Question

Read the following group discussion about Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, in which an Englishman travels through the African Congo. RIKU:I pretty much agree with Frederickson's article. EDGAR: Wait, which part of the article? RIKU:The part where he says that Heart of Darkness is an exploration of the savage part of human nature, so it could have taken place anywhere — in a hotel room, a Laundromat, whatever. The setting didn't really have to be the African Congo. MARIA:Frederickson has always been an apologist for Joseph Conrad. In every article he's written, he always skirts around the fact that Heart of Darkness is pretty racist in its outlook, so I'm guessing that Frederickson is just making it seem like the setting doesn't matter. EDGAR:So you think the setting does matter? MARIA:Definitely. To Conrad, Africa is the same thing as savagery. Practically a symbol for it. EDGAR:Well, what do other people think? VICTOR:That's what I want to know. I know that Chinua Achebe wrote an essay that criticizes Conrad's point of view, and he's probably not the only one to do so. RIKU:In that case, I'm going to find an article that agrees with Frederickson. Why don't you and Maria find one that disagrees? VICTOR:Well, that's easy. I pick Achebe.Which student is most clearly determining new research goals?A.Victor B.Riku C.Edgar D.Maria

Answer 1

Answer: B. Riku

Step-by-step explanation:

We see Riku's immediate interest in the article, as well as his tendency to think for himself. His opinion is opposed to that of Maria who seems to argument her point of view based on authority: Frederickson has always been an apologist for Joseph Conrad. To Conrad, Africa is the same thing as savagery. Practically a symbol for it.

Edgar is the one that asked the crucial question, Victor showed interest, but it was only Riku that decided he'd go out of his way in order to find out something new: In that case, I'm going to find an article that agrees with Frederickson. Why don't you and Maria find one that disagrees?