| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-11页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第11-19页 |
| ·Conrad and his work | 第11-12页 |
| ·Literature review | 第12-18页 |
| ·Focus and structure of the thesis | 第18-19页 |
| 2. Delayed Decoding in Heart of Darkness | 第19-42页 |
| ·Gradual revelation of the meanings of the title | 第19-25页 |
| ·As the inner area of Africa | 第19-20页 |
| ·As evil nature of colonialism | 第20-22页 |
| ·As evil soul of human beings | 第22-25页 |
| ·Marlow's gradual gain of knowledge about Kurtz | 第25-32页 |
| ·Different comments Marlow hears | 第25-27页 |
| ·Kurtz Marlow sees and hears | 第27-29页 |
| ·Kurtz in Marlow's opinion | 第29-32页 |
| ·Arrangement of plot | 第32-35页 |
| ·Overhearing the manager's conspiracy | 第32-34页 |
| ·Understanding the reasons for the ship attack | 第34-35页 |
| ·Detailed description | 第35-42页 |
| ·"Shades" in the woods | 第36-37页 |
| ·"Sticks" and the crew's reaction | 第37-39页 |
| ·"Ornaments" on the poles | 第39-42页 |
| 3. Effects Achieved by Delayed Decoding | 第42-50页 |
| ·To keep the reader in suspense | 第42-44页 |
| ·To bring the reader to the scenes | 第44-45页 |
| ·To sharpen criticism on colonialism | 第45-47页 |
| ·To enrich the novel in meaning | 第47-50页 |
| 4. Conclusion | 第50-52页 |
| Bibliography | 第52-53页 |
