Franz Kafka, “In the Penal Colony”

Study Questions

1. What kind of character traits does the condemned man exhibit?
2. At what point does the explorer take an interest in the apparatus? What seems to draw his attention?
3. Describe the perspective of the narrator at the beginning of the story. Does the narrator remain neutral or take the viewpoint of one of the figures?
4. What kind of character traits does the officer exhibit?
5. What does the officer admire about the apparatus?
6. How does the officer describe the executions that used to go on with large crowds?
7. How does the officer describe the experience of those who are executed by the apparatus?
8. How does the officer describe the methods of the New Commandant?
9. How does the explorer arrive at his judgment about the officer and the apparatus? What kind of methods does he use?
10. What is the difference between the way the apparatus is supposed to function and the way it actually does function in executing the officer?
11. How does the narrator’s perspective change once the officer is dead?
12. Why do the soldier and condemned man want to follow the explorer to his ship? Why does the explorer prevent them from following?
13. Does the explorer manage to remain a neutral observer in the story?