The Metamorphosispg. 1066

Franz Kafka

AT THE BELL

• Imagine you wake up one day to find your friends do not recognize you, find you repulsive, and cannot understand you when you speak.

• Write a creative paragraph of what happened to you while you were sleeping.

Kafka’s backgroundin relation to the novella

• Spent a lifetime seeking approval from father• Became the key element to his personality of

lifelong guilt, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence

• Wrote the Metamorphosis when he was 29 in 1912

• 1917- TB• 1924- died born 1883

Novella

• Type of fiction which are longer and more complex than short stories, but shorter and simpler than novels.

• Compared to a novel it focuses on limited number of characters, shorter period of time, and a single chain of events

• Point of View- written in 3rd person limited. He tells us Gregor’s thoughts and feelings ONLY. We do not learn what the other characters are thinking or feeling unless they show us by their words or actions. Much of it is actually an interior monologue –in the theatre we call it stream of consciousness. This effect makes his inner reality seem more important that what is actually occurring in the world around him.

Modernism/ Expressionism/Surrealism

• Objective: As we read The Metamorphosis your goal is to find out how Kafka uses the main character (Gregor) to reveal three certain characteristics of modernism:

• How does Kafka attempt to capture the realities of modern life?

• How does he manage to express a sense of uncertainty and alienation

• How does he leave you to draw your own conclusion?

The Modernist WriterKNOW FOR FINAL

• Popular after World War II Why? What did this technique of writing reflect?

• Writing subtly implied rather than directly– What does this writing force the reader to do?

• Began abandoning traditional plot structure– Name the traditional structure– Knowing that modernists were clearly writing outside the box,

which two areas were probably eliminated? What do these two areas offer when writing a short story or novella?

From what you know about modernism, do you think Gregor will return to his original form? Why/Why not?

No one way of interpreting Kafka

• Early 19th C movement: expressionism- based on the belief that inner reality, or a person’s thoughts and feelings are more important than the “objective” reality outside the person. --the response is more important than the situation that caused the response. writers, artists, musicians used SYMBOLISM, exaggerations, distortion, dark imagery, fantasy to portray this inner reality. Most popular in Germany in the 1900’s…..

No one way of interpreting Kafka

• Surrealism - developed in France in early 1900’s as a reaction to realism and stressed the power of the imagination and dreams over conscious control. Ex. Salvador Dali’s famous “Dripping Watches”

PART 1

• After reading the first few paragraphs, predict Gregor’s ailment.

• Discuss the things in Gregor’s bedroom, especially the picture of the girl..

• Define symbolism. Now that the symbol has been revealed, why does Kafka chose to have Gregor change into a dung beetle? What has affected Gregor so negatively?

Part 1

• Do you have sympathy for Gregor? If so, why and at what times? If not, why not?

• How does Gregor feel about his job? Find evidence to reveal his feelings

• What is his role in the family? Why does he have so much responsibility? How is this role about to change?

• What happens to Gregor when he leaves his room to meet the office manager? What does this part reveal about his father?

Part 1

• From Gregor’s point of view, what might be some positive aspects of his metamorphosis into an insect?

• What circumstances in his life might have caused him to feel dehumanized even before the metamorphosis took place?

No one way of interpreting Kafka• Existentialism --philosophical movement created • in 20th c France • Emphasizes philosophy of individual existence, freedom, choice• It has many different forms, but one of the most important

elements is a belief that people are “created” by the experiences they undergo. It is action and making choices that give life meaning.

• Do not believe in God or fate, but rather that human beings were free to make their own MORAL CHOICES in life regardless of how it affects other around them and if it does not conform to society. All happens by chance.

Existentialism

• Morally- you must find your own way—no religious doctrine/morals

• Your passion decides questions of truth• Most important questions are not understood

through science or reason• Freedom to choose –choices make your

existence—accept responsibility-no excuses irrelevant whether positive or negative—it just IS.

Ex. cont

• Death is always a choice• never understand why we are here• Overall- pessimistic• Absurd: the only given in life is death• No salvation• Life always incomplete and purposeless

Existentialism valuesrepeated in a different way….

• emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe to create his/her own life

• regards human existence as unexplainable (no God)

• stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts

No one way of interpreting Kafka

Once final movement that claimed Kafka as their own is Freudianism—a theory of psychology by Sigmund Freud. Every human action is influenced by the unconscious mind. Early experiences, such as the relationship with one’s father have a profound effect on the development of the unconscious.

Part 2

• Objective: to discover whether Gregor’s situation may be a form of self-punishment

Part 2

• DO NOW: Do you think people ever hope to be punished for something they have done, said, or even thought? How might this wish lead people into a form of self-punishment?

• Grab a partner, make a list of the kinds of situations in which people might consciously or unconsciously wish to be punished.

Part 2

– In this part, we learn much about Gregor’s sense of guilt.

• What parts of the story do you find humorous?• What does Gregor’s father reveal about the

family’s financial status? What is Gregor’s reaction when he learns the truth about their finances?

• What does Gregor’s response tell you about him when his sister decides to remove the furniture from his room?

Part 2

• How is Gregor wounded? What symbolic significance might the object that wounds him have?

• What words would you use to describe Kafka’s style? Does his writing remind you of any other books, music, movies?

Group Activity

• Create a list of 10 important rules for creating and maintaining a healthy family life.

