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A Hunger Artist Study Guide

by Franz Kafka

A Hunger Artist study guide contains a biography of Franz Kafka, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

A hunger artist who professionally fasts in a cage has come on hard times. People think he cheats by sneaking food; his manager limits his fasting to forty days even though the hunger artist believes he can last longer; and he remains unsatisfied, even when the public leaves his performances happily.

Without notice, the audience deserts the hunger artist. A European tour fails to drum up interest, and the hunger artist hires himself out to a circus. However, people only watch him because he is near the animals, not because they are interested in him. He remains neglected until one day an overseer asks him if he is still fasting. The hunger artist asks for forgiveness and explains that people should not admire his fasting; he simply could…

Read the full A Hunger Artist Summary

• A Hunger Artist Summary
• About A Hunger Artist
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Part One
• Summary and Analysis of Part Two
• Summary and Analysis of Part Three
• Related Links on A Hunger Artist
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• A Hunger Artist: Major Themes
• A Hunger Artist: Essays
• A Hunger Artist: Questions
• A Hunger Artist: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Franz Kafka: Biography