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 skills do the women in Gregor's family provide?

2. What causes The Lodgers to eventually leave the family's home?

3. What does Gregor's father not even consider doing when trying to get Gregor back into his room?

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

5. How is Grete able to anticipate Gregor's new physical needs?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Who has a small inkling that Gregor might understand them and why is this character an ironic choice for this revelation?

7. What is the cause for Gregor's transformation into a giant beetle?

8. What human capacity does Gregor keep as the narrative develops and how is this shown?

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

10. What does Gregor believe about his family that reflects on his optimistic personality?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Metamorphosis ends with an image of Grete's youth and health. What is the point of ending the book with this image? Does it wrap up the narrative? How? Support your answer with examples from the text.

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample