The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka

Summary

The Metamorphosis �Franz Kafka

ò  Interest level: Grades 9-12

ò  Themes: Feelings/emotions, Purpose, Individuality

D.O.B/D: 3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924Birth Nation: PragueMother tongue: German

Literary style: -  Fuses elements of realism with the

fantastic-  Bizarre or surreal predicaments-  Absurdist

Adaptations “The Publishers” NFB; Caroline Leaf ’s Short

Texts… Carol Jago, writer of Classics in the Classroom lists six criteria she considers before selecting a text for whole-

class study.

1.  are written in language that is perfectly suited to the author’s purpose;

2.  expose readers to complex human dilemmas;

3.  include compelling, disconcerting characters;

4.  explore universal themes that combine different periods and cultures;

5.  challenge readers to reexamine their beliefs;

6.  tell a good story with places for laughing and places for crying.

Merits

ò  Thematically robust Absurdity of life, disconnect between mind and body, limits of sympathy, Alienation, idea of metamorphosis, ‘$ value’, family, relationships …

ò  Interesting word choices, phrasing, linguistic play

ò  Content rouses emotion

ò  Not too difficult to follow, digestible

Challenges

ò  Kafka’s concepts may be tough to grasp in one reading. - a close reading in addition to a thematic study, I feel, would be necessary - good ‘depth of thought’ should be established in the class before considering the text

ò  Heavy themes - It would be an educator’s challenge to supplement the text with other texts to ‘lighten the mood’ or break from the heavy.

ò  Absurdism… What secondary student could pay attention/dig deep enough to appreciate it’s charm? Haha

Alienation

Existential anxiety

Guilt

•  Students can explore and discuss themes of isolation, being an outcast. •  Disgust and Anxiety

Channeling Kafka

Let’s channel our inner Kafka by creating our own Kafka-esque ‘Metamorphosis’ story!

ò  Groups: 6 groups of 4 Each group member contributes one sentence add-on. - logical sequence

ò  Be sure to add:

ò  Descriptive, rich adjectives

ò  Absurd notions

ò  A healthy mixing of the real within the impossible