https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj The Trial By Franz Kafka en-us 2022-04-04 12:11:49 UTC 2026-02-13 19:47:33 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f603.png hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128493979 The Trial by Franz Kafka's genre can be described as absurdist or dystopian fiction. Those genres best fit because The Trial is set in a society where one can be arrested and not told the charges. This is absurd and very dystopian. ]]> 2022-04-04 12:14:09 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128493979 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128498029 Kafka lived in an era when nationalism was increasingly prominent in Austria-Hungary. Kafka lived through and presumably wrote The Trial when Franz Ferdinand, who was supposed to obtain the throne to the Austria-Hungary empire, was assassinated; The start of World War 1. Kafka wrote this book in a time of confusion within his nation. The Trial reflects the confusion surrounding government officials and the complicated structures of bureaucracy. The Trial was published a year after Franz Kafka died specifically after he requested that his books and other works be burned and never published.]]> 2022-04-04 12:16:51 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128498029 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128505537 Franz Kafka was born July 3rd in 1883, Prague, Czechia. Kafka was born eldest son to a Jewish middle class family. Kafka spoke and wrote his works in German. Devastation struck the Kafka family as Kafka’s two younger brothers died in infancy when Kafka was 6. 
The deaths of his brothers left Kafka as the only son in his family which in that era, put pressure on Kafka from his family. Kafka had severe father-son issues. Kafka’s father, Hermann Kafka psychologically tormented his son. Kafka even wrote a letter to his father that is now published and available. In this letter, he addresses his fears and how his father's abuse had left scars. ]]> 2022-04-04 12:21:45 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128505537 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128523961 Josef K. or more commonly referred to as K. in the novel, is our  main character and protagonist. Josef K. is an ambitious, hardworking, charismatic yet blunt gentleman. Josef K. is ambitious because he has worked and currently works proficiently at his occupation of Chief Clerk at the local bank, a position he worked very hard to obtain. Yet despite his already successful job, K. still wants to climb the rungs of his profession. K. is charismatic as he has no problems flirting with who he pleases and talking his way into getting more information about his case. K. is somewhat successful in talking people into helping him here and there throughout the novel. K. while charismatic, is very blunt and cheeky. K. often lets things slip from his mind out of his mouth when it does no help to him. K. is also assertive as this is shown when he is initially arrested as he demands to know what he is being arrested for.]]> 2022-04-04 12:33:20 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128523961 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128565273 Fräulein Bürstner is a woman who lives in K. flat. K. has a slight crush on Fräulein Bürstner. Bürstner is different than all the other woman K. interacts with because K. actually wants Bürstner in a real adult sense. However, Fräulein Bürstner rejects and ignores K.'s advances for intimacy and romance. Fräulein Bürstner works at the theater and gets home really late. She is a hard worker and knows what she wants. Fräulein Bürstner has experience in the legal industry and has a promising career as a law secretary and wants to help K. with his trial as much as she can. ]]> 2022-04-04 12:55:50 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2128565273 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139109302 The theme of The Trial by Franz Kafka is the confusing  and often corrupt natures of bureaucracy and how it severely disadvantages the people. This theme is called "Justice Vs The Law" This is shown throughout the novel through characters that hold important positions never giving Josef K. a straightforward answer or withholding information in hopes of some sort of bribe or benefit. No justice at all given, however the law is followed. This theme of "Justice vs The Law" teaches that though the law may be followed through to the T, that doesn't necessarily mean that justice is served because morality doesn't always equal the law of the land. 
Another theme that can be found is Power, Society and Class. Josef K. has some power over others because of his societal standing or his class. Josef K. is fortunate enough to have a family that knows lawyers. Unfortunately for K., lawyers are useless in this dystopian society. To get a somewhat good stance in your trial against the government, the best thing to do would be to befriend the corrupt within the judicial sector which circles back to the theme being Power, Society and Class. ]]> 2022-04-11 12:58:58 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139109302 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139131820 Josef K.'s Uncle, Uncle Karl, is a wealthy man who takes concern for K. when he learns of K.'s trial. Uncle Karl knows a good lawyer which provides hope for Josef K.'s trial. Uncle Karl took care of Josef K. and his sister when he was younger as their legal guardian. Josef K. is reluctant to accept Uncle Karl's help with his case, but after Uncle Karl pushes for quality legal help, K. accepts his legal aids. Uncle Karl is a small country land owner. Uncle Karl is also very proud of his family and the work they do. Uncle Karl is somewhat impatient and observant. ]]> 2022-04-11 13:13:35 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139131820 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139571509 The setting takes place in Josef K.'s unnamed town. The story starts out in Josef K.'s flat where he is arrested as soon as he wakes up. He is immediately moved into his next door flatmate's room to be held. Another setting that is important to the story is the court offices. The court offices are important to the plot because the courtroom in which Josef K.'s case is held is in a cramped attic of a building which was very difficult for Josef K. to find. Running through the twists and turns of trying to find the courtrooms are symbolic for how difficult it is to work and get stuff done in the confusing state in the establishment. ]]> 2022-04-11 17:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139571509 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139584119 When Josef K. first enters the court room he describes the smells as "oppressive air" which physically weakens him. This is symbolic for how the government does everything in its power to weaken the average individual enough to put them under control. 
The apple that Josef K. is offered and takes a bite of in the very beginning of the book is biblical symbolism for Adam & Eve. As Josef K. takes a bite of the apple, he is formally told of his arrest and everything goes downhill from there. ]]> 2022-04-11 17:47:01 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139584119 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139617214 The first line in the novel which is a memorable quote is "Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K., he knew he had done nothing wrong but, one morning, he was arrested." 
"He felt as if he were seasick, as if he were on a ship in a heavy sea. It was as if the water were crashing against the wooden walls, as if a rushing sound came from the far end of the corridor, like water pouring over, as if the corridor were rocking to and fro and as if the people sitting on either side were going up and down." This quote is memorable as it is from the text in which Kafka describes how the courtroom's air makes him feel physically weak. ]]> 2022-04-11 18:08:18 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2139617214 hschachner3499 https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2141200837 A good FRQ prompt The Trial could answer is "A character that intentionally deceives" The Trial could easily answer this one because the government and all the corrupt individuals that make it up intentionally lie to Josef K. about his trial and the status of his arrest leaving Josef K. in the dark about his own innocence. ]]> 2022-04-12 17:26:25 UTC https://padlet.com/hschachner3499/u0nxndi9ydm1uvdj/wish/2141200837