Without a specific topic, this question has almost
limitless answers. What part of the story do you want to focus on, and from which
academic perspective? It is possible to analyze Heart of Darkness from many
perspectives, including historical, social, literary,
scientific....
Nevertheless, some common tips can be useful. First,
know how your chosen perspective affects your understanding of the book. For example, if
you are writing from a medical viewpoint, you might write: "While Kurtz chose his
actions based on his ideals of power, he was also affected by sickness, causing him to
overcompensate for what he felt as a personal weakness." This allows an analysis of
Kurtz's character from both the literal -- his actions -- and the inferred -- his
medical condition, which likely affected his thinking.
Similarly, if
you were to focus on a historical aspect, you might write: "The brutal treatment of the
natives by the whites is explicitly repeated when they attack Marlow's riverboat."
Again, the literal event of the attack is contrasted with the inferred "revenge" that
Marlow fears, which are supported by the brutality of European colonization in
Africa.
Regardless of your chosen perspective, you should focus on at
least two areas: literal and inferred. This allows the analysis of the text without
simply reiterating the story point-by-point; many perspectives can be used to contrast
the novel with reality. You might even choose a more literal approach and contrast the
film Apocalypse Now with the original novel, examining how the story changed between
writer and adaptation; this allows a literal approach combined with the socio-political
motivations of the anti-Vietnam War movement.
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