Introducing
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski =
“Joseph Conrad”
Chronology
1857
• Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski born December 3 near Berdichev to Apollo
Nalecz Korzeniowski and Evelina (Ewa) Bobrowska.
1862
• May 8, Apollo Korzeniowski exiled to prison camp in Vologda, Russia,
accompanied by his wife and son.
1865
• June 6, Conrad's mother dies. Conrad in care of maternal uncle, Tadeusz
Bobrowski.
1869
• Apollo Korzeniowski and son return to Cracow in February. Apollo dies on
May 23. Conrad attends (sporadically) school in Cracow.
1873
• In May, Conrad leaves for a three-month-long stay in Switzerland and northern
Italy. First view of the sea.
1874
• On October 14 leaves Cracow for Marseilles.
Conrad at
17
Joseph Conrad at Sea
1875
•
Apprentice on the Mont-Blanc, bound for Martinique.
1876-1877
•
From January to July in Marseilles;
•
from July to February 1877 on schooner Saint-Antoine to West Indies.
1877
•
Acquires (with three other men) the tartane, the Tremolino which carries arms illegally to the
supporters of Don Carlos, the Spanish pretender.
1878-1879
•
In February attempts suicide by shooting himself through the chest. On April 24 leaves
Marseilles on British steamer Mavis. On June 18 sets foot in England at Lowestoft. Serves as
ordinary seaman on coaster The Skimmer of the Sea.
1883
•
Passes mate's examination on July 4. Meets uncle Bobrowski at Marienbad. Mate on the sailing
ship Riversdale.
1884
•
Second mate on the Narcissus, bound from Bombay to Dunkirk.
1885-1886
•
Second mate on the Tilkhurst; August 19, receives British certificate of naturalization.
November 11, passes examination, receives his "Certificate of Competency as Master"; first
story, "The Black Mate," submitted to Tit-Bits.
1887
•
First mate on Highland Forest. Hurt by a falling spar, hospitalized in Singapore (experience
recalled in Lord Jim). Second mate on steamship Vidar (Singapore-Borneo).
1888
•
On Melita (bound for Bangkok), then his first command on the baroque the Otago (BangkokSydney-Mauritius-Port Adelaide). Experiences described in The Shadow-Line, Victory, "The
Secret Sharer," "A Smile of Fortune," and other works.
From Seaman to Writer and Father
1893-1894
• Second mate on Adowa (London-Rouen-London).
•
Ends his career as seaman on January 14, 1894.
•
Uncle Bobrowski dies on January 29, 1894.
• In April Conrad sends Almayer's Folly to T. Fisher Unwin.
1894-1895
• Writes An Outcast of the Islands.
1896
• Match 24, marries Jessie George.
1897
• Completes The Nigger of the "Narcissus";
• friendship with R. B. Cunninghame Graham.
1898
• Son Alfred Borys born January 14.
• In October moves to Petit Farm, Kent.
1899
• In February completes Heart of Darkness.
1900
• Finishes Lord Jim.
1904
• Nostromo. Writes The Mirror of the Sea.
• Wife ill, practically an invalid.
Joseph Conrad and his son Borys
Travel and Critical Acclaim
1905
• Spends four months in Europe.
1906
• Spends two months in France. Second son John Alexander born August 2.
1907
• Children ill in France. Returns to Pent Farm in August. The Secret Agent.
1908
• A Set of Six.
1910
• In June moves to Capel House, Kent. Seriously ill.
1911
• Under Western Eyes.
1912
• 'Twixt Land and Sea, Tales.
1913-1914
• Chance. Writes Victory.
• Leaves for Poland in July 1914; meets Stefan Zeromski in Zakopane;
• caught by the war in August; escapes and returns to Capel House November 3.
Joseph
Conrad
and his
family
War, Fame and Last Years
1915
•
Victory. Within the Tides.
1916
•
Borys fights on the French front.
1917
•
The Shadow-Line. Writes prefaces for a new collected edition of his works.
1918
•
Borys, gassed and wounded, is hospitalized in Le Havre.
1919
•
The Arrow of Gold. Moves to Oswalds, Bishopbourne, near Canterbury, where he spends the last years of his life.
1920
•
The Rescue.
1921
•
Visits Corsica. Notes on Life and Utters.
1923
•
Visits New York (April-June).
•
Reading from his Victory at home of Mrs. Arthur Curtiss James, May 10.
•
The Secret Agent, Drama in Four Acts (adaptation of the novel). The Rover.
•
Laughing Anne, a play (adaptation of "Because of the Dollars").
1924
•
Jacob Epstein does Conrad's bust.
