Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

Warm Up Activity Do you believe that you can make moral decisions without any religious influences? Why or why not?

Existentialism Existentialism in the broader sense is a 20th century philosophy that is centered upon the analysis of existence and of the way humans find themselves existing in the world. The notion is that humans exist first and then each individual spends a lifetime changing their essence or nature.

Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. And personal choices become unique without the necessity of an objective form of truth. An existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions.

Literary Theory Existentialism involves the attempt to make meaning in a chaotic world. Sartre argued, "man makes himself." As a form of literary criticism, existentialism seeks to analyze literary works, with special emphasis on the struggle to define meaning and identity in the face of alienation and isolation.

Warm Up Activity Think of a situation from a dream you have had that seemed incredibly real at the time but that could not actually happen in real life. Write about your dream. What happened in the dream? What details made it seem real? What feelings did you have while dreaming? Afterward?

Setting a Purpose Read to discover how one young man reacts when the world of dreams seems to have intruded upon the real world.

Chapter One Do you have sympathy for Gregor? If so, why and at what times? If not, why not? How does Gregor feel about his job? What evidence in the story reveals his feelings? What is Gregor’s role in his family? Why does he have so much responsibility? How is this role about to change?

Chapter One Cont’d What happens to Gregor when he leaves his room to meet the office manager? What does this episode reveal about Gregor’s father? From Gregor’s point of view, what might be some positive aspects of his metamorphosis into an insect?

Chapter One Cont’d What circumstances in Gregor’s life might have caused him to feel dehumanized even before the metamorphosis took place?

Warm Up Activity Do you think people ever hope to be punished for something they have done, said, or even thought? How might this wish lead people into a form of self-punishment? Working with a partner, make a list of the kinds of situations in which people might consciously or unconsciously wish to be punished. Discuss why this feeling might exist and what the results are likely to be.

Setting a Purpose Read to discover whether Gregor’s situation may be a form of self- punishment.

Chapter Two What parts of the story, if any, did you find humorous? Explain. What does Gregor’s father reveal about the family’s financial status? What is Gregor’s reaction when he learns the truth about their finances?

Ch 2 Cont’d What is Gregor’s response when Grete decides to remove the furniture from his room? What does this response tell you about him? How is Gregor wounded? What symbolic significance might the object that wounds him have?

Ch 2 Cont’d A person changed into an animal, or vice versa, is a common theme of fairy tales. In what ways is The Metamorphosis similar to fairy tales you know? In what ways is it different? What words would you use to describe Kafka’s style? Does his writing remind you of other books you have read, music you have heard, or films you have seen?

Warm Up Activity Caring for a sick or elderly relative can be stressful. What advice might you give to someone who is a caregiver? Discuss with a partner some of the stresses of being a long-term caregiver, and brainstorm ways to relieve these stresses.

Setting a Purpose Read to discover the effects on the Samsas of caring for Gregor.

Chapter Three How did you respond to the ending of The Metamorphosis? What other endings might the story have had? Explain your answer. Why, do you think, has Grete’s attitude toward Gregor changed? Who comes to live with the Samsas? What might be the significance of these new characters? Why did Kafka not give them names or other individual characteristics?

Ch 3 cont’d How does Gregor respond to his sister’s violin playing? What might Kafka be implying about Gregor by describing this reaction? The narrator strongly implies that Gregor starves himself to death. What other forces might have led to Gregor’s death? What effect does Gregor’s metamorphosis ultimately have on his family? What does this effect suggest about his relationship with his family?

Paragraph Structure Write your answers in TEA paragraph. Each TEA requires at the very least two quotations to support it. However, I don’t want to give strict guidelines for your writing. Use as many quotations as you need to support your point. Remember, each quotation requires your analysis.

Symbolism: Classwork Discuss why Kafka chose to have Gregor change into an insect. Evaluate what has affected Gregor so negatively.

Character Motivation: Classwork The way Gregor’s family responds to his transformation might have surprised you. You probably expected kindness and maybe curiosity, but not fear and hatred. Look at the family as a catalyst for his change and his continual loss of human memory and instinct. This evaluation covers character motivation. Look at the motivations of each family member.

Setting: Homework Pay attention to the setting. Gregor’s environment changes, becoming more empty. Why is his sister removing furniture. What emotions are evoked in Gregor? Mslam.weebly.com

Writer’s Intent: Homework After completing the novel, evaluate the novel’s ending. Give your point of view regarding Kafka’s choice of death and support your point of view with reasons from the text and personal opinion.

Rewriting the End:Homework Students should rewrite the ending of the novel. The length of this assignment can certainly vary. Students must include the parents and sister in this ending in addition to Gregor.

Existentialism involves the freedom of choice and taking responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts. How does this story illustrate the concepts of existentialism, and deal with the problem of living with the consequences of one’s freely-made choices? How do these concepts apply to modern-day living? Find quotations Find modern day examples