Unit three
Working with famous writers
In this unit, we will be working with one work by Franz
Kafka (1883-1924). In so doing we will learn on the writer
and also on the philosophical movement known as
Existentialism to which he belonged. The purpose of the
unit is to show that teachers can work with classical
literature with their students. Working with famous writers
will help students acquire cultural background.
Lesson I
Franz Kafka
Kafka’s biography
Franz Kafka was born in Prague in 1883. Owing to the power of
the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the language of the elites was
German, so Franz learnt that language early in his life. Kafka was
a German speaking novelist who wrote three novels, short stories,
diaries and letters. His novels The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926)
and the unfinished Amerika (1927) were published after his death
by his friend Max Brod. However, his short stories, of which
Metamorphosis is the most well- known, were published while he
was alive.
You can learn more about Kafka by clicking on the words in blue.
You can also watch a video on the writer
Existentialism
Before we pass on to understand Kafka’s works some knowledge
on Existentialism is given as it is a philosophical movement which
also influenced this famous writer.
«Theoretically there is a perfect possibility of happiness: believing
in the indestructible element in oneself and not striving towards
it. » Franz Kafka.
What the movement means
The term existentialism applies to a vision of the condition and
existence of man, his place and function in the world. Man
defines everything, also his own meanings though they may be
temporary and his desire to understand events logically are futile.
Existentialists accept the conclusion that “existence precedes
essence” and some go even further and affirm that essence does
not exist, that only existence has reality. All existentialists
emphasize the person as subject. Although all Existentialists lay
great stress upon man’s innate freedom, which holds man
responsible for all his actions-for the development or outcome of
his personality-some believe that man is not born with any given
nature but develops one as he goes through life making decisions.
(Adapted from the book: “Ideas of the great philosophers” by William
S. Sahakian, Ph.D. Chairman, Department of Philosophy Suffolk
University) So, we may say that Existentialism is the philosophy
that individuals are responsible for defining their own existence
and giving their life meaning.
Existential literary works often include troubled protagonists who
question the meaning of life.
If you are interested in knowing more on this movement,
you can find useful information just by clicking on the words
in blue.
(From May 1st to May 7th)
If we know that existential literary works have troubled
protagonists, do you consider that it is necessary to tell students
something about the movement? If so, what would you actually
tell them? Post your commentary at the forum including a good
justification for your choice.
Lesson II
You will read Kafka’s short story: “The Metamorphosis”
Before reading:
You may have heard of this work before. If so, what do you
know about it?
If you have never heard anything about it, what do you think the
work will be about? What words do you associate with
metamorphosis?
You can download The Metamorphosis by clicking on any of the
words in blue
You can also listen to an excerpt of the story and watch a video
on the literary work
While reading:
As you will be working with the main characters, take down notes
on the way they change throughout the story. You can use the
following chart:
Example:
He becomes a bug but
Gregor
thinks as a human. After
some time he gives up hope
of becoming human again
Mr. Samsa
Mrs. Samsa
Gregor´s sister
Did you know?
In his work Kafka uses magic realism as he incorporates a
fantastic element into realistic fiction. The fantastic element is
given by Gregor´s transformation into an insect while realistic
fiction is provided by a common family. The term magic realism
was coined by Alejo Carpentier, (Cuban novelist, 1904-1980) as
he referred to the tendency of literature in Latin America. Jorge
Luis Borges (Argentine writer, 1899-1986) and Gabriel García
Márquez (Colombian writer, 1928) are perhaps the most famous
Latin American writers that used magic realism).
If you want to know more about this technique you can get useful
information by clicking on any of the words in blue.
After reading:
A-Complete this chart with the information about character’s
traits you have obtained in While reading:
Chart N·2
Characters
Personality traits
Example:
He accepts working for the
Gregor
family, he is generous, he
sacrifices his own
preferences for the welfare
of his family.
Gregor´s mother
Gregor´s father
Gregor´s sister
B-After filling in chart 2, decide what similarities and differences
you can trace in the characters.