•
In May, Conrad declines knighthood.
•
Health deteriorates and he is bedridden. His wife is also ill. Both sons and Richard Curle are with them.
•
Dies of heart attack August 3.
•
Buried in Canterbury.
Posthumous Publications
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1925
Suspense (incomplete). Tales of Hearsay.
1926
Last Essays.
1928
The Sisters (written in 1896; incomplete.)
1936
Jessie Conrad dies December 6. Buried near her
husband at Canterbury.
• 1978
• Alfred Borys Conrad, the elder son of Conrad, dies on
November 13.*
*Excerpted and condensed from Adam Gillon, Joseph Conrad. Boston:
Twayne,1982.
Imagery
J.M.W. Turner, Approach to Venice, 1844.
Heart of Darkness
Norton Critical Edition, page 8
The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite
brilliance. The water shone pacifically, the sky without a
speck was a benign immensity of unstained light, the
very mist on the Essex marshes was like a gauzy and
radiant fabric hung from the wooded rises inland and
draping the low shores in diaphanous folds. Only the
gloom to the west brooding over the upper reaches
became more sombre every minute as if angered by the
approach of the sun.
And at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the
sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to a dull
red without rays and without heat, as if about to go out
suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom
brooding over a crowd of men.
Positive Diction:
Mood and Tone
The day was ending in a serenity of still and
exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically,
the sky without a speck was a benign immensity
of unstained light, the very mist on the Essex
marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric hung
from the wooded rises inland and draping the low
shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the
west brooding over the upper reaches became
more sombre every minute as if angered by the
approach of the sun.
And at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the
sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to
a dull red without rays and without heat, as if
about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the
touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.
Positive Detail
and Imagery
The day was ending in a serenity of still and
exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically,
the sky without a speck was a benign immensity
of unstained light, the very mist on the Essex
marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric hung
from the wooded rises inland and draping the low
shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the
west brooding over the upper reaches became
more sombre every minute as if angered by the
approach of the sun.
And at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the
sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to
a dull red without rays and without heat, as if
about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the
touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.
J.M.W. Turner, Rain, Steam and Speed (1844)
Negative Diction:
Mood and Tone
The day was ending in a serenity of still and
exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically,
the sky without a speck was a benign immensity
of unstained light, the very mist on the Essex
marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric hung
from the wooded rises inland and draping the low
shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the
west brooding over the upper reaches became
more sombre every minute as if angered by the
approach of the sun.
And at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the
sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to
a dull red without rays and without heat, as if
about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the
touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.
Negative Detail
and Imagery
The day was ending in a serenity of still and
exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically,
the sky without a speck was a benign immensity
of unstained light, the very mist on the Essex
marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric hung
from the wooded rises inland and draping the low
shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the
west brooding over the upper reaches became
more sombre every minute as if angered by the
approach of the sun.
And at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the
sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to
a dull red without rays and without heat, as if
about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the
touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.
James Abbot Whistler, Nocturne
Structure: Frame Narrative
Marlow
Narrator
Joseph Conrad
Heart of Darkness
Norton Critical Edition
Narrative Voice
“Between us there was as I have already said
somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our
hearts together through long periods of separation it had
the effect of making us tolerant of each other’s yarns—
and even convictions…”(Page 7).
“His remark did not seem at all surprising. It was just like
Marlow. It was accepted in silence. No one took the
trouble to grunt even, and presently he said very
slow:…” (Page 9).
Heart of Darkness
Norton Critical Edition
Marlow’s Voice
“I was thinking of very old times, when the
Romans first came here, nineteen hundred
years ago—the other day…Light came out
of this river since—you say Knights? Yes
but it is like a running blaze on a plain, like
a flash of lightning in the clouds. We live
in the flicker—may it last as long as the old
earth keeps rolling! But darkness was
here yesterday.” (Page 9)
Techniques of Characterization
•What characters do
•What characters say
•What others say about them
Characterization through Voice
“Between us there was as I
have already said
somewhere, the bond of the
sea. Besides holding our
hearts together through
long periods of separation it
had the effect of making us
tolerant of each other’s
yarns—and even
convictions…”(Page 7).
“His remark did not seem at
all surprising. It was just
like Marlow. It was
accepted in silence. No
one took the trouble to grunt
even, and presently he said
very slow:”
“I was thinking of very old
times, when the Romans
first came here, nineteen
hundred years ago—the
other day…Light came
out of this river since—
you say Knights? Yes but
it is like a running blaze
on a plain, like a flash of
lightning in the clouds.
We live in the flicker—
may it last as long as the
old earth keeps rolling!
