Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka

Novelist and short story writer

"When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning... he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. He was lying on his back as hard as armor plate, and when he lifted his head a little, he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs, to whose dome the cover, about to slide off completely, could barely cling. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, were waving helplessly before his eyes." (Ch 1)

Life

• Born into a middle class family

• Father worked initially as a traveling salesman

• Became successful in fashion/retail

• Both parents worked long hours

• Father is described as ill tempered and tyrannical

• As and adult, Kafka worked for an insurance company, which he despised

• Suffered from intense anxiety, low self-esteem

• Found inspiration after being in a long-term relationship

• Came down with tuberculosis

• More than likely starved to death because the disease affected his throat

Themes

• As people transform, not into a different creature, but behavior-wise and as they evolve with time, others around them also change their attitude and behavior towards them. If you are of use to people, they will be kind and good to you, but they will throw you out if you aren’t fruitful

• A man is rejected by the society if there is something unusual about him. Whatever the change may be, good or bad, the reaction of the society will always be the same.

Themes

• The identity of a person is created by the society he lives in. They decide for you who you are. You have no power, no control over your life if you lose language, or your face. People won’t believe you, because they have decided how you should look like, and how you should speak.

• Self-acceptance is extremely important in everyone’s life. If you don’t accept the transformed you (which happened forcefully, unknowingly, or by choice), you will be fighting with yourself for the rest of your life. You have to live with it, with the current situation. No matter how hard it is, you can’t just run away from it.

How do authors create mystery, suspense and tension

• Clauses which signify time

• Short sentences

• Time limitations

• Slow motion

Multiple Select

A door. A way out. We're saved. No. No. It's locked

• Slow motion

• Short sentences

• Time limitation

• Clauses which signify time

Multiple Select

Sarah answered the hotel phone. Water drenched the receiver as she didn't have time to dry off after her shower. Who could this be? No one knows I'm here. A voice on the other line whispered, "I see you."

• Time limitation

• Clauses which signify time

• Short Sentences

• Slow Motions

Multiple Select

Hurriedly she said, “Is your mother still living, Mr. . . . ?” “Oh no.

Not at all,” the stranger said, rising abruptly from the window seat, and

looking at the mother as if she had said something mildly preposterous.

“I’m sorry,” the mother said. “Please don’t be,” the stranger said. “We’ve all been dead—they’ve

all been dead—a long time.”

• Clauses which signify time

• short sentences

• slow motion

• time limitations

• Mystery: What do I not know (https://youtu.be/MNrCIxsqD2Q)

• Tension: emotional stress, concern for character (https://youtu.be/zmt7D9BH3sE) **Am I afraid for this character?- Is there conflict?

• Suspense: anticipation of what will happen (https://youtu.be/4fcxkKspq0c)

Open Ended

In your own words, what type of man was Kafka's father?

Open Ended

What type of job did Kafka have?

Open Ended

Name one technique used by authors to create mystery, suspense, or tension.

Open Ended

Name at least one health concern Kafka dealt with during his lifetime.

Open Ended

Name one of the themes discussed in class today.