CKLA Metamorphosis

When Gregor Samsa realizes that he has been transformed into an insect, his initial reaction is to

• scream in horror

• try to go back to sleep

• call for a doctor

• get his family to help

What worries Gregor the most about his transformation?

• His appearance will frighten his family
• He has trouble moving his legs
• It will change his life forever
• It will cause him to be late for work

Gregory dislikes his job and his boss, but he cannot change jobs because

• he does not have enough job experience
• there are no other jobs available
• he is saving money so he can get married
• his parents owe a lot of money to his boss

As Gregor lies in bed, he thinks about how his imaginary pains "had always turned out to be pure imagination...and he wondered how his imaginings would slowly resolve themselves today" (Kafka 121-123). From this detail readers can infer that Gregor

• is in denial about his situation
• knows he is just having a bad dream
• often imagines that he is an insect
• has decided to take bold action

The chief clerk from Gregor's office comes to the house

• to help Gregor's parents open the bedroom door
• to give Gregor a ride to work, since he missed the train
• to threaten Gregor with firing for missing work
• he wants a chance to see Grete, Gregor's sister

Based on how Gregor's parents and the chief clerk react when they see Gregor, readers can infer that

• Gregor has been dreaming the whole time
• Gregor actually has changed into an insect
• everyone is relieved that Gregor is not ill
• they are angry with Gregor for wasting their time

Vermin are

• pests
• flowers
• workers
• fabric

And it's a funny sort of business to be sitting up there at your (the boss') desk, talking down to your subordinates from up there.

Subordinate means...

• one who has authority

• an important person

• a person of lesser rank

• a business person

"At the other side door, his sister came plaintively: "Gregor? Aren't you well? Do you need anything?"

Clue: Think about how his sister might respond to his "illness."

Plaintively means...

• loudly

• slowly

• painfully

• sadly

Gregor answered to both sides: "I'm ready now," making an effort to remove all the strangeness from his voice by enunciating very carefully and putting long pauses between each individual word.

To enunciate is to...

• move carefully

• answer a question

• pronounce clearly

• take a walk