Discussion Questions for “The Metamorphosis” (first
section)
Directions: Find specific detailsin the text to support your answers and interpretation. Some of them
require details from the story, others will be your interpretation
1. Gregor Samsa spends only a moment questioning what has happened to him. What dohis
thoughts immediately turn to?
2. How does he feel about his job?
3. Why hasn’t Gregor quit his job? What is keeping him in it?
4. What does he believe will happen when he gets out of bed?
5. What happens as Gregor is rocking back and forth to get out of bed?
6. What has Gregor built that his mother seems proud of?
7. What information about Gregor’s job does the manager bring up in front of Gregor’sparents?
8. What does Gregor say to the manager and what actually comes out?
9. What items does Gregor’s father use to get Gregor back into his room?
10. What problem did Gregor have in getting back into his room?
11. What injury did Gregor sustain while reentering his room?
12. How do Gregor’s parents and the chief clerk react to Gregor’s transformation? Why do they assume that
this giant bug is Gregor? (Much Later in the story, Gregor’s sister wonders if it is really Gregor, but no one
else suggests this.)
13. Based on your interpretation, what does this story say to you about life, about people, etc.?
14. Kafka creates a frightening, surreal world in which people can turn into insects and chief clerks come to a
person’s house when they are an hour late. What is the effect on the reader? Why might Kafka have
chosen this technique rather than a realistic style to convey his ideas?