Heart of Darkness Chapter 1 – Flashcards
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Where does the story take place?
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During a flood on the river Thames in England!
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What is the british ships name and who is on board?
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-Nellie -the unnamed narrator, a lawyer, an accountant, and Marlow. (Also, an iman, a priest, and a rabbi.)
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___ is in the west? (They mention it a lot)
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An "ominous gloom"
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What does Marlow first tell a story about?
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A roman seaman coming to Britain, encountering horrors and then conquering the natives!
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What does Marlow call himself while telling the story?
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A "fresh water" sailor
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Looking back, Marlow says he was fascinated with what as a child?
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Maps because of their blank space! (Specifically Africa)
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Which river is Marlow hypnotized by? It's like?
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-The Congo River -Like a snake hypnotizing a bird
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What is "The Company"?
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-The Belgian Ivory Trade firm Marlow decides to apply to! -He wants to get his hands on a steam boat!
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How did Marlow get his "appointment"?
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through his aunt's help, she asked a friend of hers whose husband was powerful
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Who dies? Where?
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-The commissioned captain Fresleven dies! -At the hands of fighting native americans over an argument over two hens! (the son of the man cautiously poked him with his spear/his body was left there, the grass grew through him)
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Why are both parties freaking out?
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-Europeans:Because one of their men just got killed! -Native Americans: Because they've just killed a god (white man)
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Marlow easily got Fresleven's job because?
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Everyone else thought it was too dangerous!
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Where is the office located? What does it remind Marlow of?
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-Brussels -Burial vaults
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What freaks Marlow out?
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-Two women knitting with black yarn (symbol of death) on the doorstep!
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What language does the company head speak?
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French!
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Along the way to Africa, Marlow sees?
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-Group of black men rowing a boat and they look natural and energetic! -A warship anchored off shore (Where someone tells him there are hidden enemies)
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How long does it take them to reach the outer coast/station? What do they see? What does Marlow do?
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30 DAYS -Healthy slaves chained together trying to build a railroad -Sick slaves dying in a grove of trees -Marlow tries to give one poor man a snack, but the guy dies right before his eyes.
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Marlow needed to visit a doctor before going to Africa. Describe his encounter with the doctor and the advice the doctor gives him. Why is this significant?
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-the doctor measured his head and asked if there was any madness in his family -He says "Avoid irritation more than exposure to the sun." -shows that many who go to Africa either die or go insane
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Right before leaving for Africa, "a ___ feeling came to [him] that [he] was an imposter
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queer!
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"the ____ of the surf...was a ____ pleasure"
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Voice, Positive
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What is the deal with Mr Kurtz?
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-He is a top agent that earns the most ivory out of everyone else!
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When Marlow arrives at the central station, what does he find out?
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His ship has sunk.
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What does Marlow think of the manager? What info does the manager tell to him?
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-Thinks he is creepy and annoying -Kurtz is sick and has plans to become manager.
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One night what horrible incident happens? Whos there?
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-A shed burns down -The "brickmaker" aka the manager's spy
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Why does the brickmaker talk to Marlow?
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-He hopes to get in with his aunts connections! Get access to confidential mail!
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The brickmaker wants:
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To be assistant manager!
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What does Marlow really really hate?
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Lies!
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When the men aboard the Nellie, everything seems:
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Unreal and dreamlike
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What is Marlow fascinated with while the brickmaker talks?
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The eerily silent forest!
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Why does Marlow need the brickmaker's help? How does he respond?
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Marlow needs rivets from the brickmaker to repair the boat -the guy changes the topic to something about a troublesome hippo that terrorizes the men at night
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After this, Marlow runs into:
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-the foreman sitting on the deck -They dance madly because they think rivets are coming in three weeks.
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No rivets come, who does?
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-a renegade raiding group called the Eldorado Exploring Expedition arrives led by the managers uncle!
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Marlow decides he likes who the most and why?
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Kurts and because he seems to have morals!
