Chapter: 04. A Strange Transformation
Answer Key
A. Answer these questions.
What specific details are given about Gregor’s “numerous legs” and their movement? Gregor’s numerous legs are described as “pitifully thin in comparison to the rest of his body,” and they “flickered helplessly before his eyes.” He was unable to control them, and when he tried to move, they moved continuously with very different motions in an “excessively painful agitation.” How did Gregor initially try to dismiss his transformation, and why was he unsuccessful? Gregor initially tried to dismiss his transformation by telling himself, “Why don’t I keep sleeping for a little while longer and forget all this foolishness.” He was unsuccessful because he couldn’t get himself into his usual sleeping position on his right side; no matter how hard he tried, he always rolled back onto his armour-hard back. Who was the first person to call out to Gregor from outside his room, and what was their concern? The first person to call out to Gregor was his mother. Her concern was his lateness for work; she called, “Gregor… it’s quarter to seven. Don’t you want to be on your way?” What made Gregor finally give up trying to turn onto his right side? Gregor finally gave up trying to turn onto his right side only when he began to feel a “light, dull pain in his side which he had never felt before.” What picture hung on Gregor’s wall, and what does it tell us about his past interests? A picture he had cut out of an illustrated magazine and set in a pretty frame hung on Gregor’s wall. This tells us that Gregor had a personal interest in something aesthetic or decorative, suggesting a desire for beauty or a hobby outside of his work. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“From this height, the blanket, just about ready to slide off completely, could hardly stay in place.” a. What “height” is being referred to here? The “height” refers to the elevated position of Gregor’s arched abdomen as he lay on his back, transformed into a bug. b. What does this suggest about Gregor’s new physical form? It suggests that his new body is large, arched, and unusually bulky, making it difficult for the blanket to conform to its shape. c. How does this detail contribute to the sense of his helplessness? It contributes to his helplessness by showing that even a simple item like a blanket becomes unmanageable, highlighting his loss of control over his new physical presence and environment. “He slid back again into his earlier position. ‘This getting up early,’ he thought, ‘makes a man quite idiotic.’” a. What was Gregor’s “earlier position”? Gregor’s “earlier position” was lying on his armour-hard back, unable to turn onto his side. b. What does Gregor mean by “This getting up early… makes a man quite idiotic”? Gregor means that the constant exhaustion and lack of sleep caused by his demanding job and early starts make a person feel dull-witted or foolish. c. What is the irony in Gregor’s thoughts about getting up early, given his situation? The irony is that despite his focus on the difficulties of his human job and early mornings, he is now in an infinitely more bizarre and problematic situation—transformed into a bug—making his previous complaints seem trivial in comparison. “Gregor needed to hear only the visitor’s first word of greeting to recognise immediately who it was-the manager himself.” a. Why was Gregor expecting a visitor from the office? Gregor was expecting a visitor from the office because he was late for work, had missed his train, and his sample collection was unpacked, leading him to anticipate a confrontation with his manager. b. What does Gregor’s immediate recognition of the manager’s voice imply about their relationship or his job? It implies that the manager is a significant and perhaps imposing figure in Gregor’s life, and Gregor is very familiar with his presence due to the intense pressure and demands of his job. c. How might the manager’s arrival intensify Gregor’s anxiety? The manager’s arrival would intensify Gregor’s anxiety by bringing the immediate threat of disciplinary action or job loss, compounding the terror of his transformation with the very real and immediate consequences of his inability to perform his duties. C. Deeper Thinking / Personal Response
If Gregor had been able to communicate clearly, what do you think he would have said to his mother or the manager? How do you think they would have reacted? (Answers will vary.) To his mother, he might have tried to explain his horrifying transformation, expressed his fear, and perhaps asked for help or understanding. To the manager, he might have tried to apologize for his absence and explain his impossible situation, perhaps begging for leniency. Their reactions would likely be extreme shock, disbelief, and potentially terror or disgust upon seeing him. They might initially think it’s a joke or a delusion, but the undeniable reality of his physical form would lead to immense fear and confusion about how to cope. The story describes Gregor’s room as “a proper room for a human being, only somewhat too small.” How does this description enhance the surreal contrast with Gregor’s transformation? (Answers will vary.) The description enhances the surreal contrast by setting a mundane, ordinary scene (a typical, if slightly cramped, human room) against the utterly extraordinary and impossible event of Gregor’s transformation. The normalcy of the room makes Gregor’s monstrous new form even more jarring and unsettling, highlighting how the extraordinary has invaded the ordinary, a hallmark of surrealism. It emphasizes Gregor’s alienation within his own familiar space. D. Word Wonder
1. Match the columns to make verb-noun collocations.
take - c. a chance (take a chance) hold - e. your breath (hold your breath) catch - a. an idea (catch an idea / often “catch on to an idea”) give - b. a break (give a break) arrange - d. a meeting (arrange a meeting) 2. For each word, provide a synonym and an antonym from the options given.
a. **Dismal**
* Synonym: gloomy
* Antonym: cheerful
b. **Rigid**
* Synonym: tough
* Antonym: soft
c. **Composed**
* Synonym: calm
* Antonym: agitated
d. **Crucial**
* Synonym: vital
* Antonym: unimportant
Answer key