Heart of Darkness Plot recall Quiz
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad · 9 multiple-choice questions with answers · about 7 min
Test your knowledge of Heart of Darkness with 9 plot recall questions with answers and explanations — quick check of what happens and when. Ideal for revision once you have read the whole novella.
Quick check of what happens and when. Drawn from the whole novella — contains spoilers.
Skills tested: Recall, Context · Difficulty: Easy, Standard
Heart of Darkness Plot recall questions
The answers and an explanation for each question appear as you play, and on the answer-key page of the printout.
- Where is Marlow when he tells his story?
On a steamer going up the Congo · In a club in the city of Brussels · At the Company's station on the coast · On a yacht moored in the Thames at dusk
- What does Marlow see at the Company's first station?
A thriving town with schools and shops · Chained workers and dying men in a grove of shade · A fort guarded by Belgian soldiers · Kurtz himself waiting at the landing
- What does Marlow overhear the manager and his uncle saying?
They plan to promote Kurtz to manager · They want Marlow to take Kurtz's place · They hope the climate will finish Kurtz off · They are sending gold back to Europe
- What book does Marlow find in the abandoned hut downriver?
A Bible with notes in the margins · A worn manual on seamanship · Kurtz's private diary · A French novel about Africa
- What does Marlow see on the posts around Kurtz's house?
Ivory tusks set out to dry · Human heads on stakes · Flags of the Company · Carved masks of local gods
- What are Kurtz's last words?
'Tell my Intended I loved her.' · 'Exterminate all the brutes!' · 'Take me home to Europe.' · 'The horror! The horror!'
- Up which river does Marlow travel?
The Congo · The Nile · The Niger · The Amazon
- Who announces Kurtz's death to the Europeans?
The manager's boy · Marlow himself · The Russian trader · The pilgrims' leader
- Who helps Marlow get his job with the Company?
Kurtz, who writes to recommend him · His aunt, who has influence · The manager, an old friend · A sea captain he served under
More Heart of Darkness practice: all Heart of Darkness quizzes · characters quiz · plot recall quiz · challenge quiz · read Heart of Darkness free
Content note: the novella depicts colonial brutality and uses the racist language of its period; Chinua Achebe's 1975 critique is widely taught alongside it.
Original questions written for Pagine. Quotations are from the public-domain text.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Heart of Darkness Plot recall quiz free?
Yes. All 9 questions are free with answers and explanations. Play online with instant feedback, or print it as a test with an answer key — no sign-up needed.
What does the Heart of Darkness Plot recall quiz cover?
9 plot recall questions drawn from every part of Heart of Darkness. Quick check of what happens and when. It tests recall, context at easy, standard level.
Does it contain spoilers?
Yes — it draws on the whole novella, including the ending.
Can I use it with a class?
Yes. Print it with the answer key for a reading check, homework or revision lesson, or share the link so students can take it online.
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