The Metamorphosis

The MetamorphosisPages 33–54Part IIAnswers for Before You Move OnPAGE 411. Cause and Effect Gregor’s favorite food makes him sickand the big room makes him nervous. Why?He is an insect now so his likes, dislikes, and needsare changing.2. Inference Gregor learns that his family has money saved.Why does this upset Gregor?He was working so hard to support his family because hethought they had no money. His father lied to him and as aresult, Gregor sacrificed a lot for no reason.PAGE 541. Inference Gregor’s mother faints when she sees him on thewall. What was Gregor trying to do? What did Grete think hewas trying to do?Gregor is trying to keep the picture since Grete is taking allthe furniture. Grete thinks he is trying to scare them.2. Viewing Reread page 46. Why do you think the artist putthe text around the illustrations so you have to turn the pageto read it?It gives the effect of crawling upside down like Gregoris doing.Respond to Part II1. Personal Response Gregor discovers that as an insect he likes to eatgarbage. How would your life change if you were transformed into ananimal? What would you miss most about being human?2. Evidence and Conclusions In Part I, Gregor still acts as if he ishuman. What happens in Part II that shows Gregor’s reality haschanged? Explain using evidence from the book and use the wordreality in your response.S d J l 7 fStudent Journal, page 7The MetamorphosisGregor realizes his reality has changed when food he lovesrepulses him, high ceilings make him nervous, he wants tosleep in a tight space, and he likes garbage.3. Author’s Purpose Look at some of the illustrations in Part II. Eventhough this story is about a tragic event, the book’s illustrations aresometimes humorous. What is the author’s purpose in bringing humorto a tragic story?This story is so absurd that it is almost funny. The drawingsof Gregor eating and Gregor with the apple stuck in hisback are humorous in order to make the reader aware ofhow absurd the story is.4. Generate Questions Write a question about this section for someoneelse reading this book. Exchange questions with them. Do you agreewith their answer?Respond to Part II, continuedStudent Journal, page 85. Cause and Effect Gregor has to adjust to life as an insect. Write whatGregor does and how he feels in the Cause column. Then write theeffects of these actions and feelings in the Effect column.The MetamorphosisCause and Effect ChartCausesGregor is worried aboutthe family’s finances.Gregor notices thatGrete is disgusted bythe sight of him.Gregor feels alienatedbecause no one speaksto him anymore.Gregor tries to savethe picture from beingmoved.EffectsGregor has sleeplessnights filled with shameand grief.Gregor hides to spareGrete from seeing him.Gregor starts to forgethis human past.Gregor’s father throwsan apple at Gregor.What could Gregor’s family have done to make him not feel alienatedand worthless?They could have supported him when he was transformedinto a bug instead of alienating him. They could havespoken to him and made sure he knew that they loved himwhether he was providing for them or not.Teacher’s Guide page 5 of 13 © Hampton-Brown

