Introduction
Since its publication in 1899, Heart of Darkness has been one of the most widely read books written in English. It has also been one of the most analyzed: scores of literary critics, ranging from feminists to Marxists to New Critics, have all tried to construct their own meanings from the pages of the book.
The novel does seem to invite a wide variety of interpretations. Its narrator even claims the meaning of the story "was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine."
After reading Heart of Darkness, you may feel that the meaning of the story is very hazy. How do you go about making sense of a story as obscure as Heart of Darkness?
This WebQuest may be of some help. It will help you learn just how some critics have come up with their interpretations of Heart of Darkness and encourage you to develop your own critical stance on the book. On your journey toward meaning, you will follow Marlow up the Congo River, shedding light on the heart of darkness as you proceed, finally arriving at a better understanding of this evasive book.
Contact Robert Rozema, the designer of this WebQuest.

Task
Your task is twofold.
First, you must become familiar with one type of literary criticism.
Second, you must use this critical approach to interpret passages from Heart of Darkness. In other words, you must read these passages as a psychoanalytical, post-colonial, reader response, deconstructionist, or feminist critic.
To achieve these tasks, you will follow Marlow up the Congo River. Along the way, you will be visiting links, recording your observations in your Congo Diary and reading important excerpts from Heart of Darkness.

Process
The first thing you will need to do is determine what type of literary scholar you will be. Do this by clicking on the Resource button and examining the links.
After you have explored and chosen one critical approach, be sure to answer the corresponding questions below the listed links. You should record these answers in your Congo diary.
Then click on the To the docks button. This will take you to the first of five destinations. At each destination, you will read an excerpt from Heart of Darkness and respond on a special message board. Each response must be at least 150 words and be supported by at least two direct quotes from the text.
Most importantly, remember that your goal is to read and react to each passage as a psychoanalytical, post-colonial, reader response, deconstructionist, or feminist critic. Ask yourself, "How would this sort of critic read this passage? What would he or she find important?"
When you are finished with this, visit both the Evaluation and Conclusion sites for some last details.

Resources

Psychoanalytical criticism
Explore the links to learn more about psychoanalytical criticism:
Purdue University: Psychoanalytical Criticism
Psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud
Cumberland College Lit Crit

Questions to answer in your Congo diary:
1. Who is Sigmund Freud and what is his tripartite model of the human mind?
2. According to Freud, how are dreams related to the human psyche?
3. When did psychoanalytical theory become popular?
4. How do psychoanalytical critics see or understand a text?
5. What do psychoanalytical critics look for when they read a text?
6. As a psychoanalytical critic, what might you look for in Heart of Darkness?
7. What do you think are the strengths of this approach? The weaknesses?

Post-colonial criticism
Explore the links to learn more about post-colonial criticism:
Post Colonial Literature and Africa
Post Colonial Web
Post Colonial Essay Example
Purdue University: Post-Colonial Criticism
Cumberland College Lit Crit

Questions to answer in your Congo Diary
1. What is colonialism? Name three colonial powers and list some of their colonies.
2. What was the scramble for Africa? What European countries were involved? What African countries became colonized?
3. What country colonized the Congo? Why was this country interested in the Congo?
4. Describe three ways life for the native Congolese changed under this occupation.
5. What is a post-colonial critic and how might he or she understand or read a text?
6. As a post-colonial critic, what might you look for in Heart of Darkness?
7. What do you think are the strengths of this approach? The weaknesses?

Reader response criticism
Explore the links to learn more about reader response criticism:
Purdue University: Reader Response
Cumberland College Lit Crit

Questions to answer in your Congo diary:
1. What is the central focal point of reader response theory?
2. What is an interpretive community? Why do different interpretive communities produce different readings of texts?
3. Explain the difference between understanding the reader as a consumer and understanding the reader as a producer of meaning.
4. Does reader response theory suggest that any interpretation is valid? Explain why or why not.
5. What does a reader response critic pay attention to when she reads a text?
6. As a reader response critic, how might you create meaning from Heart of Darkness?
7. What do you think are the strengths of this approach? The weaknesses?

Deconstruction
Explore the links to learn more about deconstruction:
Deconstruction
Using Deconstruction to Astonish Friends and Confound Enemies
Cumberland College Lit Crit

Questions to answer in your Congo diary:
1. Who is Jaques Derrida and when did deconstruction gain popularity?
2. What do deconstructionists believe about meaning in a text?
3. What are binary oppositions and how are they important to deconstruction?
4. Explain how one term in a binary opposition can be considered privileged.
5. What does a deconstructionist look for when reading a text?
6. As deconstructionist, what might you look for in Heart of Darkness?
7. What do you think are the strengths of this approach? The weaknesses?

Feminist criticism
Explore the links to learn more about feminist criticism:
Purdue University: Feminist Criticism
Cumberland College Lit Crit

Questions to answer in your Congo diary:
1. When and where did the feminist movement begin?
2. Who are some famous feminists? List three historical examples.
3. In a general sense, what is the goal of feminist criticism?
4. What three crucial strategies do feminist critics use to achieve this goal?
5. What questions might a feminist critic ask when reading a text?
6. As a feminist critic, what might you look for in Heart of Darkness?
7. What do you think are the strengths of this approach? The weaknesses?

Once you have made your decision, be sure to answer the questions about the critical perspective you have chosen.
Record your responses in your Congo diary. Once you have answered these questions, you may begin your journey by clicking To the docks.