Learning Log: Chapter 3 Metamorphosis

1.  Focus Activity: As the title The Metamorphosis  suggests, the characters in the novella undergo significant changes in their lives. Use this blog post to comment and start to make notes about changes that each character undergoes. (Add this to your own Google Doc note taking)
2. Analyze Meaning The word translated as vermin in the first sentence of The Metamorphosis is Ungeziefer in the original German. As Kafka probably knew, Ungeziefer derives from a Middle High German word meaning “an unclean animal not suited for sacrifice.” What meaning do you think this word conveys about the nature of Gregor’s metamorphosis? Do you think that his death can be seen as a sacrifice in any sense? In a few paragraphs, explain why or why not.
3. Extending Your Response Literature Groups (We will do this in class)Many critics have pointed out that The Metamorphosis has elements of the parable, a story that illustrates a moral lesson. With a group of classmates, review the novella and discuss what moral lesson or lessons The Metamorphosis might illustrate. Then present your conclusions to other groups in your class.