad that his view is one-sided, biased and pro-European.

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Posted by Justin Wells : 12/04/2008