The Metamorphosis
Section I Post-Reading Questions
1. What is the woman in the framed picture wearing? What do you think is its significance?
The woman is “fitted out with a fur hat and a fur boa” and is covering her arms in a fur muff. It is like she is
wearing a second skin, that of another animal, the the way Gregor awakes to be in another skin of a vermin.
2. What is Gregor’s role in the family?
Gregor is the main provider for his entire family. He works to support his mother, father and sister. He is even
working to pay back his father’s debts.
3. How does Gregor first react to his transformation? What does it reveal about him as a character?
Gregor calmly wonders what has happened to him then attempts to fall back asleep. His calm demeanor indicates
that he accepts the unfortunate events of his life and instead of dwelling on them immediately deals with the
consequences.
4. How does Gregor feel about his work? Why is his attitude important?
Gregor does not like being a traveling salesman and thinks he needs more sleep. He dislikes his boss and the way
the company functions. He cannot wait for the day he can go “up to the boss and … let him know just what I feel.”
He feels trapped in his circumstances and not free to pursue his own interests.
5. Why does the chief clerk mention the company’s money? What is he insinuating about Gregor’s refusal to
leave his room?
The chief clerk references “the money that was recently entrusted” to Gregor to suggest that the boss thinks he
has not shown up for work because he plans on stealing the money. The chief clerk defended Gregor to the boss,
giving “his word of honour that that could not be the right explanation” but now he threatens to withdraw his
support.
6. What happens to Gregor when he leaves his room to meet the chief clerk? How does his family react? What
do the various reactions reveal about the characters?
When Gregor opens the door to walk into the other room, the chief clerk, his mother and his father are able to see
that he has transformed. The chief clerk immediately turns away in disgust and leaves, revealing him to only be a
mouthpiece and not brave at all. Gregor’s mother steps toward him then sinks to the floor in tears. She truly loves
her son and is heartbroken by his transformation. Gregor’s father “looked hostile” before he begins to weep.
Eventually he grabs the clerk’s stick and hisses at Gregor while violently driving him back to his room. This reveals a
harsh tendency toward violence and an unwillingness to understand his son.
Grade 10: The Metamorphosis
