Metamorphosis

Who wrote The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka

What genre is The Metamorphosis

Novella existentialist fiction

When was The Metamorphosis published

1915

Where is The Metamorphosis set

A middle-class home in an unnamed European city

What is the plot of The Metamorphosis

Gregor Samsa wakes up as a giant insect and struggles with alienation from his family

Who is Gregor Samsa

The protagonist who transforms into an insect

Who is Grete Samsa

Gregor’s sister who initially cares for him but grows distant

Who is Mr. Samsa

Gregor’s father who becomes hostile after the transformation

What is the central theme of The Metamorphosis

Alienation and the dehumanizing effects of modern life

How does The Metamorphosis address identity

Explores the disconnection between physical form and self-identity

How does the novella critique societal expectations

Shows how Gregor is valued only for his work and income

What role does work play in the novella

Gregor’s identity is tied to his job

What does Gregor’s transformation symbolize

The loss of identity and the burden of societal expectations

What is the function of Gregor’s room

It symbolizes isolation and the loss of connection

How does Kafka use surrealism in The Metamorphosis

Gregor’s transformation is a fantastical element that highlights absurdity

How does Kafka use irony

Gregor’s physical transformation mirrors his emotional and social alienation

“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams…” — What does this opening signify

It introduces absurdity and alienation

“I cannot live without my work.” — What does this quote signify

Gregor’s dependence on work for self-worth

What is existentialism

Focuses on individual freedom and the absurdity of existence

How does The Metamorphosis reflect existentialist themes

It shows the absurdity and alienation in human existence

How does The Metamorphosis critique capitalism

It critiques a society that values individuals based only on their economic worth