HOD #2

"We looked at the venerable stream not in the vivid flush of a short day that comes and departs forever, but in the august light of abiding memories" (p. 2). The narrator is only beginning to hint at how important the Thames is. He respects it greatly and seems to feel honored to be sailing on the same river that has partaken in so many great things. He is emphasizing how they viewed it not as a great river, but as extraordinary. By relating to this river in the very beginning of the novel, Conrad's extreme feelings are presented for the Thames, England’s greatest river. It has been said that almost all of the events worth noting in English history have included the Thames as their setting.

“A Historical Perspective.” The River Thames. 11 Aug. 2009.
http://www.the-river-thames.co.uk/history.htm

HOD #1

"In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint" (p. 1). According to Dictionary.com, ‘offing’ is defined as the part of the sea that is visible from the shore but is a far enough distance so that a ship would be incapable of anchoring. Conrad wants the reader to be able to visualize how in the offing the sea and the sky seemed to be united. In this passage the vessel was approaching an estuary, the part of a river that combines with the sea. This could resemble the unknown ahead of the crew.