Interpretive Questions
Why does Gregor worry about his job when's he's been transformed into a giant cockroach?
Why did the chief clerk show up at Gregor's home to inquire why he was not on the early train? (p.97)
Why does Gregor have no appetite for fresh food? (p.112)
Why do his sister's "ministrations" oppress Gregor (p. 117)?
When Grete sees Gregor on the wallpaper, Kafka tells us it "was the first time she had directly addressed him since his metamorphosis (p. 124)." Why not before?
Why does Mr. Samsa throw the apples at Gregor (p. 127)?
Why did the three lodgers have a "passion for order," especially in the kitchen (p. 133)?
Why did the charwoman wear an ostrich feather, and why did it annoy Mr. Samsa (p. 145)?
Are the changes Gregor's transformation engenders in his family -- in his father especially -- healthy?
Why does Greta finally decide that the Samsa family household can no longer continue under such conditions?
Is Gregor's decision to disappear a charitable or pathetic act?
Evaluative Questions
If you take the story at its face value (i.e., that Gregor could be transformed into an insect), are the characters' actions believable?
--Are we made to feel at all curious as to why Gregor turned into and insect?
--Does it matter?
Is Gregor Samsa a hero?
Textual Analysis
pp. 120-124, from "And this time he did not peer out from under it" to "fell down onto the middle of the big table."
pp. 135-137, from "Gregor's sister began to play" to "she kept free of any ribbon or collar."
pp. 143-end of story, starting with "At that the door of the Samsa's bedroom opened and Mr. Samsa appeared in his uniform ..."
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