Upon reading the Metamorphosis

Food for thought:

The first line of the text is very important! Keep in mind that Kafka says that Gregor has been transformed into a vermin.

Note the definition of a vermin--noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals collectively, esp. those of small size that appear commonly and are difficult to control.

Kafka does not say that Gregor is a roach, beetle, etc. He leaves it up to the reader to make a mental image of what Gregor looks like! (That should sound familiar--think of the Modernists).

So, in class, we will NEVER say that Gregor is a specific insect--just a vermin.

Also, Kafka would not let any artists design cover art for the novella when it was published because everyone just wanted to put a big bug on the cover. So, he chose abstract art instead.

Have fun reading Chapter 1. I LOVE IT and I hope you do, too. It's pretty out there, but that's what great literature is all about!