The MetamorphosisAssessmentAssess students’ understanding of The Metamorphosis byadministering the multiple-choice test and essay questions.(Teacher’s Guide, pages 10–12)How you administer the Assessment depends on your objective.You may choose to use the test as:• an open-book test to allow students to continue practicingreading strategies and/or become familiar with a typicalstandardized test format• a closed-book test to check students’ comprehension of thebook and their abilities in various reading skills• a take-home test to allow students to practice reading strategiesas well as test-taking skillsSuggested point values are as follows:Assessment Part I: 5 points per question for a total of 50 pointsAssessment Part II: 40 points possible (see Scoring Guide,page 13)The MetamorphosisAssessment Part ICircle the best answer.1. When Gregor first wakes up, he isworried about his transformationbecause—A he is scaredB he does not want his family to see himC he does not want to be late for workD he hates insects2. When Grete decides to move all of thefurniture out of Gregor’s room it showsthat—A the family does not think of Gregor ashuman anymoreB Grete wants Gregor to move toanother roomC Gregor is happy as an insectD the family sees Gregor the way hesees himself3. What can the reader conclude about Gregor’sfather?A He is a good father for saving moneysecretly.B He has unconditional love for his son.C He is willing to do anything to help makehis son’s life better.D He only cares about his son when he isuseful and making money.4. Gregor is locked in his room, no one talksto him, and his furniture and belongings aretaken away. These are examples of howGregor’s family is trying to him.A understandB transformC loveD alienate5. When the family is on the train, the illustratorcreates a feeling of—A sorrowB happinessC desperationD dreadAssessment Part IName:©H BAssessment Part IIAssessment Part I, continuedThe MetamorphosisGuidelines for Short EssayHave students write a short essay in response to one of the writing promptsbelow. Use the Scoring Guide to assist in your evaluation of their essays.A. Gregor’s family has many conversations about him, but they do not know thatGregor can hear and understand them. How do these conversations affectGregor’s opinion of himself and his outlook on life?Responses should include that Gregor is negatively affected by these conversations. Hehears what his family really thinks of him. They do not think well of him. They do not haveany use for him now that he cannot make money, and he disgusts them. This makesGregor feel worthless and depressed. He loses the will to survive.B. What is sad about Gregor’s transformation? What is humorous? How doesthe humor in the story add to the plot? Rewrite the ending so that it is funnier.Responses should include that the transformation is sad because Gregor feels useless andalienated. The transformation is funny because it is so strange and absurd. At fi rst Gregordoesn’t even really know that he is a bug. He is more upset that he cannot go to work andbe useful than the fact that he is an insect. The humor in the story adds to the plot becausefor a topic as serious as this, it is funny to see the main character struggling to adapt to lifeas a bug. He has to learn what foods to eat and how to live his new life as a bug.Scoring GuideDescription of the response:4 • Interpretation is accurate and thoughtful• Explanation is fully developed• Support includes specific and relevant text evidence• All parts of the question are clearly addressed3 • Interpretation is adequate• Explanation is developed but may lack some insight• Support includes most specific and relevant text evidence• All parts of the question are addressed to some degree2 • Interpretation is literal or limited• Explanation is incomplete• Support includes some specific and relevant text evidence• Only parts of the question are addressed and mostly in a limited way1 • Interpretation is weak• Explanation is vague• Support includes few, if any, relevant details from the text• Only one part of the question is minimally addressed0 Response is totally incorrect or irrelevantThe MetamorphosisAssessment Part I, continuedCircle the best answer.6. Which of these is the best plotsummary?A Gregor wakes up transformed. Heexperiments with eating different foodsand sleeping in different places, such asunder the couch. Gregor’s family is upsetbecause he can no longer make moneyfor them.B Gregor wakes up and discovers thathe has been transformed. He is upsetbecause he cannot go to work. He triesto talk to his family, but they cannotunderstand him. They hire a cleaningwoman to care for Gregor.C Gregor wakes up transformed into aninsect. He discovers that his family isscared of him. His father is cruel tohim, but his sister continues to care forhim. Gregor begins to act more like aninsect. His family abandons him, and heeventually dies alone.D Gregor wakes up to find that he hasbeen transformed into an insect. He isvery upset because his family startsto use his room as storage space. Hisfamily abandons him because he is nolonger human.7. Gregor transforms into an insect overnight. Inthis sentence, what does the word transformsmean?A wishes to changeB changes completelyC is left aloneD is afraid of becoming something else8. Gregor’s father hires the cleaning womanbecause—A he does not want his wife or daughter tohave to interact with GregorB he feels cleaning is too much work for hisdaughterC he has extra money saved and wants tospend itD he feels Gregor needs to see more peoplethan his family9. When does Gregor finally lose hope?A when his mother and sister move hisbelongings out of the roomB when his sister suggests that the familyget rid of himC when the family allows the cleaningwoman to torment himD when his father attacks him10. The illustrator shows how Gregor never hasenough time by including a drawing of—A an hourglassB an appleC Gregor eating foodD a trainName:Teacher’s Guide page 9 of 13 © Hampton-Brown

The MetamorphosisName:Assessment Part ICircle the best answer.1. When Gregor first wakes up, he isworried about his transformationbecause—A he is scaredB he does not want his family to see himC he does not want to be late for workD he hates insects2. When Grete decides to move all of thefurniture out of Gregor’s room it showsthat—A the family does not think of Gregor ashuman anymoreB Grete wants Gregor to move toanother roomC Gregor is happy as an insect4. Gregor is locked in his room, no one talksto him, and his furniture and belongings aretaken away. These are examples of howGregor’s family is trying to him.A understandB transformC loveD alienate5. When the family is on the train, the illustratorcreates a feeling of—A sorrowB happinessC desperationD dreadD the family sees Gregor the way hesees himself3. What can the reader conclude about Gregor’sfather?A He is a good father for saving moneysecretly.B He has unconditional love for his son.C He is willing to do anything to help makehis son’s life better.D He only cares about his son when he isuseful and making money.© Hampton-Brown

