- Kafka, The Metamorphosis:. This week’s reading is one of my favorites!!! You can find “The Metamorphosis” in Vol. F of your anthology. Please join our Zoom on Wednesday prepared to share your thoughts about what this mysterious text is all about.
- Choose two of the questions listed below to respond to, and share your responses in a separate blog post. For each response, please be sure to provide concrete textual evidence to support and illustrate your ideas. Responses should be shared by Wednesday, May 5th.
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- How is Gregor’s family transformed in the wake of his metamorphosis?
- Do you think that Gregor is more powerful BEFORE or AFTER his metamorphosis? Explain your response.
- Discuss the theme of food and eating. What role does it play in “The Metamorphosis”?
- At the end of the second section of the story, Gregor’s father pelts him with apples. What do you think this episode is about?
- Gregor emerges from his room one last time when he hears his sister playing her violin for the lodgers. What is the significance of this scene? What meaning does music hold for Gregor here?
- Ultimately, what do you think Gregor’s metamorphosis means? What does it mean to be transformed into a giant bug?
- Explain your understanding of Gregor’s death. How/why does he ultimately die?
- Look at the final paragraph of the story. How does it shape or alter our understanding of the text?
3. Essay #2 – In a separate post, I have shared your final essay assignment. Please read the post carefully, and use the “Comments” feature on that post to share an observation, question, or concern about this assignment. We will have a chance to discuss the assignment during our class on Wednesday. Note that the first step in this assignment is coming up with your own essay topic, which must fall loosely within the broad parameters of individual vs. society I outlined in the prompt. Email me your proposed topic in the form of a question no later than Friday, May 7th.
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