View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Grete earn from her parents in return for her care taking of Gregor?

2. Who turns against Gregor in the third part of The Metamorphosis?

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

4. With what image does the story end?

5. How does Gregor view the everyday routines of his life and the life of his family?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the irony of Gregor attempting to hold on to something familiar and human in the second part of The Metamorphosis?

3. What does Gregor lose about himself in the second part of the story?

4. What does Grete become a symbol of at the end of The Metamorphosis and why?

5. How does Gregor's effort to hold on to his human belongings and, thus, his humanity backfire?

6. 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?

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

8. What do Gregor's interactions with his father throughout The Metamorphosis illuminate for the reader?

9. What does the reader learn about Gregor's character through his thoughts as he lies in bed?

10. What is the main aspect of the plot that is developed as the narrative progresses?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In each of the three parts of The Metamorphosis, Gregor leaves his room only once. Each time Gregor leaves his room he is forced back into his room. Construct a thesis that links these three events together using specific examples from the text. What is the significance of these three occurrences in the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout The Metamorphosis Gregor's physique fights against his consciousness, creating tension between the other characters. Substantiate this statement with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Communication is the key to solving any problem. However, Gregor is unable to communicate with his family during and following his transformation into a beetle. Use scenes and examples from the text that justify the inability to communicate as the crux of all conflict in The Metamorphosis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 831 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample