The Trial
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Themes
All Themes Justice vs. The Law The Absurd The Unknowable and Interpretation Alienation and Control Sex and Seduction
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Josef K. Fraulein Burstner Titorelli Block The Doorkeeper
Symbols
All Symbols Titorelli’s Painting of the Judge The Court’s Oppressive Air The Prison Chaplain’s Parable
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
  • Mind Maps
Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up
The Trial
by Franz Kafka
Upgrade to A+
✓

Sign in or to save your progress

Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis Summary
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Justice vs. The Law Theme Icon
    Justice vs. The Law
  • The Absurd Theme Icon
    The Absurd
  • The Unknowable and Interpretation Theme Icon
    The Unknowable and Interpretation
  • Alienation and Control Theme Icon
    Alienation and Control
  • Sex and Seduction Theme Icon
    Sex and Seduction
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Josef K.
  • Fraulein Burstner
  • Titorelli
  • Block
  • The Doorkeeper
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Titorelli’s Painting of the Judge Symbol Icon
    Titorelli’s Painting of the Judge
  • The Court’s Oppressive Air Symbol Icon
    The Court’s Oppressive Air
  • The Prison Chaplain’s Parable Symbol Icon
    The Prison Chaplain’s Parable
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Trial Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Sobel, Ben. "The Trial." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 1 Feb 2014. Web. 22 Sep 2026.


Chicago

Sobel, Ben. "The Trial." LitCharts LLC, February 1, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2026. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-trial.

Company
About Us Our Story
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
LitCharts, a Learneo, Inc. business
Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 50,642 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,269 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.