But darkness was here
yesterday.” (Page 9)
Diction and Imagery
in Heart of Darkness
Diction creates Tone.
Detail Indicates Imagery.
Directions: For each of the following excerpts from Heart
of Darkness:
• List the diction that creates the tone and describe the
tone and its implications
• List any detail that creates an image, or at least a
potential image
• Explain why this image would be significant in this
text.
Write all of this on a separate piece of paper, one per
group. Do not write on your copy of the assignment.
“Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours
at South America, or Africa, or Australia and lose myself in all the glories of
exploration. At that time there were many blank spaces on the earth and when I
saw one that looked particularly inviting on a map (but they all look that) I would
put my finger on it and say: When I grow up I will go there. The North Pole was
one of these places I remember. Well, I haven’t been there yet and shall not try
now. The glamour’s off. Other places were scattered about the Equator and in
every sort of latitude al over the two hemispheres. I have been in some of them
and…well, we won’t talk about that. But there was one yet—the biggest—the
most blank, so to speak—that I had a hankering after.
“True, by this time it was not a blank space any more. I had got filled since my
boyhood with rivers and lakes and names. It had ceased to be a blank space of
delightful mystery—a while patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had
become a place of darkness. But there was in it one river especially, a mighty
big river that you could see on the map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled,
with its head in the sea, its body at rest curving afar over a vast country and its
tail lost in the depths of the land. And as I looked at the map of it in a shopwindow it fascinated me as a snake would a bird—a silly little bird. Then I
remembered there was a big concern. A Company for trade on that river. Dash it
all, I though to myself, they can’t trade without using some kind of craft on that
lot of fresh water—steamboats! Why shouldn’t I try to get charge of one. I went
on along Fleet Street, but could not shake off the idea. The snake had charmed
me” (12).
Congo Free State (Belgian Congo) in
1890’s
“True, by this time it was not a blank space any more.
I had got filled since my boyhood with rivers and lakes and
names. It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful
mystery—a while patch for a boy to dream gloriously over.
It had become a place of darkness. But there was in it one
river especially, a mighty big river that you could see on the
map, resembling an immense snake uncoiled, with its head
in the sea, its body at rest curving afar over a vast country
and its tail lost in the depths of the land. And as I looked at
the map of it in a shop-window it fascinated me as a snake
would a bird—a silly little bird. Then I remembered there
was a big concern. A Company for trade on that river. Dash
it all, I though to myself, they can’t trade without using some
kind of craft on that lot of fresh water—steamboats! Why
shouldn’t I try to get charge of one. I went on along Fleet
Street, but could not shake off the idea. The snake had
charmed me” (12).
Diction and Imagery
in Heart of Darkness
Diction creates Tone.
Detail Indicates Imagery.
Directions: For each of the following excerpts from Heart
of Darkness:
• List the diction that creates the tone and describe the
tone and its implications
• List any detail that creates an image, or at least a
potential image
• Explain why this image would be significant in this
text.
Write all of this on a separate piece of paper, one per
group. Do not write on your copy of the assignment.
“One thing more remained to do -- say good-bye to my
excellent aunt. I found her triumphant. I had a cup of tea -the last decent cup of tea for many days -- and in a room
that most soothingly looked just as you would expect a
lady's drawing-room to look, we had a long quiet chat by
the fireside. In the course of these confidences it became
quite plain to me I had been represented to the wife of the
high dignitary, and goodness knows to how many more
people besides, as an exceptional and gifted creature -- a
piece of good fortune for the Company -- a man you don't
get hold of every day. Good heavens! and I was going to
take charge of a two-penny-half-penny river-steamboat with
a penny whistle attached! It appeared, however, I was also
one of the Workers, with a capital -- you know. Something
like an emissary of light, something like a lower sort of
apostle. There had been a lot of such rot let loose in print
and talk just about that time, and the excellent woman,
living right in the rush of all that humbug, got carried off her
feet. She talked about 'weaning those ignorant millions
from their horrid ways,' till, upon my word, she made me
quite uncomfortable. I ventured to hint that the Company
was run for profit.”
Hints for Diction and Imagery
in Heart of Darkness
Directions: For each of the following excerpts from Heart
of Darkness:
• Summarize the paragraph to be sure you get the gist of
it.
• List the diction that creates the tone and describe the
tone and its implications
• You may want to categorize the diction. Not every word
is significant, so this helps you find the patterns.
• List any detail that creates an image, or at least a
potential image
• You could categorize the details also. Once you have
identified the categories, you can recognize major
images.
• Explain why this image would be significant in this
text.
Write all of this on a separate piece of paper, one per
group.