Department of German Studies
GE 437 Kafka’s Modernism
Essay Topics: 2013-14
Please write an essay of approx. 4000 words in length on one of the following topics.
Your essay must conform to the guidelines in the departmental handbook (1.5 line spacing, page numbers at top of
page, footnotes at bottom, bibliography of primary and secondary sources at the end).
Please bear in mind departmental guidelines on plagiarism.
Your argument must be based on ample textual evidence.
Please consult the departmental web-pages and notice boards for submission dates and hand in your essay both
electronically and in hard-copy, in line with departmental procedure.
Other remarks: Your essay must also contain an abstract (approx. 200 words) that summarises the main argument in
German. While the abstract will not adversely affect your overall mark, it gives you the chance of adding up to 3%
bonus points, provided that your abstract is succinct, accurate and well-written.
1) According to Mark M. Anderson, Kafka’s novel Der Verschollene works “to undermine Karl
Rossmann’s position in the world, to deterritorialize and disfigure America’s identifying signs
(…).” Discuss Anderson’s statement in the light of Karl’s experience of America. You should
pay particular attention to the representation of urban spaces, traffic and buildings in the
novel. You must base your argument on ample textual evidence.
2) Focusing on the representation of power, compare and contrast the roles of central male and
female figures in Der Verschollene. To what extent does the novel reveal the disciplinary
effects of patriarchal power? You must base your argument on ample textual evidence.
3) According to Oliver Jahraus, the court in Der Proceß is characterised by two contradictory
features: “Zum einen wird eine Eigenrealität des Gerichts behauptet, zum anderen aber wird
das Gericht als phantastisches Element in der übrigen Erfahrungswelt des Josef K.
ausgewiesen.” Discuss this statement in the light of the descriptions of the court. To what
extent does the contradiction between realism and symbolism explain Josef K.’s mishandling
of the question of guilt?
4) According to Elizabeth Boa, sexuality in Der Proceß “is a crucial transmission point of power
relations in the form of a sado-masochistic masculinity and the systematic subjection of
women in which they themselves collude.” Discuss this with reference to Josef K.’s
perception of and engagement with the following figures: Fräulein Bürstner, Leni and the
Court’ attendant’s wife.
5) Analysing the interaction between the hunger artist, his audience and the impresario, discuss
the changing social function of art in Kafka’s Ein Hungerkünstler. To what extent does the
hunger artist’s deathbed confession change our perception of his performance?
6) According to Ruth V. Gross, Josefine. Die Sängerin oder das Volk der Mäuse is “about the
discourse on women. It is not a story on a subject, but rather a discourse on a discourse”.
Discuss this statement in the light of the narrator’s account of Josefine’s art and her role in
society.