English II - The Metamorphosis (study questions & annotations)
Who is discovers Gregors body?
Cleaning women
In what sense is the metamorphosis an optimistic story?
It isn't
How is Grete trying to improve her prospects for the future?
Learning French/stenography
Themes of Alienation
Modernist works of feature isolated characters who experience increasing alienation or disconnection
How does each of the following react when they see Gregor as the insect :
Mr.Manager - backs up attempting to run away His mother - faints His fahter - attempts to hit, then realizes its his son
Who do the Samsas hire to clean Gregors room?
"The big boned women"
How does Gregor feel when he hears the 3 men chewing their food in the next room?
- he wants teeth - envoys the lodgers for having food
How does Mr.Samsa force Gregor back into his room?
- stamping on the floor - waving cane and newspaper
What does the picture on his wall depict?
A woman in fur, showing that he has no girlfriend senses he's always traveling
Amelioration
Act of making something better or less painful
How has Grete's attitude and behavior toward Gregor changed?
After a month his appearance still bothers her
What kind of job has Mr.Samsa taken?
Banker, working at bank
Why do the three lodgers threaten to sue Mr.Samsa?
Because Gregor's a bug
Why does Gregor feel that Grete is right about his disappearing from everyone's life?
Because he's a burden
Why does Grete want to get rid of Gregor?
Because its stressful and killing them
How do you explain Grete's attitude toward Gregor?
Because she cleans Gregors room
How has the balance of power shifted in the household by the end of part 2?
Dads making the money
Travail
Difficult situation or work
Fantastic or dreamlike elements
Events blur the boundary between what is real and what is unreal
Who is the author?
Franz Kafka
Why does Gregor lose consciousness?
Gets hit with apple
Into what kind of creature is Gregor Samsa transformed?
Gregor changed into a giant insect keeps the exact type of bug Gregor is ambiguous, thought the cleaning lady later refers to him as a dung beetle
How do the family's activities change to accommodate Gregor's new condition?
Gregor is kept in his room and fed by Grete. The family members begin to work. Mrs. Samsa ends his retirement and takes a job as a bank messenger. Mrs. Samsa does sewing work and serves the three lodgers the family takes in. Grete works as a salesgirl.
What happens when Grete gives a violin recital for the three lodgers?
Gregor, who has been kept out of sight from the lodgers, comes out to listen to the music. Though they are amused at first, the lodgers then become irate and insist that they will leave without paying. While Gregor is in the room, Grete insists that Gregor must be "gotten rid of." That night, Gregor returns to his room and dies.
Where does the story take place?
Gregors upstairs appartment
Who assumes major responsibility for Gregor can't work?
Grete
How does Gregor feel once he is back in his room?
He feel content
How has Mr.Samsa's attitude toward Gregor changed at the start of part 3?
He feels bad so they open the door
How does Gregor feel when he learns that the family will need to work?
He feels gulity
How does Gregor react to his fathers new uniform ?
He feels uncomfortable/ unwanted
In what ways are Gregor physical powers declining?
He goes color blind
Why doesn't Gregor drink the milk his sister leaves for him?
He has an aversion to it
What are Gregor's thoughts and impressions when he wakes up to find he has been transformed into an insect?
He needs to go to work
Why does Gregor run after Grete after his mother faints?
He wants to help
Who saves Gregor from an almost certain death?
His mother
What kind of job does Grete have?
Salesgirl
Why does Mr.Samsa order the three lodgers out of his house?
Sense the lodgers said they weren't playing
Why doesn't Grete want others to help her take care of Gregor?
She feels useful now
Why does the household maid ask Mrs.Samsa to let her go?
She is scared
What causes Mr.Samsa to faint.of the sofa ?
She sees Gregor
What kind of job does Grete have?
She sews
Who is Grete? Where is she sent?
Sister , send to get a doctor
Why does Grete want to remove most of the furniture from Gregor's room?
So he feels more comfortable
Make a judgement : in what ways, if any, are the family members responsible for Gregor's tragic outcome? Consider their actions at the end of the story before you answer
Some students will feel that Gregor may have survived if his family had been more understanding. Others will feel that the transformation was too great for any family to handle.
Would Gregors fate have been different if he had been transformed into a different kind of animal? Explain
Some students will suggest that had Gregor been transformed into a more loveable animal, such as a cat or dog, he would easily have been accepted into the family and cared for. Others will point out that his human consciousness within an animal's body was bound to lead to inevitable distress and likely tragedy.
Asphyxiation
State of being unable to breathe
What does Mr.Manager accuse Gregor of?
Stealing money from company
Aversion
Strong dislike
What does Gregor try to prevent from being taken from the room?
The picture of half naked women
Who is Anna? Where is she sent?
The servent , to get a locksmith
Ambiguity
The story is open-ended, and key elements are never explained
What do the Samsas plan to do the day of Gregors death?
They decide to go for a stroll
How does the family feel after Gregor dies?
They give thanks to God/they are relieved
Why do the Samsas rent a room to the three men?
They need money
How does Mr.Samsa react to his wife's fainting?
Thinks Gregor attacked her
What are Gregors obligations to his family before this transformation?
To help the family get out of debt
Why did Gregor become a traveling salesmen?
To pay off familys debt
What are some of the things Gregor hopes for?
To quit his job
What kind of work did Gregor do?
Traveling slamesmen
Where does Gregor like to hide?
Under the couch
Distress
Unhappiness or pain
What private thoughts does Gregor have of Grete when he hears her violin playing?
Wants to scare the lodgers and have Grete play for him
In what ways has Gregor been alienated from society?
Was a traveling salesmen, now he's a bug (cant communicate)
Listlessly
Without energy or interest
Describe how Gregor's insect-like body changes from the opening of the story to the ending. Interpret ; How do these physical changes reflect Gregor's evolving emotional state?
a. At the beginning of the story, Gregor's body is "monstrous" and "wide." After he dies, "his body was completely flat and dry." The corpse is "thin" because he had eaten nothing for such a long time." b. At the beginning of of the story, Gregor is robust and strong, willing to face the challenges brought about by his new body. By the end of the story, he has lost the will and energy to live.
