Franz Kafka, Die Verwandlung. Wortschatz und Fragen zur Aufgabe des 13.3.

 

Wortschatz

Gregor sah ein, dass er den Prokuristen in dieser Stimmung auf keinen Fall weggehen lassen dŸrfe  . . . = ãGregor realised, that he could by no means allow the chief clerk to leave in this mood . . . .Ò (DonÕt let the triple verb at the end of the subordinate clause confuse you. You have lassen + Infinitive (to allow to), combined with a modal. DŸrfe is in the Subjunctive I because it is a form of indirect quotation, reporting GregorÕs thoughts.)

 

 . . . , wenn dadurch seine Stellung im GeschŠft nicht aufs Šu§erste gefŠhrdet werden sollte. = ãif his position in the firm was not thereby [i.e. by letting the clerk leave that way] to be endangered in the highest degreeÒ. This is another construction that may seem confusing, but can be easily sorted out. You have the passive voice – gefŠhrdet werden – together with a modal verb, with all the verb parts piling up together in subordinate clause word order. Sollte is in the Subjunctive II because it is an unreal, hypothetical conditional (at least in GregorÕs mind), if the clerk were to leave this way, it would endanger GregorÕs position.

 

†berzeugung = conviction

Voraussicht = forethought

mšglicher- ja wahrscheinlicherweise = possibly, no, probably

GelŠnder = bannister

Vorplatz = landing (outside the apartment)

Wohlbehagen= comfortable feeling

Kiefer = jaw

Anlauf = run

Einholen = to catch up with, close in on

zischen, Zischlaute = to make hissing, spitting sounds

TŸrflŸgel = ãwingÒ of a double door

geschehe was wolle = ãcome what mayÒ, ãno matter whatÒ

Flanke = side

wundgerieben = rubbed raw, scraped, abraded

Vorzimmer = anteroom

Napf = small bowl, such as would be used for giving food or water to an animal

vorzulesen pflegte = had the habit of reading aloud

die SchlŸssel steckten nun auch von au§en = the keys were inserted now from the outside (meaning that Gregor can be locked in and cannot open his doors from inside the room)

Kanapee = (obsolete) sofa

behaglich =

 

Fragen

1.     Wie reagiert der Prokurist, als er Gregor sieht?

2.     Was sieht Gregor als erste PrioritŠt, nachdem er aus seinem Zimmer gekommen ist?

3.     Was passiert, als Gregor versucht, zum Prokuristen zu gehen?

4.     Was macht die Mutter, als Gregor sich ihr nŠhert?

5.     Was macht der Vater, als Gregor versucht, den Prokuristen einzuholen?

6.     Was fŸrchtet Gregor zu diesem Zeitpunkt?

7.     Was passiert, als Gregor versucht, wieder in sein Zimmer zu gehen?

8.     Was findet Gregor, als er Milch trinken will?

9.     Warum will Georg unter dem Kanapee liegen?