Chart N· 3
Characters
Gregor
Gregor´s mother
Gregor´s father
Similarities
Differences
Gregor´s sister
C- Could The Metamorphosis be autobiographical? You have read
Kafka’s biography; decide what part or parts of his life may be
present in this literary work.
D- Read the poem An Irishman Foresees His Death by Yeats and see
if you can find the connection in the way characters confront
death.
An Irishman Foresees His Death (1916)
By William B. Yeats (1865-1939)
Now, you are going to read a poem written by William B. Yeast
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death. The poem is about an airman
who knows will die in a war (First World War) that will not affect
his country.
And now, let´s read the poem!
About the author
William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865.
He was a nationalist and helped to found an Irish Literary Society
in London and in Dublin. He was a prolific writer who also
participated in politics. He was a senator of the Irish Free State
and a chairman. He received the Nobel Prize of Literature in
1923 and died in the south of France in 1939 but in 1948 his
body was brought back to Ireland and interred there.
You can carry on reading on this famous writer and watch
a video on his philosophy of life.
Mandatory assignment to be sent to your tutor via campus
From May 12th to May 14th)
Oral activity
Make an oral commentary using the following questions as a
guide:
 What are the similarities and differences between the main
character in The Metamorphosis and the one in the poem?
 Despite the fact that the story of The Metamorphosis is so
unrealistic, what do you think it tells us about real human
behaviour? In what ways does Gregor Samsa act as people
we know or we have met in life?
 Did you feel engrossed by the story? Is this work an
invitation to escape from reality?
 Do you think Kafka wrote such a bizarre novella simply to
instigate discussion or to give us something to think?
 Was he consciously trying to convey a deeper meaning to his
readers?
Record your commentary and post the link at “Presentar
trabajos”
Lesson III
How to develop the story in class
In this part of the unit, you will read two lessons, one for
elementary level and another for an advanced level two teachers
prepared to work The Metamorphosis with their students.
Elementary level
Before reading:
One of the teachers asked her students the meaning of the word
metamorphosis, whether they had heard the word before and
whether they could guess its meaning. (The meaning of the word
is not difficult to guess for Spanish speakers)
After checking comprehension of the word, the teacher told
students they were going to read the first paragraph of the story.
While reading:
The teacher asked students to underline words connected with
the body.
After students mentioned the words they had underlined they
were asked to surf the net for a picture of a vermin; a picture that
showed the insect exactly the way they had depicted it in their
minds. .
After this is done, the teacher told them that Gregor could not go
to work, that Gregor´s father was very angry with the whole
situation and his sister helped him for some time.
Ending the lesson:
The teacher asked students to decide what the end of the story
could be; students worked in pairs and were given some options
to guide their discussion:
a) Gregor became a human being again
b) His sister helped him to have a better life
c) Gregor died
d) His father stepped on him and killed him.
After students say what option they have chosen for the ending
of the story the teacher tells them the real one. To end the lesson
students write a few sentences on the story and complete a very
simple story map:
Title of the story:
Author:
Main characters:
Problem:
Events:
End:
Mandatory assignment to be sent to your tutor via campus:
(From May 17th to May 18th )
Write a commentary explaining how you would change the
activities given above. What would you add? Why? What would
you not do? Why?
Advanced students
The other teacher worked with intermediate students. She
decided to work with the three chapters of The Metamorphosis
in class. (It may well happen that the version of The
Metamorphosis that you have got is not divided into chapters,
just follow what is included in the after reading period and
that will you the hint on how the work has been divided)
Chapter one
Before reading:
For chapter one she asked the students to think of a
situation from a dream they have had that seemed incredibly
real at the time.
After students had a brief talk on their dreams, they were
given a copy of the first chapter.
While reading:
For the while reading moment she asked students to take
down notes on Gregor´ s feelings and reactions and list
them under two headings: Animal and Human.
