1. The Trial
Franz Kafka

2. About the Author Franz Kafka
Born July 3, 1883 in Prague
Grew up in a middle class Jewish Family
Younger brothers, Georg and Heinrich, died in infancy
Grew up as the only son with three sisters
Studied at the University of Prague
Burned 90% of his work
Died of Tuberculosis on June 3, 1924 at the age of 40

3. Kafka’s Influences Father Max Brod Had a temper
Lacked appreciation for literature
Max Brod
Met Kafka at the University of Prague
Disregarded a letter written to him by Kafka, that asked for all of his works to be burned unread after he died
Edited and published all of Kafka’s materials

4. The Trial Published in 1925 Originally written in German Synopsis:
Joseph K is arrested from his house. Joseph K. and the guards both do not know what the arrest charges are. The court system appears to be very bias and unprofessional, so Joseph K. denounces it. There also seems to be a lot of bribery and corruption within the system. Joseph K. is faced with a case that he will never win.

5. Themes Power Isolation/Alienation Corruption/Bribery
Breaking the will of man and destroying self-worth
Isolation/Alienation
Being an individual rather than conforming to societal standards, makes Joseph K. an outsider
Corruption/Bribery
Sex and seduction are used often in order to persuade the court/judges
Authoritarian Oppression
Authority has control over everyone’s actions and outcomes
Conformity
Everyone has to act and behave in a certain way
No individuality

6. Quotes/Characters
“Logic may indeed be unshakeable, but it cannot withstand a man who is determined to live.” 
“The only thing for me to go on doing is to keep my intelligence calm and analytical to the end.”
Joseph K.
Chief financial officer for a bank
Forced to defend himself in a corrupted court system against an unknown crime
Huld
Joseph K.’s defense lawyer
Says that the court system is not a place for common sense
Joseph K. becomes skeptical of Huld and decides to drop him

7. Connection
Franz Kafka’s The Trial, explores a more darker side of world literature. It deals with oppression in a more societal standard viewpoint. If someone does not fit into this mold, they are cut out of society. This novel allows people to see how the government can diminish individuality.
Kafka’s The Trial also shows how different forms of oppression leads to people trying to take more control over their life and ending up falling more into a downward spiral.
Gives a different outlook on how people of authority treat individuality and how different types of people handle that control over their life.
The Trial gives an appreciation for all works of literature. This novel had a very likely chance of not being published, but because of Max Brod it was.
Connects to The Meursault Investigation because they both center around the injustice of not only the court system but also society as a whole.

8. Sources
Batuman, Elif. "Kafka’s Last Trial." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Sept Web. 23 Feb
Biography.com Editors. "Franz Kafka." The Biography.com Website. A&E Networks Television. Web. 23 Feb <
Epstein, Joseph. "Is Franz Kafka Overrated?" The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, July-Aug Web. 23 Feb < overrated/309373/>.
Klingensmith, Taylor. "The Nature of Man and Joseph K." The Kafka Project. Mauro Nervi, 18 Jan Web. 23 Feb <
"Max Brod". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., Web. 23 Feb <