The document provides discussion prompts and questions about Franz Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis". It asks students to summarize the final chapter, explain their reaction to the end, discuss how the family dynamics change after Gregor's transformation and how they view him, analyze symbols and character attitudes, and consider what Gregor's death represents. It stresses the importance of having a clear thesis statement for any analytical essay and provides guidance on developing an outline, incorporating evidence and quotes, and structuring an introduction, body, and conclusion. Students are assigned homework to craft a thesis on how Kafka uses symbolism to convey the story's message and to find three supporting quotes, annotating each source.

1. World Literature and Composition
4 September 2012

2. Journal Prompt
4 September 2012
“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within
the castle of one’s own self.”
― Franz Kafka
How does this quote relate to The
Metamorphosis?

3. Summarize the final chapter…

4. Explain your reaction to the end of the story?
Everybody shares….

5. The Transformation of the Family
 “Gregor was a member  What is significant
of the family who about the stained
shouldn’t be treated as uniform with “polished
an enemy, but in whose and gleaming gold
case family obligations buttons”?
demanded that one
swallow one’s repulsion  How are family
and be patient…” (39) finances now?
 New jobs (39)  How could this state of
 Why did the father affairs been avoided?
refuse to take off his
uniform?

6. New characters; New attitudes
 Who are the new  How was Gregor able
characters? to hear the music?
 What was their
 What had changed in
the way the family
effect on the thought of Gregor?
family?
 What happened to his
 What kind of room?
people were they?  What was Grete’s
 How did they attitude toward Gregor
response to Grete’s now?
music?

7. Grey to Great ?
 What happened to  What does this
Gregor? symbolize?
 Why?  What was the
 How did the family family’s
respond? consideration about
 What happened to
Gregor’s remains?
the lodgers? (51)
 What are Grete’s
 What is different
about the weather? parents now
(50, 52) thinking about her?
(52)
 What makes this
significant?

8. New Direction
Let’s talk ESSAY!

9. The single most important element of
any essay is a THESIS!!!
No thesis=No destination
No destination=No point
No point=REALLY BAD GRADE

10. The single most important element of
any essay is a THESIS!!!
No thesis=No destination
No destination=No point
No point=REALLY BAD GRADE
A Thesis is ONE sentence that summarizes
the purpose of your essay.

11. The single most important element of
any essay is a THESIS!!!
No thesis=No destination
No destination=No point
No point=REALLY BAD GRADE
A Thesis is ONE sentence that
summarizes the purpose of your
essay.
AFTER you have developed a brilliant thesis, follow these steps:
1. Research: find multiple sources, take notes, use quotes,
2. Outline: LOOK AT THE EDLINE SAMPLE
3. Body paragraphs: point by point, build your case
4. Conclusion: restate your purpose and summarize with NO new
information
5. Introduction: Now that you know the paper, you can properly
introduce it.

12. The Dreaded Annotated
Bibliography
1. Write out a quote you think you’ll use in your essay.
2. Write down all the bibliographic information (Works Cited)
3. Write out a summary of the source you used for the quote.
4. Write out the meaning of the quote.
5. Write out how the quote connects to your thesis.
6. DON’T LOSE IT

13. Homework
How does Kafka’s use of symbolism
allow the reader to understand the
message of The Metamorphosis?
Compose a thesis for an essay based on the prompt.
Find three quotes from sources OTHER THAN THE TEXT that
support your thesis.
Create an annotated bibliography for each of the quotes.