Is Franz Kafka’s style simple, and Thomas Mann’s style complex? A quantitative comparative analysis

Abstract In the field of German literature, it is widely recognized that Franz Kafka’s works are characterized by linguistic simplicity, whereas Thomas Mann’s writing style is more complex. This study investigates whether this perception reflects reality and explores the specific differences in their writing styles. A stylometric approach is employed to compare three key aspects: linguistic complexity and diversity, the use of parts of speech (POS), and POS N-grams. To examine these differences, we adopt a three-step analytical framework involving statistical tests, cluster analysis, and classification analysis, each based on indicators within these aspects. The results reveal that the most prominent difference lies in their use of POS, with Mann employing more adjectives and Kafka using more adverbs. Among the POS N-grams used by both authors, those exhibiting the largest differences in frequency also include adjectives and adverbs. The second most notable difference is that Mann’s writing demonstrates greater linguistic complexity and diversity than Kafka’s, particularly in terms of diversity. Overall, Kafka’s writing style can be characterized as simpler, while Mann’s is more complex. By incorporating the authors’ perspectives on linguistic style, their biographical backgrounds and interpretations of their works, this study further explores the reasons behind their stylistic differences.