The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka ENG 273: World Literature

 Born in Prague  German-speaking Jewish family  Worked as a lawyer before resigning to be a writer  Never finished a full length novel  Burned 90% of his writings before his death  Few short stories published  Wrote in German  Translators have a difficult time capturing the nuance of his use of language  Stories combine realism and the fantastic  “Kafkaesque” – term that comes from the nature of his writing  …“having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality” – Merriam-Webster Dictionary Franz Kafka ( )

 Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a “monstrous vermin”  He adapts to his new condition  His family is forced to take care of him The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka: The Monstrous Vermin from the Story “The Metamorphosis.” by Martin Senn

 Gregor Samsa  Greta Samsa  Mr. Samsa  Mrs. Samsa  The Manager  The Boarders Key Characters

 Transformation  Absurdity  Dehumanization of modern life  Alienation  Isolation  Family Key Themes