CLEMENT GREENBERG.

One feels that what Kafka wanted to convey transcended literature, and that somewhere, inside him, in spite of himself, art had inevitably to seem shallow, or at least too incomplete to be profound, when compared with reality.

-from Commentary Commentary (April 1955) (April 1955)

PAUL AUSTER.

In Kafka's story, the hunger artist dies, but only because he forsakes his art, abandoning the restrictions that had been imposed on him by his manager. The hunger artist goes too far. But that is the risk, the danger inherent in any act of art: you must be willing to give your life.

In the end, the art of hunger can be described as an existential art. It is a way of looking death in the face, and by death I mean death as we live it today: without G.o.d, without hope of salvation. Death as the abrupt and absurd end of life.

-from "The Art of Hunger" (1970)

VLADIMIR NABOKOV.

[Franz Kafka] is the greatest German writer of our time. Such poets as Rilke or such novelists as Thomas Mann are dwarfs or plaster saints in comparison to him.

-from Lectures on Literature Lectures on Literature (1980) (1980)

THOMAS MANN.

[Kafka] was a dreamer, and his compositions are often dreamlike in conception and form; they are as oppressive, illogical, and absurd as dreams, those strange shadow-pictures of actual life. But they are full of a reasoned mortality, an ironic, satiric, desperately reasoned mortality, struggling with all its might toward justice, goodness, and the will of G.o.d.

-from his "Homage" preceding Kafka's The Castle: The Castle: Definitive Edition (1954) (1954) MAX BROD.

When Kafka read aloud himself . . . humor became particularly clear. Thus, for example, we friends of his laughed quite immoderately when he first let us hear the first chapter of The Trial The Trial. And he himself laughed so much that there were moments when he couldn't read any further. Astonishing enough, when you think of the fearful earnestness of this chapter. But that is how it was.

-from Franz Kafka: A Biography Franz Kafka: A Biography (1960) (1960)

FRANZ KAFKA.

My writing was all about you.

-from "Letter to His Father" (1919) Questions 1. In considering Kafka's two diary entries, it becomes evident that the author feels interruptions in the process of composition are detrimental to a writer's work. Given Kafka's dissatisfaction with the end of "The Metamorphosis," and the fact that he failed to complete any of his three novels, what can be said about his notion of resolution? Is a satisfying ending impossible in his fiction? How do you read the ending of "The Metamorphosis"? Does it strike you as particularly superior or inferior to the rest of the tale? 1. In considering Kafka's two diary entries, it becomes evident that the author feels interruptions in the process of composition are detrimental to a writer's work. Given Kafka's dissatisfaction with the end of "The Metamorphosis," and the fact that he failed to complete any of his three novels, what can be said about his notion of resolution? Is a satisfying ending impossible in his fiction? How do you read the ending of "The Metamorphosis"? Does it strike you as particularly superior or inferior to the rest of the tale?2. Thomas Mann finds Kafka's literature "full of a reasoned mortality." Is this consciousness of death what drives Kafka to have Gregor Samsa regress into an insect, the officer in the Penal Colony condemned to a botched and sloppy death, and Georg Bendemann, in "The Judgment," drown himself on orders from his parents, instead of allowing his characters to overcome their circ.u.mstances? Is death itself transcendent in Kafka's work?3. Max Brod's anecdote about Kafka reading aloud reveals not only the latter's sensibilities, but his intentions. How is Kafka funny? Is Kafka's sense of humor so peculiar that it is inaccessible?4. Kafka and his critics always talk about his failures. Some of us think that he succeeded brilliantly. What do you think?5. Teachers often tell students to apply literature to life. "Literature is equipment for living," said American philosopher Ken neth Burke. How would you apply Kafka's fiction to life? Is there any way that reading him might help you to persevere through difficult times?6. One of Kafka's methods is to make the subjective objective. Instead of giving us the interior life of a character whose circ.u.mstances make him feel like an insect, he gives us a character that has literally turned into one. Does this way of reading "The Metamorphosis" account for all the details?

FOR FURTHER READING.

Works by Kafka Amerika. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir. New York: Schocken Books, 1954.

The Basic Kafka. Edited by Erich h.e.l.ler; various translators. New York: Washington Square Press, 1979.

The Castle: The Definitive Edition. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir, with additional materials translated by Ernst Kaiser and Eithne Wilkens. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.

The Complete Stories. Edited by Nahum N. Glatzer; translated by Willa and Edwin Muir, et al. New York: Schocken Books, 1971.

Dearest Father: Stories and Other Writings. Translated by Ernst Kaiser and Eithne Wilkins. New York: Schocken Books, 1954.

Diaries, 1910-1913. Edited by Max Brod; translated by Joseph Kresh. New York: Schocken Books, 1948.

Diaries, 1914-1923. Edited by Max Brod; translated by Martin Greenberg with the cooperation of Hannah Arendt. New York: Schocken Books, 1949.

The Trial: The Definitive Edition. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir, revised and with additional materials translated by E. M. Butler. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956.

Biography Brod, Max. Franz Kafka: A Biography Franz Kafka: A Biography. New York: Schocken Books, 1960.

Hayman, Ronald. K: A Biography of Kafka K: A Biography of Kafka. London: Phoenix Giant, 1996.

Neider, Charles. The Frozen Sea: A Study of Franz Kafka The Frozen Sea: A Study of Franz Kafka. New York: Oxford University Press, 1948.

