The Murder

Kafka, Franz, 1883-1924Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 4.5K words
Chapters: 1

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Der Mord by Franz KafkaAuthor: Kafka, Franz, 1883-1924,Language: German, Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures, Release Date: Dec 25, 2009

Editor's review

Der Mord is a short work by Kafka; the original German title means "murder." Like many of Kafka's short pieces, it presents a scene that seems ordinary yet is filled with unease through highly condensed narration, with restrained language and telling details that often leave a lingering sense of dread. The work is best understood within the context of Kafka's short prose: the distance between narrator and characters, the deliberate omission of information about events, and the absurdity created by placing violence alongside everyday order are all typical features. Because it is brief, it can serve both as an introductory text for understanding Kafka's narrative style and as material for close-reading practice in German literature classes. When reading, there is no need to rush toward a clear ending or moral judgment; what is more worth attention is the shifting narrative perspective, changes in tone, and the parts left unsaid. For readers familiar with Kafka's longer works, this short piece offers a compact contrast that helps convey how he handles modern anxiety and guilt in the short form.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers seeking an initial acquaintance with Kafka's short narrative style
Intermediate and advanced language learners of German who wish to read the original short text closely
German literature teachers and students who need close-reading practice in class
Enthusiasts interested in modernist short fiction and absurdist narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer traditional stories with complete plots and clear endings
People hoping for light, entertaining reading from a short story
Readers with no German who are unwilling to use a translation or supporting materials

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the overall atmosphere, then read again paragraph by paragraph, noting shifts in narrative perspective and tone.
Read it alongside other Kafka short stories to observe common techniques of narrative omission and absurdity.
German learners can read the original first and then consult a translation, marking sentence structures and vocabulary that are hard to understand.
After reading, write down your understanding of "what is left unsaid," then discuss it in class or a reading group.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this short story suitable as an introduction to Kafka?

Yes. It is short and relatively concentrated in language, offering quick exposure to Kafkaesque narrative distance and absurd atmosphere. However, it omits much information, so first-time readers may feel confused; it is advisable to pair it with a brief introduction to the author and work, or read it alongside other Kafka short stories to grasp his stylistic features.

What level of German is needed to read this work?

The original is in German, and the sentences are not overly long, but Kafka's narration is often deliberately vague and elliptical, requiring a certain level of reading comprehension. Intermediate and advanced German learners are better suited to read the original directly; beginners can first use a translation to understand the content, then return to the original to appreciate the language and narrative details.

Why does this story feel like it has no clear conclusion?

This relates to Kafka's narrative method: he often omits key information and maintains narrative distance, leaving the meaning of events unresolved. The confusion readers feel may itself be part of the work's effect. When reading, pay attention to what the narrator reveals and deliberately does not say, rather than insisting on a closed ending.

Does the Project Gutenberg edition include notes and an introduction?

Project Gutenberg provides public-domain electronic texts, usually consisting mainly of the original work, generally without modern scholarly notes or introductions. For course study or in-depth research, it is advisable to use it alongside reliable Kafka scholarship, literary-historical background, or reading guides provided by instructors.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Kafka, Franz, 1883-1924 Author

Kafka, Franz (1883–1924) is a highly influential writer in German-language literature, known for his absurd, austere and parable-like narratives. Through sudden transformations and trials set in everyday circumstances, his works reveal the loneliness, fear and powerlessness of individuals within family, society and bureaucratic systems. The library holds 12 of his works, including representative titles such as Die Verwandlung, Das Urteil, Ein Landarzt, Ein Hungerkünstler, The Trial and In der Strafkolonie. These works are concise yet profound, with restrained language and plots that often carry a surreal quality. Because public information is limited, his biography and creative background are not well documented in the library, but the works themselves have had a broad influence on modernist literature and later writing.