23 pages 46 minutes read

Franz Kafka

A Report to an Academy

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1917

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Essay Topics

1.

According to Merriam-Webster, “Kafkaesque” describes a story that recalls Kafka’s stories, which are of a “nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality.” In what ways does the story align (or not align) with this term. Use specific examples. 

2.

Red Peter regularly speaks of seeking a “way out.” What exactly does he mean by this? By the end of the story, has he found a “way out?” How so, or why not?

3.

Red Peter states that humans “all too often are deceived by freedom” (3). What compels him to say this? What does this say about Red Peter’s self-awareness?