Franz kafka biography metamorphosis authorization
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Kafka attended a German-language gymnasium and later studied law at the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague, where he also took courses in German literature and philosophy. Following his graduation, he enrolled at the Charles Ferdinand University of Prague, initially pursuing chemistry before switching to law—a decision influenced by his father's expectations.
This debilitating disease led him to take sick leave from his job and eventually forced his retirement five years later. However, his routine office job and the exhausting double life it forced him into—working during the day and writing late into the night—were a source of excruciating torture for him[2†].
Kafka was particularly close to his youngest sister, Ottla[2†].
Kafka had a strained and formal relationship with his father, Hermann, a domineering merchant[2†].
In the literary community, Kafka was relatively unknown during his lifetime, having published only a small portion of his work. Kafka’s most notable pieces—including "The Metamorphosis," "The Trial," and "The Castle"—have attained classic status, influencing countless writers, artists, and thinkers.
Nearly a century after his death, Kafka’s influence remains significant, and his works continue to be studied and interpreted in various ways[14†][15†].
Key Information
- Also Known As: Unknown
- Born: July 3, 1883, in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (now in the Czech Republic)[2†][1†]
- Died: June 3, 1924, in Kierling, near Vienna, Austria[2†][1†]
- Nationality: Born with general Austrian citizenship based on Austro-Hungarian nationality law of 1867, Czechoslovakia (1918–1924)[2†][1†]
- Occupation: Novelist, short story writer, insurance officer[2†][1†]
- Notable Works: “The Metamorphosis”, “The Trial”, “The Judgment”, “The Castle”, “Contemplation”, “A Hunger Artist”, "Letters to Felice"[2†][1†]
- Notable Achievements: Kafka’s works, especially “The Trial” and “The Metamorphosis”, express the anxieties and alienation felt by many in 20th-century Europe and North America[2†][1†].
His best-known works include the novella “The Metamorphosis” and novels “The Trial” and "The Castle"[6†][1†].
See Prof. Despite their closeness, Kafka remained a figure of internal conflict, torn between his creative aspirations and his psychological burdens, which ultimately informed his literary voice.Throughout his adult life, Kafka grappled with various ailments, including migraines, boils, anxiety, and insomnia, which were exacerbated by the onset of tuberculosis in 1917.
Kafka’s literary journey began amid a demanding professional life in insurance, where he worked tirelessly yet found little fulfillment.
Profession
Family
Food
Write an obituary for the traveling
salesman Gregor Samsa from the
standpoint of those meanings that
you can reconstruct from the data of his life.
In his free time, he pursued his passion for writing and produced some of his most famous works, such as "The Metamorphosis," "The Trial," and "The Castle."
Kafka's literary style is characterized by a sense of unease, absurdity, and alienation. His mother, Julie, was subservient to her ill-tempered husband and his exacting business[2†].
Breckman's UPenn Lecture
Novella: Shorter than a novel (but longer than a
short story), often focusing on one major theme
and with less subplots; in tradition of Bocaccio
has a moral or satiric theme. Despite his declining health, Kafka continued to write fervently, using his art as an outlet for his emotional and physical hardships.
His works, characterized by their surreal themes and exploration of existential dread, resonate profoundly with readers grappling with bureaucratic and societal constraints. Brod's decision to defy Kafka's wishes to have his unpublished manuscripts destroyed opened the floodgates to a broader audience. His exploration of identity, meaning, and the individual's plight against impersonal bureaucracies has continued to resonate through generations, securing his legacy as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.