• Give a grade to the Samsa family on how well they follow your group’s rules.– Or– Choose with Gregor eating his rotten food, hiding

under his couch, listening at the door or looking out the window, hanging from the ceiling and using details create a cartoon.

Part 3

– In this third part, the father figure looms over the chapter. Think about how his real life father might have influenced him.

How do you respond to the ending ? What other endings might the story have had?Why has Grete’s attitude toward Gregor changed? Who comes to live with the Samsas? What might be the significance of these new characters? Why did Kafka not give them names?

Part 3

• How does Gregor respond to his sister’s violin playing? What might he be implying about Gregor by describing this reaction?

• In what manner does the narrator imply he has died? What other forces might have led to his death?

• What effect does Gregor’s metamorphosis ultimately have on his family?

• Gregor finally realizes his existentialism towards the end of the novel How so? Look at slide 14 for “values”

• Do you think his death can be seen as a sacrifice in any way? Movie with Will Smith…

Big questions

– What could the transformation, or metamorphosis represent in Gregor's life?

– What could Gregor's metamorphosis symbolize? – Gregor's metamorphosis poignantly illustrates the

power struggle within this family and shows how Gregor's transformation alters the family's dynamics.

• select symbol to represent an important issue, handout writing assignment: write a description of symbol’s meaning

The StrangerTheme

• The overall theme of The Stranger relates to the ideas of Absurdism and Existentialism; through Meursault’s character, Camus confronts the definition of existence and how life has no immediate purpose.

Albert Camus• born November 7, 1913 in Mondovi, Algeria.• He experienced a poor childhood and suffered from

tuberculosis.• He was a member of the French Communist Party.• In 1940 married --loved his wife. He had several affairs.• He supported the philosophy of Absurdism.• The public often associated him with the idea of

existentialism, but he rejected the label. • He was a pacifist; he disagreed with the idea of capital

punishment.• In 1957, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature.• Albert Camus died January 4, 1960 in a car accident.

Genre

• The genre of The Stranger is realistic fiction and also drama.

• It is realistic fiction because although it is not based on true events, the situations could logically occur.

• It is a dramatic piece of literature because there are aspects of suspense and confliction.

Setting

• Significance: The setting plays an important role in Meursault’s environment because the world around him affects his actions. He is very descriptive when speaking about his surroundings.

• Time Period: Modern • Locations: Meursault’s home in Alger, Algeria; The

old folk’s home in Marengo; The Beach; Jail cell.• Social context: Middle class.• Takes place over a period of several years.

Point of View

The Speaker is MeursaultThe diction is very informal because the story is

told from Meursault’s point of view. The reader is exposed to Meursault’s thoughts and feelings, and the fact that Meursault himself isn’t very well spoken contributes to this effect.

Camus uses Meursault to achieve his desired effect with Meursault’s great attention to detail and the significance of physical influences. Also Meursault’s indifference and lack of motivation.

Symbolism & Tone

• symbol of heat and light repeated throughout novel

• Example: When he shoots the Arab the sun is burning and shining intensely upon him, affecting his thoughts and judgment.

• Repetition: A repeated idea in the novel is the significance of heat and light

• Example: When he shoots the Arab the sun is burning and shining intensely upon him, affecting his thoughts and judgment.

Plot• Meursault’s mother dies, he attends her funeral• He reunites with Marie• He encounters Salamano and his mangy dog• Meursault dines with Raymond and writes Raymond’s letter• Meursault and Marie witness Raymond abusing his girlfriend• Meursault, Marie and Raymond go to the Masson’s beach house• Conflict with the Arabs; Meursault kills the Arabic man• Meursault is arrested for murdering the Arab• Meursault goes to jail• Meursault meets with the magistrate and speak about religion• Meursault is tried for his crime; he is sentenced to death• Meursault is visited by the chaplain, and proceeds to attack him• In his final moments, Meursault accepts the fact that he must die and

finally ponders his existence

CHARACTERS

• Significant Relationships: Meursault and Marie’s relationship is puzzling

to the readers, for they enjoy each other's company, but their love is questionable. Marie is in love with Meursault, but Meursault doesn’t express those types of feelings.

Meursault and Raymond’s relationship is somewhat superficial. They are friends, but there is no deep connection or understanding between them. Meursault simply conforms to what Raymond does and thinks, emphasizing Meursault's lack of conviction.

Raymond’s negative relationship with the Arabs leads to the conflicts faced by Meursault. Their issues cause the encounter between Meursault and the Arab at the beach, as well as the subsequent murder.

Meursault MamanRaymondCelesteThe DirectorCaretakerMarieArabsMassonSalamano

Making connections• After reading both pieces, You will compare or contrast the following in a lit analysis

essay: You will have 1 period to write this in the WRITING LAB on Monday May 9th

• The two main protagonists both feature a situation that arises out of an existentialism value—look on my power point for slides 14-16. Choose 1 situation and value to focus on and write a comparison or contrasting essay.

Rubric:• FOCUS: INTRODUCTION consists of the usual: hook, titles, authors, thesis explaining the

situation and value• CONTENT: comparison or contrast book by book which means paragraph by paragraph

OR sentence by sentence which means one characters then the other within the same paragraph

• ORGANZIZATION: FULL SENTENCE Transitions exist AT THE END OF EACH PARAGRAPH LEADING INTO THE NEXT ONE. Proper comparison or contrast transitions are used

• STYLE: Word choice/ passive/active voice, staying in the same tense/3rd person• CONVENTIONS: ALL COMMAS ARE CORRECTLY PLACED.