Franz Kafka
This Central European city, now in the Czech Republic, was Kafka’s birthplace.
What is Prague?
This traveling salesman is the protagonist of The Metamorphosis.
Who is Gregor Samsa?
Gregor transforms into this type of creature.
What is a vermin.
The transformation symbolizes Gregor’s loss of this in society.
What is identity or humanity?
The story begins with Gregor waking up at this time of day.
What is the morning?
Although he wrote in German, Kafka was ethnically part of this cultural group.
What is Jewish?
This family member initially brings Gregor food and shows him kindness.
Who is Grete (his sister)?
Kafka never explicitly states the exact species of Gregor’s form, but it is generally described with these two features.
What are a hard shell and many legs?
The apple thrown at Gregor by his father symbolizes this.
What is rejection or punishment?
Gregor’s room has this number of doors.
What is three?
Kafka had a famously complex relationship with this member of his family, which influenced much of his writing.
Who is his father?
This character is most concerned about losing Gregor’s income.
Who is Gregor’s father?
Gregor’s biggest concern upon waking up is not his transformation, but this.
What is being late for work?
The picture of the woman in fur in Gregor’s room likely symbolizes this idea.
What is his clinging to his humanity or lost desires?
Gregor’s job requires frequent travel because of this.
What is he's a traveling salesman?
Kafka requested this to be done to his unpublished manuscripts after his death.
What is to have them destroyed?
Gregor hides under this piece of furniture to make his appearance less disturbing to others.
What is the couch/sofa?
Gregor tries to open the door using this part of his new body.
What are his jaws/mandibles?
The way the family treats Gregor after his transformation reflects this central theme.
What is alienation (or isolation)?
Gregor’s family owes a large amount of debt to this entity.
What is Gregor’s employer (the company)?
Kafka’s primary occupation outside of writing was this type of profession.
What is what is an insurance clerk?
This person faints upon seeing Gregor for the first time in his new form.
Who is the office manager (the Chief Clerk)?
This is the first thing Gregor does when he wakes up and notices something is wrong.
What is try to get out of bed?
The transformation can be seen as a metaphor for how workers are treated in this type of economic system
What is capitalism?
This noise Gregor makes after his transformation alarms the Chief Clerk.
What is his distorted voice?