Philosophies
Which philosophy best explains Gregor’s continued attempts to live normally despite absurd circumstances?
Existentialism
What theme does Gregor’s transformation symbolize?
Alienation and isolation.
What literary device does Kafka use when Gregor’s physical transformation mirrors his emotional isolation?
symbolism
What does Gregor Samsa transform into at the beginning of the story?
Vermin
Who wrote The Metamorphosis?
Franz Kafka
How does The Metamorphosis show modernism?
It focuses on Gregor’s inner thoughts and feelings more than on action or plot.
Which theme is represented when Gregor’s family becomes happier after his death?
Freedom
How does Kafka use juxtaposition in The Metamorphosis?
He contrasts Gregor’s human thoughts with his insect body
What is Gregor’s job before his transformation?
traveling salesmen
What language was The Metamorphosis originally written in?
German
Which philosophy is most reflected in Gregor’s realization that his suffering has no clear purpose?
Absurdism
How does the story explore the theme of identity?
answers may vary
What motif appears throughout the story that reinforces Gregor’s disconnection from humanity?
Silence, confinement, and physical decay.
answers may vary
How does Gregor’s perception of time change throughout the story, and what does this reveal about his transformation?
Time becomes meaningless as he loses connection to human structure, reflecting his psychological detachment.
How does Gregor’s sister Grete change over the course of the story?
She becomes more independent and grows resentment for Gregor.
Which philosophy is best reflected in Gregor’s failure to find meaning despite his attempts to act rationally in an irrational world?
Absurdism
How does Gregor’s family’s treatment of him reflect the theme of appearance vs. reality?
They judge him by his appearance, not his human thoughts and feelings.
What role does irony play in Gregor’s relationship with his family?
He sacrificed himself for them when human, yet they discard him once he turns into vermin.
Why does Gregor’s family begin removing furniture from his room? What does it symbolize?
They remove furniture to make room for him to crawl, but it symbolizes them stripping away his humanity and identity.
What influence did Kafka’s personal life have on The Metamorphosis?
His strained relationship with his father and feelings of inadequacy are similar to Gregor’s familial alienation.
How does Gregor’s transformation represent surrealism?
It presents a bizarre, dreamlike event in a realistic setting.
How does Gregor’s physical transformation show his preexisting emotional state?
His insect form externalizes how society and his family already treated him — as something less than human.
Identify and explain a recurring motif in The Metamorphosis and how it develops the story’s central theme.
doors represent confinement and isolation
How does Kafka use the cleaning woman’s character at the end of the story to reflect the family’s attitude toward Gregor?
Her casual treatment of Gregor’s corpse mirrors the family’s emotional detachment and normalization of his death.
How does Gregor’s family’s attitude toward him change over time, and what larger idea does this represent?
They move from dependence to disgust to relief at his death — showing how love based on usefulness is conditional.