Franz Kafka ( ) born to a German speaking, Jewish family in Prague born to a German speaking, Jewish family in Prague had a difficult relationship with his father had a difficult relationship with his father his father his father graduated with law degree graduated with law degree worked as clerk for insurance company worked as clerk for insurance company saw himself as “weakly timid, hesitant person” saw himself as “weakly timid, hesitant person” sickly, depressed most of his life sickly, depressed most of his life died of tuberculosis died of tuberculosis

Important works Novels: Novels: –The Trial (1925) –The Castle (1926) –Amerika (1927) Stories: Stories: –The Judgment (1916) –In the Penal Colony (1919) –A Hunger Artist (1922)

“A book must be an axe for the frozen sea inside us.” --Kafka

The Metamorphosis (1915) Lecture by Vladimir Nabokov Lecture by Vladimir Nabokov Lecture by Vladimir Nabokov Lecture by Vladimir Nabokov opening opening interpretations? interpretations? –literary: metaphorical –biographical –psychoanalytical: dreams –marxist: alienated labor

Gregor’s development Gregor’s development Gregor and his family. Other transformations: Gregor and his family. Other transformations: –Grete –Father –Mother The boarders The boarders

Some motifs sleep sleep time of day time of day movement movement space around Gregor space around Gregor the number 3 the number 3 doors opening and closing doors opening and closing

Gregor’s death Gregor’s death the ending the ending Kafka on the story: Kafka on the story: “My little story is finished, but today’s conclusion doesn’t make me happy at all; it should have been better, no doubt about it” “Great antipathy to ‘Metamorphosis.’ Unreadable ending. Imperfect almost to its very marrow.”

In groups of three: Choose one of the characters in the text and rewrite the story from his/her perspective. Choose one of the characters in the text and rewrite the story from his/her perspective.