1. CONTEXT Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. -Franz Kafka "Franz Kafka Quotes." BrainyQuote`. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct 2011..

2. Context: Historical Backdrop A first sign of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die. Franz Kafka Franz Kafka born in Prague, Bohemia on July 3, 1883. Bohemia was a state in Austria-Hungary Dual monarchy between the Austrian Empire, and the Kingdom of Hungary. Bohemia approx. equates to modern day Czech Republic Writes Description of a Struggle in 1904, earliest surviving work 1911: Begins studying Jewish literature, and taking an interest in Zionism 1912: begins work on Amerika, never finished, meets Felice Bauer, a Berliner woman 1913: Mediation and The Stoker published Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis in 1915, received Fontane Prize for The Stoker One of his few completed works Continues meeting Felice Bauer, lists reasons not to wed 1915=World War I, Austria-Hungary was a Central Power (with Germany and Bulgaria against France & UK) 1917: Begins learning Hebrew, writes The Hunter Gracchus and The Great Wall of China 1921, checks into a sanatorium due to deteriorating mental faculties 1924, dies of starvation, while having tuberculosis. The pain of swallowing made him unable to eat. It could also be said that his mental states made him unwilling to continue the fight with tuberculosis. Sources: http://www.digiworldinc.com/users/j/james/timeln.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka Christian Toomeyhttp://www.digiworldinc.com/users/j/james/timeln.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka

3. Franz Kafka ____________ ______________ I am free and that is why I am lost. – Franz Kafka Works Cited Goodreads. Goodreads Inc., 2001. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. The Literature Network. Jalic Inc., 2000-2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2011 Kafkas setting in The Metamorphosis - Gregors room Settings = vague His works were mainly fiction Imagination The Trial, The Castle, Amerika (Settings very Symbolism By: Kathy Tran

4. WILD CARD: CONTEXT EXISTENTIALISM Madeline Cacho 19 th century authors who focused on human existence & behaviors, free will, and the overall meaning of life. Religions, beliefs, emotions = subjective things that were focused on. Kafka often wrote about things like isolation, alienation, and oppression. Existentialists believed that a human could not possibly know all of the truths of things like science and philosophy. The Metamorphosis shows the absurdity of life and portrays an irrational situation, which is part of the existentialist perspective. By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired. –Franz Kafka "Existentialism in Kafka's The Metamorphosis." Scribd. N.p., 8 Jan 2009. Web. 6 Oct 2011.. "Franz Kafka Quotes." BrainyQuote. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct 2011..

5. Franz Kafka, Spotlight: Family. Kafka was raised in a middle class Jewish family in Prague. His father, Herman Kafka was known as a huge, selfish, overbearing businessman. He was the eldest of six children. Franz and his siblings were raised by many nannies and servants because his mother and father worked most business days. Kafka and his father had a terrible relationship. By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself. Work cited: Franz Kafka, Wikipedia.org, 3 October 2011, acessed on October 4, 2011 Alexandria Patchett