Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- The story never tells us why hunger artists all of a sudden become unpopular. Why do you think the hunger artist's act was popular? Why do you think audiences lost interest?
- Do you think the hunger artist is heroic? Why or why not?
- Do you think an act like the hunger artist's would be popular today? Why or why not?
- Have you ever watched or participated in performance art? If so, what's your opinion of it?
- Why do you think the children and adults in the audience have different reactions to the hunger artist's act?
- Have you read any of Kafka's other stories? Maybe The Metamorphosis, for example. If so, how does "The Hunger Artist" compare? Can you trace any similar themes across his works?