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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the Kafkaesque theme consistent within The Metamorphosis?

2. Who wonders if there is still some remnant in Gregor left in the beetle?

3. What skills do the women in Gregor's family provide?

4. How is Gregor's first thought interpreted after realizing his transformation?

5. What does Gregor's family not realize about the beetle when they speak in front of it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Gregor's transformation a possible symbol for?

2. Why is Grete ultimately the final authority on whether or not the beetle is Gregor and Gregor the beetle?

3. Who ironically turns on Gregor in the third part of The Metamorphosis and why?

4. What prevents Gregor from communicating with his family pre-transformation?

5. What happens each time Gregor emerges from his room with only the best intentions?

6. What is shocking to the reader in the first part of The Metamorphosis after Gregor wakes up to his new insect body?

7. What question might Kafka be posing to the reader with the scene involving Grete's violin serenade and Gregor's and The Lodgers' reactions to it?

8. What could the interchange of roles between Grete and Gregor's father be Kafka's social commentary for?

9. What disparity exists for Gregor throughout The Metamorphosis that creates tension within the story?

10. What does the visit of the Chief Clerk serve to represent within The Metamorphosis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gregor lives in a dark universe where all of his most irrational thoughts are manifested to be true. Substantiate this statement to be true or false. Using specific examples from The Metamorphosis, prove or disprove this statement.

Essay Topic 2

Towards the end of The Metamorphosis, Grete and Mr. Samsa appear to shift roles. Mr. Samsa goes from being the least sympathetic to the most. Grete shifts from the most sympathetic to the least. Using examples from the text, discuss how and why this shift occurs throughout the book.

Essay Topic 3

The Chief Clerk's visit to Gregor's home the day of his transformation shows how misunderstood Gregor is by those around him. Substantiate this statement with specific examples from the scene and other instances in the book that show misunderstandings in Gregor's relationships.

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