Literary Analysis – Essay Planning
Step 1 – essay plan
Thesis | |||||
Women in “Heart of Darkness” are more significant, then it may seem at the first glance | |||||
Claim #1 | Claim #2 | Claim #3 | |||
Marlow’s aunt lends him a helping hand when he needs it. | Certain women represent wisdom. | Both of Kurtz’s lovers strongly influence the way people behave | |||
Evidence #1 | Evidence #2 | Evidence #1 | Evidence #2 | Evidence #1 | Evidence #2 |
“She wrote: ‘It will be delightful. I am ready to do anything, anything for you. It is a glorious idea. I know the wife of a very high personage in the Administration, and also a man who has lots of influence with,’ etc. She was determined to make no end of fuss to get me appointed skipper of a river steamboat, if such was my fancy.” Collins’ Classics p. 8 | “One thing more remained to do—say good–bye to my excellent aunt. I found her triumphant.” Collins’ Classics p. 12 | "She glanced at me above the glasses. The swift and indifferent placidity of that look troubled me. Two youths with foolish and cheery countenances were being piloted over, and she threw at them the same quick glance of unconcerned wisdom. She seemed to know all about them and about me, too. An eerie feeling came over me. She seemed uncanny and fateful. Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes." Collins’ Classics p. 11 | “Then I noticed a small sketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch.” Collins’ Classics p. 29 | “‘I have been risking my life every day for the last fortnight to keep her out of the house. She got in one day and kicked up a row about those miserable rags I picked up in the storeroom to mend my clothes with. I wasn’t decent. At least it must have been that, for she talked like a fury to Kurtz for an hour, pointing at me now and then. I don’t understand the dialect of this tribe. Luckily for me, I fancy Kurtz felt too ill that day to care, or there would have been mischief. I don’t understand. . . . “ Collins’ Classics p. 79 | “Yes, I know,’ I said with something like despair in my heart, but bowing my head before the faith that was in her, before that great and saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness, in the triumphant darkness from which I could not have defended her—from which I could not even defend myself.” Collins’ Classics p. 98 |
Step 2 – rough draft
Introduction:
√ Grab reader’s attention
“Girl! What? Did I mention a girl? Oh, she is out of it - completely. They - the women I mean - are out of it - should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own least our gets worse. Oh, she had to be out of it.” This quote suggests that women do not have any influence on the 'real' world. Is it so in "Heart of Darkness"? |
√ Provide some literary background to your topic
Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” |
√ Thesis One sentence, last sentence in introduction
Women in “Heart of Darkness” are more significant, then it may seem at the first glance |
Body Paragraph #1:
√ Topic sentence for claim #1 in support of thesis
When the others fail, Marlow’s aunt lends hum a helping hand, strongly contributing to his getting the job on a steamer. |
√ Support #1(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
Despite former doubts about his aunt’s powers, Marlow eventually decides to ask her for help. Not only was she really ethusiastic about supporting him, she actually managed to get him the desired job. |
√ Explain how support #1 relates to claim #1
Getting a job on a steamer is certainly an important event in the whole story. It would be impossible without aunt’s contribution. |
√ Support #2(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
Marlow, after being appointed the captain of the steamer: “One thing more remained to do—say good–bye to my excellent aunt. I found her triumphant.” Collins’ Classics p. 12 |
√ Explain how support #2 relates to claim#1
Eventually, Marlow appreciated the influence of his aunt. |
√ If you haven’t already, explain how claim #1 relates to thesis, and transition to next claim #2
Altough formerly underestimated, Marlow’s aunt turns out to be the most resourceful and helpful of those, who he asked for support. |
Body Paragraph #2
√ Topic sentence for claim #2 in support of thesis
Certain women represent wisdom |
√ Support #1(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
“Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes.” Collins’ Classics p. 11 |
√ Explain how support #1 relates to claim #2
Those two women were responsible for greeting the newcomers and introducing them. It is significant that they accompanied them in the turning point of their life (which goes beyond any doubt after reading “Heart of Darkness”). |
√ Support #2(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
There was a blindfolded woman depicted on Kurtz’s painting. She was carrying torch. |
√ Explain how support #2 relates to claim#2
Torch is a symbol of wisdom, because it is used to brighten up the darkness, which is commonly being associated with ignorance and stupidity. Additionaly, a blindfolded women is a traditional symbol for justice (blind, but wise). |
√ If you haven’t already, explain how claim #2 relates to thesis, and transition to next claim #3
By possesing the gift of wisdom, those women seem to poses some sort of metaphysical power over one’s life. |
Body Paragraph #3
√ Topic sentence for claim #3 in support of thesis
Both of Kurtz’s lovers strongly influence the way people behave |
√ Support #1(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
When Harlequin talks about black misstress, he seems to be somehow afraid of her. He is aware of the fact, that she could get angry about the most insignificant things from his point of view. Harlequin also mentions, that she could easily make Kurtz punish them because of it. |
√ Explain how support #1 relates to claim #3
It is really unusuall for colonialists to treat black people with respect, let alone be afraid of their influence. This fact makes Kurtz African lover an extraordinary person. |
Support #2(This is a quote or paraphrase)…Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have page numbers!!
“Yes, I know,’ I said with something like despair in my heart, but bowing my head before the faith that was in her, before that great and saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness, in the triumphant darkness from which I could not have defended her—from which I could not even defend myself.” Collins’ Classics p. 98 |
√ Explain how support #2 relates to claim#3
Normally, Marlow would not lie (he had even stated how he detested lies), however the will to preserve innocence in that woman made him do something completely different. |
√ If you haven’t already, explain how claim #3 relates to thesis, and transition to conclusion
Even though those women’s appearances are short, they are intensive enough to see, how strong do they influence other people. |
Conclusion
√ Restate thesis & claims using NEW words
In Joseph Conrad’s novel women may seem to be of no importance, as they are barely mentioned there. However, as we’ve learned from the essay, they are effective, wise and influential, so they actually do have strong impact on the course of action. |
√ Final thoughts for reader (relation to real world or what readers should learn from the work, etc.)
It’s not an accident, that not a single woman is being called by her name. It was authors intentional action in order to make readers reflect deeply on women’s role in general. |
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