The Metamorphosis

I.

Write a bio poem about any of the characters from the story The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka.

Name: Grete Samsa

Four Traits: Thoughtful, compassionate, caring, responsible

Related to Gregor Samsa, Mr. & Mrs. Samsa

Cares deeply for Gregor Samsa and for her family

Who feels pity for Gregor Samsa

Who needs job

Who gives great concern for Gregor Samsa

Who would like to see his brother, Gregor Samsa

Resident of the Samsa family’s apartment in an unspecified city

II.

Answer the following questions:

1. Who is the main character of the in the story?

Gregor Samsa

2. Who else is important in the story?

Grete Samsa, Mr. Samsa and Mrs. Samsa

3. How does the main character feel about them?

Gregor feels haunted by the thought that he might be able to take

control of the family’s affairs again and resume his role as the family’s

money-earner. Despite these hopes, he decides it would be best for the

family if he were to disappear entirely, and so he dies much as he lived:

accepting his fate without complaint and thinking of his family’s best

interests.

4. How does the minor character feel about the main character?

Mr. Samsa, father of Gregor, has no sympathy for Gregor after Gregor

undergoes his metamorphosis. On the day of Gregor’s change, he only

seems concerned about the family’s finances, and in the two instances

when he interacts directly with Gregor in the story, he attacks Gregor in

some way, first when he beats Gregor back into his room at the

beginning and later when he throws the fruit at him.

Grete Samsa, sister of Gregor, takes care of her brother out of kindness.

As she matures and takes on more adult responsibilities, her

commitment to Gregor diminishes. Eventually she comes to resent the

role, and it is Grete who decides they must get rid of Gregor.

Mrs. Samsa, mother of Gregor, is torn between her love for Gregor and

her horror at Gregor’s new state.

The chairwoman faces the reality of Gregor’s state...