Metamorphosis

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Metamorphosis

• By Franz Kafka

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Warm Up Activity

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Setting a Purpose

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

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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 Gregors role in his family? Why does he
  have so much responsibility? How is this role
  about to change?

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Chapter One Contd

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

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Chapter One Contd

• What circumstances in Gregors life might have
  caused him to feel dehumanized even before the
  metamorphosis took place?

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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.

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Setting a Purpose

• Read to discover whether Gregors situation may
  be a form of self-punishment.

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Chapter Two

• What parts of the story, if any, did you find
  humorous? Explain.
• What does Gregors father reveal about the
  familys financial status? What is Gregors
  reaction when he learns the truth about their
  finances?

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Ch 2 Contd

• What is Gregors 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?

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Ch 2 Contd

• 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 Kafkas
  style? Does his writing remind you of other books
  you have read, music you have heard, or films you
  have seen?

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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.

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Setting a Purpose

• Read to discover the effects on the Samsas of
  caring for Gregor.

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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 Gretes 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?

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Ch 3 contd

• How does Gregor respond to his sisters 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 Gregors death?
• What effect does Gregors metamorphosis
  ultimately have on his family? What does this
  effect suggest about his relationship with his
  family?

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Paragraph Structure

• Write your answers in TEA paragraph. Each TEA
  requires at the very least two quotations to
  support it. However, I dont 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.

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Symbolism Classwork

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

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Character Motivation Classwork

• The way Gregors 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.

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Setting Homework

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

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Writers Intent Homework

• After completing the novel, evaluate the novels
  ending. Give your point of view regarding Kafkas
  choice of death and support your point of view
  with reasons from the text and personal opinion.

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Rewriting the EndHomework

• 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.

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