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Kafka

Get Shmoopesque with Kafka.

  • Course Length: 3 weeks
  • Course Type: Short Course
  • Category:
    • English
    • Literature
    • High School

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Looking for a nice, uplifting read? Then you've found yourself in the wrong spot—Franz Kafka just wasn't about the smiles.

This is a guy who could turn a human into a bug in the course of a sentence and who wasn't afraid to ask Deep Questions about the fundamental nature of the human condition. Don't let those simple sentences fool you: Kafka makes his readers work for it.

This course will help you through it all—from strange torture devices to labyrinthine bureaucracies, it'll be a crazy ride through Kafkatown.

Unit Breakdown

1 Kafka - The Man and His Work

This unit is a crash course in Kafka and his short fiction. Just remember short ≠ simple.


Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 1.05: A Bug's Life

Some transformations are prettier than others.
(Source)

If you're feeling a massive womp womp right now, then Kafka has done his job. This guy loved himself some unhappy endings.

By the end of "The Metamorphosis", Gregor was totally trapped: in his bug body, in his room, and in his family, who no longer thought of him as their son or brother. And so he chooses to die.

And that's what we call classic Kafka.

Most of his characters start out paranoid that fate is somehow against them—and in the end, it usually is. Death seems better than whatever awful situation they've gotten stuck in, and so they make their way out.

So while Kafka did believe in human agency—that is, in the ability to make our own choices and be our own people—it doesn't mean he thought those choices would turn out well. After Gregor dies, the world moves on.

Nothing doing here—just the regular old predictable, boring misery of life.

Uplifting, eh?

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 1.1.05: What's Up With the Ending?

Take a quick look at our discussion of What's Up With the Ending? to see where we stand on the not-so-happy ending.

Then head on over to our character analysis of Gregor to dig deep into what this guy's all about.

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 1.05: A Talking Cockroach?

"The Metamorphosis" is anything but realistic. Yet for some reason, Gregor the Cockroach still can't talk. Why didn’t Kafka just make him a talking cockroach?

You tell us.

We're looking for a 300-word answer that includes textual evidence. Here are some questions to think about as you write:

  • How would that first scene be different if Gregor didn't lose his voice?
  • How would his relationship with his sister and with his parents be different?
  • Do you think he'd still be doomed, or would he somehow manage to survive his experience?

With those questions in mind, and everything you know about Kafka so far, hit us with your best shot.

Expository Writing Rubric - 25 Points

OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
Evidence / Support

All support is clearly and logically connected to the topic. Examples, evidence, and details are thorough and relevant with effective explanation.

(10)

All support about the main topic is relevant. Examples, evidence, and details are explained.

(9)

Most support is related to the topic. Examples, evidence, or details are given.

(8)

Insufficient examples, evidence, or details. Support may be irrelevant.

(7)
Content Understanding

All content is accurate and analysis is interesting and sophisticated.

(10)

All content is accurate.

(9)

May contain minor errors.

(8)

Major errors.

(7)
Style

Language is clear and interesting. Enhances presentation of information. No errors.

(5)

Language is clear and appropriate to topic. Minor spelling or grammatical errors.

(4)

Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Frequent spelling/grammar errors that do not impede comprehension.

(4)

Language use makes writing very difficult to understand. Frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension.

(3)