The Metamorphosis Study Guide

1. Gregor Samsa is a(n):

• traveling salesman
• writer
• bank teller
• office clerk

2. Gregor seems to be most attached to which object in his room?

• his textile samples from work
• a trophy from school
• his big screen TV
• a framed clipping from a magazine

3. How is Gregor transformed into an insect?

• due to something he had for dinner
• no one seems to know or really care
• as the result of an old family curse
• in Kafka's world, all humans routinely turn into insects

4. Gregor's absence from work looks suspicious because

• he slacks off all day anyway
• he has never been out sick from work
• he's been sick a lot lately
• everybody knows he's seeing the boss's wife

5. When Gregor doesn't come to work, he gets a visit from

• the messenger boy
• a concerned co-worker
• his chief clerk
• a secretary

6. Gregor is unable to communicate with his family and the clerk because

• they are shouting so loudly that they block out his words
• his voice is no longer human
• they can't hear him through the door
• he is speaking German but they only understand Czech

7. Gregor decides that he has to stop the chief clerk from leaving because

• he enjoys the chief clerk's company and wants to talk to him
• if the chief clerk leaves before he is calmed down, this will jeopardize Gregor's career
• he has forgotten to leave Gregor's paycheck
• he thinks the clerk can help him become human again

8. Which of the following does not bother Gregor about his job:

• the Chief always talks down to his employees
• small offences are treated with extreme suspicion
• the salary is too small
• office workers gossip about the traveling salesmen

9. Gregor does not at any point consider that he is experiencing

• a drastic change in physiology
• drowsiness from sleeping too much
• a vague irritation
• a slight cold

10. What did Gregor's father normally do at breakfast before the metamorphosis?

• read newspapers for hours
• ate quickly and went to work
• complained about the lousy cooking
• carried on about politics