23 pages • 46 minutes read
Franz KafkaA Report to an Academy
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1917A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
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.
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?
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?
Consider what constitutes a work of satire. In what ways could the story be satirical? Use specific examples.
Red Peter credits his captors for helping him to achieve inner calmness while on the ship. He also defends the captor who burned him, stating that they “were on the same side against ape nature” (6). Does he seem deluded about his captors’ benevolence? How so, or why not?
Why does Red Peter find the gaze of his lover, the “half-trained” (7) chimpanzee, to be unbearable?
In the end, does it seem that Red Peter has been successfully assimilated into human society? How so, or why not?
Related Titles
By Franz Kafka
