Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now! Analysis Essay
Francis Ford Coppola bases his film, Apocalypse Now!, on Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Answer one of
the following prompts in essay format. Be sure to use plenty of specifics from both texts in your essay.
1. What does Coppola retain from the original and how?
- thematically
- aesthetically
- philosophically
2. How do differences in media (written narrative to film) add to and subtract from the depth and breadth
of meaning experienced by the reader/ viewer? Consider the limitations of each form objectively. How
does each form attempt to overcome those limitations?
For example, consider multiple narrative points of view vs. voice-over to convey the
subjectivity of narrative perspective, indicating a larger thematic ambiguity.
3. Compare and contrast the film and the novella. Decide whether they have more in common or more in
contrast with one another.
Apocalypse Now! Film Notes
Please take notes while watching the film. Your notes will be worth 10% of your final esay grade. Be
sure to include information on:
- Directorial choices
- Actor/ acting choices
- Camera work/ Photography
- Screenplay choices; film content, narration choices
- Special Effects
- Soundtrack/ Sound Editing choices
- Sets
- Important Dialogue