Assignment One:

Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis 
(pp. ix - 43 in separate book)

In 50-75 (written) words, respond to one of the following:

1.) Some critics view this rather strange  novella as an exploration of the father/son conflict, with the son attempting to please the father. What in the novella supports this view?

2.) Some critics interpret the novella as an exploration of a male's attempt to come to terms with human (not roach) sexuality. Their primary interest is the scene in which Gregor "covers" the pin-up (p. 26). What else in the novella supports this view?

3.) Is it possible to view this novella as a fractured (and perhaps inverted) version of the story of the Garden of Eden? Gregor is wounded by an apple, thrown by his "father." What other elements of the novella might fit (or at least parallel) the story of the Garden of Eden?

         For these assignments, you will be reading some of the critical essays in the Norton Critical edition of the book. Realize that you are not expected to understand everything that you read. You should, however, be able to understand enough to respond to the questions below. Assignments are made according to the first letter of your last name. Read the essay assigned to you, and having read it, in 150-200 (written) words explain: 

1) the critical approach taken by the critic and, if relevant, some of the critical concepts that the critic used;

2) one or more of the critic's ideas/interpretations of the story that you found interesting;

3) one specific statement of the critic that you found confusing and would like to have further clarified in class. (Mark that statement in your book.)

Assignment Two:

If your last name begins with A through M:
Stanley Corngold's "Kafka's The Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis of the Metaphor" (79-106)

If your last name begins with N through Z:
Iris Bruce's "Elements of Jewish Folklore in Kafka's Metamorphosis" (107- 125)

If your last name begins with A through M:
Nina Pelikan Straus's "Transforming Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis" (126-140)

If your last name begins with N through Z:
Kevin Sweeney's "Competing Theories of Identity in Kafka's The Metamorphosis" (140-153)

If your last name begins with A through J:
Mark Anderson's "Sliding Down the Evolutionary Ladder? Aesthetic Autonomy in The Metamorphosis" (154-171)

If your last name begins with K through R:
Hartmut Binder's "The Metamorphosis: The Long Journey into Print" (172-194)

If your last name begins with S through Z:
Eric Santner's "Kafka's Metamorphosis and the Writing of Abjection" (195-210)