Franz Kafka
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Franz Kafka His life His work His “issues”
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Franz Kafka. His life His work His “issues”. Early Life. Born July 3, 1883 Born into a Jewish family in Prague. Early life. Named for Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary Middle class family Father had a dry goods store - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Franz Kafka
Franz KafkaFranz Kafka
His lifeHis work
His “issues”
His lifeHis work
His “issues”
Early LifeEarly LifeBorn July 3, 1883Born into a Jewish family in Prague
Born July 3, 1883Born into a Jewish family in Prague
Early lifeEarly life
Named for Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary
Middle class familyFather had a dry goods storeMother from wealthier family (family
involved in merchant and brewing businesses)
Named for Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary
Middle class familyFather had a dry goods storeMother from wealthier family (family
involved in merchant and brewing businesses)
Kafka’s parentsKafka’s parents
Family LifeFamily Life
Had 2 male siblings - both died around the age of 1
Had 3 sistersChildren raised by governesses
(common in middle and upper class families)
Family moved around based on financial situation
Had 2 male siblings - both died around the age of 1
Had 3 sistersChildren raised by governesses
(common in middle and upper class families)
Family moved around based on financial situation
Franz as a childFranz as a child
Kafka with his sistersKafka with his sisters
Kafka’s personality Kafka’s personality
Quiet and withdrawnWrote plays for sisters to act outFeared father
Stuttered only in his presence
Quiet and withdrawnWrote plays for sisters to act outFeared father
Stuttered only in his presence
EducationEducation
Attended German schoolsFather felt he could “get ahead”
Studied chem for two weeks in college; switched to law
Met Max Brod in collegeA writer; became good friends
1906 - earned Doctorate in Law
Attended German schoolsFather felt he could “get ahead”
Studied chem for two weeks in college; switched to law
Met Max Brod in collegeA writer; became good friends
1906 - earned Doctorate in Law
CareerCareer
Worked as civil service lawyer Investigated claims at Workers Accident
Insurance Institute
Traveled to Paris, Italy, Switzerland with BrodBecame interested in Yiddish theatre
1911 - father made him take over family asbestos factoryLong hours almost drove him to suicide
Worked as civil service lawyer Investigated claims at Workers Accident
Insurance Institute
Traveled to Paris, Italy, Switzerland with BrodBecame interested in Yiddish theatre
1911 - father made him take over family asbestos factoryLong hours almost drove him to suicide
Interesting factsInteresting facts
Looked very youngAt 28, some thought he was only 15
or 16Father thought he was
strange/eccentric QuietVegetarian
Looked very youngAt 28, some thought he was only 15
or 16Father thought he was
strange/eccentric QuietVegetarian
RelationshipsRelationships
During college, had many one-night stands
Was both attracted to and repulsed by sexHated the idea of bodily functions
1912 - met Felice Bauer - fell in loveWrote letters to her for yearsProposed in same letter in which he explained
why he’d be bad for herEngaged twice
During college, had many one-night stands
Was both attracted to and repulsed by sexHated the idea of bodily functions
1912 - met Felice Bauer - fell in loveWrote letters to her for yearsProposed in same letter in which he explained
why he’d be bad for herEngaged twice
Franz and FeliceFranz and Felice
RelationshipsRelationships
The Women: Felice, Grete, Gerti, Milena, Dora
Never marriedLived at home with parents for
most of his life
The Women: Felice, Grete, Gerti, Milena, Dora
Never marriedLived at home with parents for
most of his life
WritingWriting
Insomniac - used nights to write fiction
Won writing prize in 1915Works published during his life:
1912 - Meditation1915 - The Metamorphosis1916 - “The Judgment”1919 - “In the Penal Colony”1920 - “A Country Doctor”
Insomniac - used nights to write fiction
Won writing prize in 1915Works published during his life:
1912 - Meditation1915 - The Metamorphosis1916 - “The Judgment”1919 - “In the Penal Colony”1920 - “A Country Doctor”
WritingWriting
Asked literary executor (friend Max Brod) to burn manuscripts of his novels
Brod refusedPublished Posthumously:
AmerikaThe TrialThe Castle (unfinished)
Asked literary executor (friend Max Brod) to burn manuscripts of his novels
Brod refusedPublished Posthumously:
AmerikaThe TrialThe Castle (unfinished)
WritingWriting
Believed a book should be “an axe to break up the frozen sea within us”
Used writing to survive despair from father, job
“By scribbling I run ahead of myself in order to catch myself up at the finishing post. I cannot run away from myself.”
Believed a book should be “an axe to break up the frozen sea within us”
Used writing to survive despair from father, job
“By scribbling I run ahead of myself in order to catch myself up at the finishing post. I cannot run away from myself.”
WritingWriting
Greatest literary influence - Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary)
Some say magical realism in writing began with Kafka
The Metamorphosis influenced Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Modernism, Existentialism
Greatest literary influence - Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary)
Some say magical realism in writing began with Kafka
The Metamorphosis influenced Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Modernism, Existentialism
The MetamorphosisThe Metamorphosis
Themes of alienation and punishment
Characterized as fantasy and nightmare
Inspired by his life?Protagonist
Gregor SamsaPronounced ZamzaSamsa translates to “I am alone.”
Themes of alienation and punishment
Characterized as fantasy and nightmare
Inspired by his life?Protagonist
Gregor SamsaPronounced ZamzaSamsa translates to “I am alone.”
The MetamorphosisThe Metamorphosis
Cover illustrationKafka did not want Gregor’s
“transformed” state depicted on the cover
Why do you think Kafka felt this way?Wrote to his publisher with other
suggestionsIncluding doors, darkness, and light
Yay for symbolism!
Cover illustrationKafka did not want Gregor’s
“transformed” state depicted on the cover
Why do you think Kafka felt this way?Wrote to his publisher with other
suggestionsIncluding doors, darkness, and light
Yay for symbolism!
Cover IllustrationsCover Illustrations
As you can see, many covers honor Kafka’s wishes; however, some more recent editions do not.
As you can see, many covers honor Kafka’s wishes; however, some more recent editions do not.
Later years & DeathLater years & Death
Thought about going to war in WWI1917 - started coughing up blood -
diagnosed with tuberculosisDied in 1924 - cause of death
thought to be starvation - difficult for him to eat because of condition of throat
Thought about going to war in WWI1917 - started coughing up blood -
diagnosed with tuberculosisDied in 1924 - cause of death
thought to be starvation - difficult for him to eat because of condition of throat
FamilyFamily
Parents died in 1930sBuried in same plot as Franz
Sisters killed in the gas chambers in WWII
Parents died in 1930sBuried in same plot as Franz
Sisters killed in the gas chambers in WWII
Czech heroCzech hero
Statues, monuments, buildings, postage stamps
Statues, monuments, buildings, postage stamps
