Abstract:Joseph Conrad has been regarded as one of the most important writers in the English literature in the early 20th century. Heart of Darkness by Conrad has received great attention since its publish. So many writers and scholars has been moved by the novel that they considered it as one of the most typical literary masterpiece. The novel not only inherits the fine tradition of the English literature, but also develops a new path for modernist novels. This paper aims to illustrate the use of multiple narrators, impressionism as well as the use of symbolic images. Consequently, the readers will have a better understanding of both the great achievements which Conrad had made and the great contribution which he had made in the novel writing. 

Key words: Heart of Darkness; multiple narrators; impressionism; symbolic images

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

1.1 Introduction to Joseph Conrad

1.2 Introduction to Heart of Darkness

1.3 Literature Review

2. Writing Techniques in Heart of Darkness3

2.1 Multiple Narrators

  2.1.1 Narrator “I”: the External Frame

  2.1.2 Narrator Marlow: the Internal Frame

2.2 Impressionistic Techniques in Heart of Darkness

2.2.1 Impressionistic Application in Color

2.2.2 Impressionistic Application in Light

2.3 Symbolic Images in Heart of Darkness

2.3.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Title

2.3.2 Symbolic Meaning of the Character Kurtz

3. Conclusion8

Bibliography10

Acknowledgement11