The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 10 th Honors Ms. Meyer Write down the information in black!

Franz Kafka Born July 3, 1883 Born in upper middle class Jewish family in Prague, Czechoslovakia (it was Austria then) He was the oldest of six children (2 brothers died) He had three sisters, Elli, Valli, Ottla Franz was quiet and withdrawn but would write and perform plays for his sisters

Franz Kafka He began writing when he was in school. He continued writing while working various jobs: insurance salesman and owner of an asbestos factory – which nearly drove him to suicide He never married but had several broken engagements. In August of 1917 he was diagnosed with TB. He died of the disease in 1924.

Franz Kafka His parents both died by All three are buried in the same cemetery. Like many other Jews from Prague, Ottla and her sisters were deported during World War II by the Nazis. Elli and Valli were sent with their families to the Łódź Ghetto, where they perished. Ottla was sent to the concentration camp at Theresienstadt. Ottla accompanied a group of children as a voluntary assistant to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she was murdered a short time later. Kafka requested that all his writings be burned when he died. No one honored his request. Most of his works were published posthumously

Existentialism A philosophy that stresses the uniqueness and isolation of the individual in a hostile or indifferent universe Regards human existence as unexplainable Stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's actions Many writers believed the one and only certainty in life is death

Existentialism The literary movement can be summarized as the belief that people are all that there is. There is no higher power. Each individual is cursed with freedom and must make his own way in the world Life is without ultimate meaning or reason.

Existentialism The spirit of existentialism can be summarized by Calvin and Hobbes Calvin: We all want meaningful lives. We look for meaning in everything we do. But suppose there IS no meaning! Suppose life is fundamentally absurd! Suppose there's no reason, or truth, or rightness in anything! What if nothing means anything? What if nothing really matters?

Surrealism Some people consider The Metamorphosis to be a surreal story. But what is surrealism? Surrealism, as used in this context, is a philosophy that aims for liberation of the mind by emphasizing the irrational workings of the subconscious. It also uses the juxtaposition of unexpected images.

Surrealism is characterized by fantastic imagery and juxtaposition of incongruous (out of place) subject matter. It is closely related to the philosophy of existentialism in the nightmare qualities expressed as well as the visual references to alienation and isolation.

Surrealism Art Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Andre Breton

Magritte

Breton André Breton Performing Far-Sighted Manifesto Translation of sign: “In order for you to like something it is necessary for you to have seen and understood it a long time ago, you bunch of idiots.” 1920

Surrealism + Kafka Surrealism is often referred to as “literature in the dream state,” where a different kind of logic (or non-logic) prevails (as we all experience when we dream disjointed but strangely detailed events). If we remember that Gregor wakes up “from a restless sleep” to discover that he has been transformed into a bug, we see that Kafka is inverting the relationship between so-called “reality” and the dream-state. Pay attention to how the world Gregor wakes into is surreal.

Kafkaesque Definition – –of, relating to, or suggestive of Franz Kafka or his writings; especially: having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality

Pay attention to: The embedded message about alienation and persecution. Existentialism within the work. The struggles of Gregor Samsa with his father and his insecurity. Remember, Gregor represents, to many, Kafka himself. The relationship between Gregor and his father is said to parallel Kafka’s relationship with his own father too.