After reading:
When students finished reading she asked them to decide
what Gregor´s role in the family was.
You can present these activities to your students in a more
motivating way using SpicyNodes.org
You can see the following link as an example:
http://www.spicynodes.org/a/ec597d35a79157ae2402f4fb8
4029310
Chapter two
Before reading:
For chapter two, before students started reading the teacher
asked students to think if Gregor would become a human
being again.
While reading:
After handing out the copies for chapter two, she asked
students to find out if Gregor´s situation was a form of selfpunishment.
After reading:
When students finished reading she asked them if Gregor
felt guilty about his work, situation or family. She also asked
if there was any kind of humour in this chapter.
Chapter three
Before reading:
For chapter three, the teacher asked students to brainstorm
ideas on the way the Samsa family would treat him in the
future.
While reading:
The teacher handed out copies of the third and last chapter
of the work and asked students to read the chapter paying
close attention to the way in which the family took care of
Gregor.
After reading:
After reading, the teacher asked students to complete a chart
with the changes that every family member had undergone.
And then students had to answer what effect on the family
Gregor´s change had.
To conclude with the work, the teacher asked students to
write a summary of the story.
(From May 11th to May 15th )
Let´s imagine you have a group of sixteen-year-old students
at an advanced level and you want them to work with The
Metamorphosis. Make groups of two or three students and
change two activities from the plan given above (maybe in
any moment you prefer-before-while-after) and explain how
and why you would change them.
Key to unit three
The Metamorphosis
After reading:
A-Complete this chart with the information about character’s
traits you have obtained in While reading:
Chart N·2
Characters
Personality traits
Example:
He accepts working for the
Gregor
family, he is generous, he
sacrifices his own
preferences for the welfare
of his family.
It is very difficult for her to
Gregor´s mother
look at her son. She is afraid
of him, feels some kind of
disgust towards her own
son.
He hates his son, cannot
Gregor´s father
stand him, throws things at
him. He has to go back to
work.
She is the first one to help
Gregor´s sister
her brother but then, gets
tired and wants him to be
dead.
B-After filling in chart 2, decide what similarities and differences
you can trace in the characters.
Chart N· 3
Characters
Similarities
Differences
He is quite
Gregor
different from
the rest, he is
generous.
All the other
Gregor´s mother
members of the
family are mean,
they are all very
similar.
They all can work
Gregor´s father
now but did not
want to do it
before.
They all want to get
Gregor´s sister
rid of Gregor.
C- Could The Metamorphosis be autobiographical? You have read
Kafka’s biography; decide what part or parts of his life may be
present in this literary work.
Most probably this is an autobiographical work, Kafka never had
a good relationship with his father; he always felt his father did
not love him much.
D- Read the poem An Irishman Foresees His Death by Yeats and see
if you can find the connection in the way characters confront
death.
Both works show that the main characters are doomed to die,
they accept death. Both works also show existentialism as
characters cannot escape fate.
Bibliografía para el alumno
Franz Kafka
http://www.egs.edu/library/franz-kafka/biography/
http://www.kafka-online.info/franz-kafka-biography.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/franz-kafka-9359401
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJ9r-BmvYY
Existencialismo
http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/
http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism.htm
The Metamorphosis de Kafka
http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/stories/kafka-e.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm
http://librivox.org/the-metamorphosis-by-franz-kafka/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSKpgwLYlw
Realismo mágico
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/english/orals/magic_realism.
htm
http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/resourcebank/definitio
ns/
Butler Yeats
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1923/yeats-bio.html
http://www.poemhunter.com/william-butler-yeats/biography/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkoJCwX-nRQ
An Irishman Foresees his Death
http://www.bartleby.com/148/3.html
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19414
http://www.poemtree.com/poems/IrishAirmanForsees.htm
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Websites:
http://www.teachingliterature.org/teachingliterature/index.htm
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKbrown/index.html
http://www.chambersburg.k12.pa.us/curric/lib/library/web%20resources/yalit.
htm