Pawel, Ernst. The Nightmare of Reason: A Life of Franz Kafka The Nightmare of Reason: A Life of Franz Kafka. New York: Vintage Books, 1985.

Wagenbach, Klaus. Franz Kafka: Pictures of a Life Franz Kafka: Pictures of a Life. Translated by Arthur S. Wensinger. New York: Pantheon Books, 1984.

Criticism Benjamin, Walter. "Franz Kafka: On the Tenth Anniversary of His Death" and "Some Reflections on Kafka." In Illuminations Illuminations , edited by Hannah Arendt; translated by Harry Zohn. New York: Schocken Books, 1969, pp. 111-145. , edited by Hannah Arendt; translated by Harry Zohn. New York: Schocken Books, 1969, pp. 111-145.

Bloom, Harold, ed. Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." New York: Chelsea House, 1988. New York: Chelsea House, 1988.

Borges, Jorge Luis. "Kafka and His Precursors." In Labyrinths Labyrinths. New York: New Directions, 1964, pp. 199-201.

Corngold, Stanley. The Commentators' Despair: The Interpretation of Kafka's "Metamorphosis." The Commentators' Despair: The Interpretation of Kafka's "Metamorphosis." Port Washington, NY: Ken nikat Press, 1973. Port Washington, NY: Ken nikat Press, 1973.

Emrich, Wilhelm. Franz Kafka: A Critical Study of His Writings Franz Kafka: A Critical Study of His Writings. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing, 1968.

Flores, Angel. The Kafka Debate: New Perspectives for Our Time The Kafka Debate: New Perspectives for Our Time. New York: Gordian Press, 1977.

---, ed. The Kafka Problem The Kafka Problem. New York: New Directions, 1946, pp. 122-133.

Gray, Ronald, ed. Kafka: A Collection of Critical Essays Kafka: A Collection of Critical Essays. Engle wood, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1962.

Greenberg, Clement. "The Jewishness of Franz Kafka." Commentary Commentary XIX (April 1955), pp. 320-324. XIX (April 1955), pp. 320-324.

Gross, Ruth V. "Kafka and Women." In Approaches to Teaching Kafka's Short Fiction Approaches to Teaching Kafka's Short Fiction, edited by Ronald Gray. New York: Modern Language a.s.sociation of America, 1995, pp. 69-75.

Nabokov, Vladimir. Lectures on Literature Lectures on Literature. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980.

Udoff, Alan, ed. Kafka and the Contemporary Critical Performance Kafka and the Contemporary Critical Performance . Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987. . Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987.

Other Works Cited in the Introduction Emrich, Wilhelm. Commentary in The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis, translated and edited by Stanley Corngold. New York: Bantam, 1972.

Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis, translated and edited by Stanley Corngold. New York: Bantam, 1972.

Mann, Thomas. Commentary in The Castle: The Definitive Edition The Castle: The Definitive Edition . Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir, with additional materials translated by Ernst Kaiser and Eithne Wilkens. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954. . Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir, with additional materials translated by Ernst Kaiser and Eithne Wilkens. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.

Politzer, Heinz. Franz Kafka: Parable and Paradox Franz Kafka: Parable and Paradox. Ithaca: Cor nell University Press, 1962.

Sokel, Walter. Commentary in The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis, translated and edited by Stanley Corngold. New York: Bantam, 1972.

Thorlby, Anthony. "Kafka's Narrative: A Matter of Form." In Kafka and the Contemporary Critical Performance Kafka and the Contemporary Critical Performance, edited by Alan Udoff. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987.

Wenniger, Robert. "Sounding Out the Silence of Gregor Samsa: Kafka's Rhetoric of Dyscommunication." Studies in Twentieth Century Literature Studies in Twentieth Century Literature XVII (Summer 1993): pp. 263-286. XVII (Summer 1993): pp. 263-286.

a Originally published in 1919 under the German t.i.tle "Eine kaiserliche Botschaft."

b Originally published in 1915 under the German t.i.tle "Die Verwandlung."

c Long, narrow-bladed saw used to cut ornamental work from thin wood.

d Originally published in 1913 under the German t.i.tle "Das Urteil. Ein Geschi chte."

e Originally published in 1913 under the German t.i.tle "Der Heizer. Ein Fragment"; the story eventually became the first chapter of Kafka's novel Amerika Amerika.

f Laborer employed to tend and fuel a furnace used to generate steam on a steamship.

g Part or division of a ship that formerly contained the steering apparatus and is allotted to pa.s.sengers who travel at the cheapest rate.

h Officer on a ship who handles financial accounts.

i Originally published in 1919 under the German t.i.tle "In der Strafkolonie."

j Originally published in 1919 under the German t.i.tle "Ein Landarzt."

k Light, two-wheeled carriage.

l Originally published in 1919 under the German t.i.tle "Ein altes Blatt."

m Glossy, black European birds belonging to the crow family that nest in towers and ruins.

n Originally published in 1922 under the German t.i.tle "Ein Hungerkunstler."

o Worsted, or twisted, fabric often used to make garments; the hunger artist's wearing of tricot is certainly for an ascetic purpose.

p Originally published in 1924 under the German t.i.tle "Josefine, die Sangerin oder Das Volk der Mause."

q To purl is to flow with a murmuring sound.

r Originally published in 1919 under the German t.i.tle "Vor dem Gesetz"; the parable is part of Kafka's novel The Trial The Trial.

s Donna Freed here refers to Kafka's story "Wedding Preparations in the Country," originally published in 1915 under the German t.i.tle "Hochzeits...o...b..rei tungen auf dem Lande."