Characters
What is Gregor like?
Kind, generous, compassionate
Gregor's transformation into a bug
Depression, loneliness, disability
What has Gregor been doing for his family?
Paying for them
Where is the story mostly set?
Gregor's house / room
What is the relationship between Kafka (the author) and Gregor (the main character)?
They are the same, have a lot in common
What is Grete like?
Nice at first, cruel later
Father's Uniform
Authority
What kind of bug does Gregor turn into?
Beetle
Why does Gregor turn into a bug?
Never made clear to the reader
What is the tone of the story's narration?
Objective, straight forward, factual, non-emotional
Gregor's Father
Violent
Violin/Music
Beauty, connection to sister
Send his sister to music school
What was Gregor's job before changing? How did he feel about it?
Traveling salesman
What is magical realism?
Magical elements in realistic settings
Gregor's Mother
Weak, always fainting
Spring
rebirth, new beginnings
What is Gregor MOST worried about when he first finds out he is a bug?
Work!
Who first suggests the family get rid of Gregor? (BONUS: What do they compare Gregor to?)
Grete
A monster
What is expressionism?
Stories that express emotion, individual experience
Cleaning Woman
Weird, non-judging, objective
Apple
reference to the story of the apple (Adam and Eve)
What happens to Gregor over the course of the story?
He gets weaker and dies
What does the family do to earn money after Gregor's transformation?
Get new jobs, run errands, rent out rooms to lodgers
What is existentialism?
Individual experience, desire for meaning in a meaningless universe