Reading: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

In the warmth of a summer dusk, the insects take control - mosquitoes, lightening bugs, Japaneses beetles, ants. Bugs rule the outside.

Imagine yourself in the role of this natural ruler, your human body transformed into a giant bug. How would you handle it? "Why did this happen to me?" you might ask yourself. More importantly, how will you survive in the world of humans when you are no longer one?

In your final reading assignment, you will read "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, one of the pioneers of the Absurdist movement. Click here to access the full text of the story.

As you read this novella, please create the following pages in your notebook:

1. Metamorphosis Characters: Name the characters and their key personality traits.
2. Metamorphosis Plot Summary: As best as you can, describe the plot of the story.
3. Metamorphosis Conflict: Describe the conflict within the story.
4. Metamorphosis Vocabulary: Define a list of at least thirty words within the story that are new to you.

Once you are done reading the story, please write a two-page essay in your notebook in which you address the following prompt:

Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. "The Metamorphosis" includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot of the story.

For a visual interpretation (e.g., cartoons!), you should visit Random House.