Passage 1

Analysing Conrad’s Intent

 First step - The key to annotation isn’t to highlight
ALways Re-read every word. We’re looking for two
things. The first is reaction and
the passage meaning, be it notes on his authorial
motivation, or simply a point about the
And always annotate. character. The second is our literary
devices and features.
Conrad’s Language
Before delving into the depths of Conrad’s thoughts, we will need to unpack aspects of his
language.
Definitions:
Concertina propensity Trireme
Immutability spectral Falernian
Inscrutable Ravenna
Passage annotation process
Step 1: Read the passage and work out where it fits
within the text as a whole. At what stage of the
journey is Marlow on? Does the passage reflect his
early idealism or his later sense of disillusionment?
Step 2: Highlight AND annotate key quotes and
literary features. For each highlighted phrase/word,
write one sentence about what the quote/literary
feature reveals.
Step 3: After highlighting and annotating the
passage, what are the overall ideas, views or
messages prevalent?
● A representation of European views that see
African people as atavistic and Other
● An indictment of the pernicious impacts of
colonialism
● Reflects the concept of civilisation as a fragile
veneer
● Reveals the fallacy of ‘civilising’ missions,
presenting them as a facade for avarice and
corruption
● A critique of the presumed superiority of
eurocentric values and beliefs
● A repudiation of innate human savagery
● A reflection of the incongruity of European
ways of life in Africa
The fact that he was the “only man of us who still followed the sea”, alludes to his need to
avoid the land, foreshadowing his traumatic connection to it.

The allusion to “And this also,” said Marlow The adverb ‘suddenly’
previous colonisation evokes an atmosphere
suddenly, “has been one of the dark
of England by the of spontaneity - that
Romans foregrounds places of the earth.”
Marlow has something
the novella’s concern He was the only man of us who still
on his mind and that he
with colonialism. The “followed the sea.” The worst that
needs to vocalise it.
narrator associates could be said of him was that he did
darkness with not represent his class. He was a He seems to enjoy
barbarism, suggesting seaman, but he was a wanderer, too, being lost, highlighting
that prior to Roman while most seamen lead, if one may so his unconscious desire
colonisation, England express it, a sedentary life. Their to avoid the realities of
was “also dark” and minds are of the stay-at-home order, life.
uncivilised. and their home is always with them—
the ship; and so is their country—the
sea.
Instant Reactions - Character and Plot
- After you’ve read the passage again, in one paragraph, try and summarize Marlow’s
statement in lieu of what you know of the rest of the novel. What is he setting up?

*Consider that in the very next paragraph, he utters the phrase “it was just robbery
with violence”.

*What might the final line be foreshadowing?

Conrad and Power
This passage serves as Conrad’s only overt characterization of Imperialism - Rome as the
civilized explorer and the natives of the English continent as the savages.

How does he then

a) Consider the reality of the grim nature of colonial expansion, and

b) Suggest what the only real differences between the two civilizations are?
Practicing the Passage Analysis
Keys:
- Explain your interpretation of the passage

*What ideas does the passage develop?

*What is your interpretation of the passage in terms of the ideas, places and
concepts explored?

*How does Conrad use literary elements and devices to frame his authorial
narrative?
Starting off Together - Broad approach
Analyse the first passage using the suggested paragraph structure:

★ State the significance and your interpretation of the passage (Idea) and Conrad’s
purpose
★ How idea is portrayed; explored across the passage(s)?
★ Word/sentence/text level analysis of language (4-5 quotes)
★ Mini conclusion: what is the writer’s purpose at this point?
Starting off Together - Specific Reminders
★ Topic sentence addresses a view/message of the text
★ Quotes are given context (E.g. After… When… Since… Before… Initially…)
★ Quotes are short and embedded
★ Close analysis of quotes has been conducted (E.g. The word “blah” suggests/evokes
the image of…
★ The effect of literary devices has been examined
★ Link summarises the overall idea explored in the paragraph
Passage analysis preparation
Half the class will find quotes for one topic sentence; the other half will find quotes for the other topic
sentence.

The opening of the novella focuses on the experience of the Through the frame narrator, Conrad parodies colonialist views,
coloniser rather than the colonised, highlighting the ironic, criticising them through presenting their struggles as vacuous.
ignorant savagery inherent in imperialist ideology.

- “Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to
escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender,
the hate”.
- “Imagine the feelings of the commander” -
lack of focus on the Congolese
- “Sandbanks, marshes, savages (invective),
precious little to eat fit for a civilised man” -
asyndetic list.
- “A sea the colour of lead, sky the colour of
smoke, and a ship about as rigid as a
concertina”.
- “No Falernian wine here.”
- “The fascination of the abomination”
- “Except afterwards to brag of what he had
gone through in his time, perhaps”.
- “He has to live in the midst of the
incomprehensible”.
- “Did it very well too no doubt, and without
thinking much about it either”.