The MetamorphosisName:Assessment Part I, continuedCircle the best answer.6. Which of these is the best plotsummary?A Gregor wakes up transformed. Heexperiments with eating different foodsand sleeping in different places, such asunder the couch. Gregor’s family is upsetbecause he can no longer make moneyfor them.B Gregor wakes up and discovers thathe has been transformed. He is upsetbecause he cannot go to work. He triesto talk to his family, but they cannotunderstand him. They hire a cleaningwoman to care for Gregor.C Gregor wakes up transformed into aninsect. He discovers that his family isscared of him. His father is cruel tohim, but his sister continues to care forhim. Gregor begins to act more like aninsect. His family abandons him, and heeventually dies alone.D Gregor wakes up to find that he hasbeen transformed into an insect. He isvery upset because his family startsto use his room as storage space. Hisfamily abandons him because he is nolonger human.7. Gregor transforms into an insect overnight. Inthis sentence, what does the word transformsmean?8. Gregor’s father hires the cleaning womanbecause—A he does not want his wife or daughter tohave to interact with GregorB he feels cleaning is too much work for hisdaughterC he has extra money saved and wants tospend itD he feels Gregor needs to see more peoplethan his family9. When does Gregor finally lose hope?A when his mother and sister move hisbelongings out of the roomB when his sister suggests that the familyget rid of himC when the family allows the cleaningwoman to torment himD when his father attacks him10. The illustrator shows how Gregor never hasenough time by including a drawing of—A an hourglassB an appleC Gregor eating foodD a trainA wishes to changeB changes completelyC is left aloneD is afraid of becoming something else© Hampton-Brown

The MetamorphosisName:Assessment Part IIChoose one question to answer. Write 3–4 paragraphs. Use 3examples from the text to support your answer. Continue your essayon a separate sheet of paper if necessary.A. Gregor’s family has many conversations about him, but they do notknow that Gregor can hear and understand them. How do theseconversations affect Gregor’s opinion of himself and his outlook on life?B. What is sad about Gregor’s transformation? What is humorous? Howdoes the humor in the story add to the plot? Rewrite the ending sothat it is funnier.© Hampton-Brown

The MetamorphosisGuidelines for Short EssayHave students write a short essay in response to one of the writing promptsbelow. Use the Scoring Guide to assist in your evaluation of their essays.A. Gregor’s family has many conversations about him, but they do not know thatGregor can hear and understand them. How do these conversations affectGregor’s opinion of himself and his outlook on life?Responses should include that Gregor is negatively affected by these conversations. Hehears what his family really thinks of him. They do not think well of him. They do not haveany use for him now that he cannot make money, and he disgusts them. This makesGregor feel worthless and depressed. He loses the will to survive.B. What is sad about Gregor’s transformation? What is humorous? How doesthe humor in the story add to the plot? Rewrite the ending so that it is funnier.Responses should include that the transformation is sad because Gregor feels useless andalienated. The transformation is funny because it is so strange and absurd. At fi rst Gregordoesn’t even really know that he is a bug. He is more upset that he cannot go to work andbe useful than the fact that he is an insect. The humor in the story adds to the plot becausefor a topic as serious as this, it is funny to see the main character struggling to adapt to lifeas a bug. He has to learn what foods to eat and how to live his new life as a bug.Scoring GuideDescription of the response:4 • Interpretation is accurate and thoughtful• Explanation is fully developed• Support includes specific and relevant text evidence• All parts of the question are clearly addressed3 • Interpretation is adequate• Explanation is developed but may lack some insight• Support includes most specific and relevant text evidence• All parts of the question are addressed to some degree2 • Interpretation is literal or limited• Explanation is incomplete• Support includes some specific and relevant text evidence• Only parts of the question are addressed and mostly in a limited way1 • Interpretation is weak• Explanation is vague• Support includes few, if any, relevant details from the text• Only one part of the question is minimally addressed0 Response is totally incorrect or irrelevantTeacher’s Guide page 13 of 13 © Hampton-Brown