Explore Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness," and his short story, "The Secret Sharer," with the help of this study guide. It provides pre-reading material (author biography, vocabulary, introductory article), reading activities, brainstorming ideas, and thought-provoking writing and discussion prompts on theme, plot, and character. Students who have completed reading "Heart of Darkness" and "The Secret Sharer" can apply what they have learned to other pieces of literature, including T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" and Langston Hughes's "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."