The Metamorphosis Group
Question:
scheldeguy
Student
What was the insect that he turned into in "The Metamorphosis"?
Spider or grasshopper?
Answers:
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malibrarian Teacher
High School - 10th GradePosted by malibrarian on Saturday October 27, 2007 at 8:16 PMI always imagined him as a cockroach. I don't believe he could be a spider, as he is described as an insect rather than an arachnid. Check the link below for more information - Good luck!
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sagetrieb Teacher
DoctoratePosted by sagetrieb on Sunday October 28, 2007 at 6:14 AMAll we know is that he has a hard shell, rotund belly, and lots of little-bity legs. An image that stays in my mind is poor Gregor finding himself on his back, unable to right himself, with his little legs kicking in the air.
Sources:
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brendawm Teacher
High School - 9th GradePosted by brendawm on Sunday October 28, 2007 at 5:23 PMI've read this story many times throughout high school and college, and I am almost certain that at no time was the specific insect ever named; however, I am certain that it was not as spider, as that is an arachnid. I will say this, though, I do remember a brilliant college professor and a lengthy discussion that seemed to lean toward the idea of a cockroach, simply based on the author's description. If I had to choose one, I would go with that.
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thy Student
High School - 10th GradePosted by thy on Tuesday December 11, 2007 at 11:12 AMwhile i was reading the book i had that same question and by the detiles that the book give it was realy hard to tell. but later my teacher told me that he had turned into a cockroach.
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theresa-diaz Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by theresa-diaz on Thursday April 17, 2008 at 12:03 PMThe author seemed to keep the description vague and never specified an insect in particular to leave it up to the reader's imagination and own conclusion. He could of easily began his story with, "One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a cockroach." However he used the term a monstrous verminous bug, mentioned a hard shell and tiny legs. The reader is simply left to picture a giant general insect in his mind, trying to live the life Gregor Samsa once had.
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grlucas Teacher
DoctoratePosted by grlucas on Thursday April 24, 2008 at 11:40 AMNeither spider, grasshopper (?), nor cockroach. How about a dung beetle? This has lovely figurative connotations as well and seems the most apt given Kafka's limited description.
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Posted by blazedale on Thursday April 24, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I think it's definitely some sort of beetle. I wonder what type of beetles are most common in Prague?
Sources:
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kdanuelle Student
College - SophomorePosted by kdanuelle on Thursday April 24, 2008 at 5:28 PMWhile reading the story I pictured him to be an above average cockroach. However, the maid did call for him as a dung beetle. So now I assume since she had seen him she knew what type of insect he was.
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petpemp Student
High School - 9th GradePosted by petpemp on Sunday April 27, 2008 at 1:35 PM
