Mabie Heart of Darkness
AES IB English 11
-Heart of Darkness Comprehension Quiz-
Directions: Read each prompt and provide the correct answer. That is to say, if there is a space provided, write in the correct answer; if true or false is offered, circle the correct response; if there are multiple choices offered, circle the correct answer.
Section I
1) Which river is the setting at the very beginning of the story?
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2) True False The story is told directly by Marlow.
3) Prior to he time on the steamboat in Africa, what had Marlow been doing for the past six years?
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4) Which relative aids Marlow in getting a position on a steamboat going down the Congo River in Africa?
______
5) True False The previous steamboat captain (i.e., of the steamboat that Marlow takes over)
is killed in a dispute with a native chief over some hens.
6) Marlow must visit a city in Europe to sign his contract before he leaves to take command of the steamboat. This city is Brussels, Belgium. He describes it as a:
A) White Rabbit
B) Whited Sepulchre
C) White Fog
D) Black Pumpkin
7) True False Marlow has positive first impressions of the first station where he spends
significant time (before his journey upstream)—the place where people are bombarding the hillside.
8) Marlow first hears of Kurtz at this station (the one mentioned in the prompt above) from the chief accountant. Marlow finds out that Kurtz is known for obtaining and sending down river more ______than anyone else is.
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9) When Marlow arrives at the next station--after a 200 mile tramp through the jungle—he finds out that his steamboat has been:
A) blown up
B) stolen
C) sent back to Europe
D) sunk
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10) True False At this second station, Marlow likes the manager and the manager’s uncle (the
leader of the El Dorado Exploring Club).
Section II
11) True False The manager and uncle at the station are interested in spreading the light of
civilization to the people whom they encounter on the river.
12) How long does it take for Marlow to move on from this second station?
A) Two Days
B) Two Weeks
C) Two Months
D) Two Years
13) What is unusual about the diets of the native men whom Marlow has working on the boat?
______
14) Fifty miles below the Inner Station, Marlow’s crew comes upon two items left behind for them:
i. A stack of wood with a note attached
ii. ______
15) True False When Marlow and his crew are trapped in the fog, their biggest fear is getting
lost.
16) Marlow’s helmsman (the person who steers the boat) is killed on the river. With what weapon is he killed?
______
17) True False When Marlow first meets Kurtz, Kurtz strikes Marlow as very proud.
18) True False Marlow becomes increasingly intrigued with Kurtz as the story goes on.
19) What is the general subject matter of the eloquently written, seventeen-page report (pamphlet) that Kurtz wrote?
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20) What is scrawled on the last page of the report (pamphlet) that Kurtz wrote?
A) Go Home, Meddlers!
B) Death to Imperialist Dogs!
C) Exterminate all the Brutes!
D) Africa Rules!
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Section III
21) True False Kurtz is the first person Marlow meets when he gets to the Inner Station.
22) True False Marlow learns that Kurtz obtains most of his Ivory through skillful negotiation
with the surrounding natives.
23) True False Kurtz is ill by the time that Marlow reaches the station.
24) Through his glass (telescope), Marlow discovers that Kurtz is keeping what on stakes outside of his house?
______
25) True False The manager approves of Kurtz’s “methods.”
26) When Marlow goes to look for Kurtz later in the night, where does he find him, and what is he doing?
______
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27) When Marlow takes Kurtz away on the steamboat, the natives grow very agitated—as if they are going to attack the ship. How does Marlow scare them away?
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28) Kurtz Dies on the steamboat going downstream. What does he die of?
A) Disease
B) A Gunshot Wound
C) Drowning
D) A Spear Wound
29) What is Marlow supposed to guard for Kurtz after his death?
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30) True False Marlow tells Kurtz’s fiancée the truth regarding the last words that Kurtz
uttered.
Extra Credit:
What were Kurtz’s last words?
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