Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad
Literary Terms
Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad

Social Darwinism: an extension of
Darwinism to social phenomena;
specifically: a theory in sociology:
sociocultural advance is the product of
intergroup conflict and competition
and the socially elite classes (as those
possessing wealth and power) possess
biological superiority in the struggle
for existence.
Heart of Darkness

Foil character: a minor character
whose situation or actions parallel
those of a major character, and thus by
contrast sets off or illuminates the
major character; most often the
contrast is complimentary to the major
character.
Heart of Darkness
 The Absurd:
the state or condition
in which man exists in an irrational
and meaningless universe and in
which man’s life has no meaning
outside his own existence.
Heart of Darkness
 Absurdism:
a philosophy based on
the belief that man exists in an
irrational and meaningless universe
and that his search for order brings
him into conflict with his universe.
Introduction to Jung
Adapted from:
Burke, Colleen. “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: A Metaphor of
Jungian Psychology. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
<http://www.ljhammond.com/phlit/burke.htm>
Carl G. Jung
1875-1961

founder of analytical psychology
 religious expression arises from the psyche’s inner
drive toward a healthy balance of individual
consciousness and the collective unconscious.
 collective unconscious, or objective psyche, is
shared by all humankind. Includes archetypes,
which govern the way symbols and psychic
images are processed
Carl G. Jung
1875-1961


recognizing archetypal patterns is key to
understanding dreams and the process of
individuation
individuation is the striving toward a
personal unity of consciousness and
unconsciousness, and of the person with the
Whole. Can be called the Journey to
Wholeness.
Jung’s Model of the Psyche
– the part of myself that I’m
conscious of
 persona – hides my ego from the
outer world
 ego
Jung’s Model of the Psyche
unconscious – contains
forgotten or never-conscious
experiences of various kinds
 collective unconscious – connects
me with the whole human
experience
 personal
Jung’s Model of the Psyche
– feminine center of a man
 animus – masculine center of a
woman
 anima
Jung’s Model of the Psyche
– whole person, conscious and
unconscious; acts as center,
seeking to organize the whole
 Self
Jung’s Model of the Psyche
– all that is unconscious,
but can be energized by repressed
feelings, anger, old hurts, etc. If not
recognized or made conscious, its
energy can be projected onto others
and the faults I see in others are
really my own
 Shadow