Chapter summaries

The novel The Trial by Franz Kafka is available to us today only in fragmentary form. Since the original manuscript was never intended for publication, the order of the chapters today is debatable. Moreover, it is unclear how the fragments could be inserted in the context of the main plot. 

The chapter summary presents the essential plot of the chapters in a brief and quickly comprehensible way. The advantage of the overview is that the fragments are also discussed and we can determine possible passages for these pieces of text. In addition, the summary makes it possible to quickly track the characters and their actions. 

The Arrest

Scene: Mrs. Grubach's apartment

Time: The morning of K.'s 30th birthday

Character(s): Josef K., Franz and Willem, the supervisor, Rabensteiner, Kullich, Kaminer, Mrs. Grubach, an old man, an old woman, a man with a goatee

In the morning, K. is declared under arrest by two guards without any given reasons. K. is then taken to the supervisor. He explains to K. that he is only doing his duty and has no information as to what K. is being charged with. Three employees from K.'s bank are present and are supposed to take him to work. Then the supervisor and the guards disappear unnoticed by K.. K. then calls a car and drives to the bank with his colleagues. 

A Conversation with Frau Grubach - Then Fräulein Bürstner

Scene: Mrs. Grubach's apartment

Time: The evening of K.'s 30th birthday

Character(s): Josef K., Mrs. Grubach, Fräulein Bürstner

K. goes straight home after work to talk to Mrs. Grubach and Fräulein Bürstner. Upon arriving at the apartment, he enters Mrs. Grubach's room and apologizes for what happened in the morning. Mrs. Grubach accepts this apology and then calls Fräulein Bürstner dishonorable. K. disagrees. Afterwards, K. waits for Fräulein Bürstner. When she arrives, they both enter her room. Here K. apologizes for the events and misappropriation of the room and re-enacts the scene with the attendant. He asks her for help in the trial and kisses her before leaving.

The First Hearing 

Scene: A house in a remote suburban alley; a meeting room in it

Time: The first Sunday...

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