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128 The Metamorphosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a classic work of literature that has captivated readers for generations. The novella tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. This bizarre premise raises many thought-provoking questions about identity, alienation, and the nature of humanity.

If you are looking for inspiration for an essay on The Metamorphosis, you're in luck! We have compiled a list of 128 essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started on your writing journey. Whether you are analyzing the themes of the novella, exploring its symbolism, or discussing its impact on literature, there is a topic here for you.

  • Analyze the theme of alienation in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's transformation into an insect.
  • Explore the role of family in The Metamorphosis.
  • Compare and contrast Gregor's relationship with his family before and after his transformation.
  • Examine the symbolism of Gregor's room in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the theme of guilt and responsibility in the novella.
  • Analyze the character of Grete and her role in the story.
  • Explore the theme of isolation in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the significance of food and eating in the novella.
  • Examine the motif of sleep and dreams in The Metamorphosis.
  • Compare and contrast Gregor's transformation with other literary works of metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of power and control in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the role of work and money in the novella.
  • Explore the symbolism of the apple in The Metamorphosis.
  • Examine the theme of freedom and imprisonment in the story.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's job as a traveling salesman.
  • Analyze the theme of identity in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the motif of music in the novella.
  • Discuss the theme of sacrifice in The Metamorphosis.
  • Examine the role of society in shaping Gregor's identity.
  • Analyze the theme of transformation in the novella.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's death at the end of the story.
  • Explore the symbolism of the door in The Metamorphosis.
  • Compare and contrast Gregor's transformation with the transformations of other characters in the novella.
  • Examine the theme of communication in the story.
  • Discuss the role of the cleaning woman in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of love and compassion in the novella.
  • Explore the motif of mirrors and reflection in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's sister, Grete, in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of degradation in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the role of Gregor's boss in the novella.
  • Explore the symbolism of the picture of the lady in furs in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of transformation in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's voice in the story.
  • Explore the motif of insects in the novella.
  • Analyze the theme of absurdity in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the role of Gregor's father in the story.
  • Explore the symbolism of the violin in the novella.
  • Analyze the theme of betrayal in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the role of society in shaping Gregor's identity.
  • Explore the symbolism of the door in the novella.
  • Analyze the theme of isolation in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the motif of sleep and dreams in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of freedom and imprisonment in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of guilt and responsibility in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of alienation in the novella.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's room in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the motif of mirrors and reflection in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of absurdity in the story.
  • Discuss the role of Gregor's father in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of betrayal in the story.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's voice in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the role of the cleaning woman in the novella.
  • Analyze the theme of love and compassion in the story.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's sister, Grete, in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of transformation in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of isolation in the novella.
  • Explore the motif of sleep and dreams in The Metamorphosis.
  • Analyze the theme of freedom and imprisonment in the story.
  • Analyze the theme of guilt and responsibility in the novella.
  • Discuss the significance of food and eating in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the role of family in the novella.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's room in the story.
  • Explore the motif of mirrors and reflection in the novella.
  • Discuss the role of Gregor's boss in the story.
  • Explore the symbolism of the picture of the lady in furs in the novella.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's voice in the novella.
  • Explore the role of the cleaning woman in The Metamorphosis.
  • Discuss the significance of Gregor's sister, Grete, in the novella.
  • Explore the motif of music in The Metamorphosis.
  • Explore the symbolism of the door

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Interesting Literature

A Summary and Analysis of Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Metamorphosis’ is a short story (sometimes classed as a novella) by the Czech-born German-language author Franz Kafka (1883-1924). It is his best-known shorter work, published in German in 1915, with the first English translation appearing in 1933. ‘The Metamorphosis’ has attracted numerous interpretations, so it might be worth probing this fascinating story more closely.

You can read ‘The Metamorphosis’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Kafka’s story below.

Plot Summary

Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, wakes up one morning to find that he has been transformed into a giant insect. Although he briefly considers this transformation, he quickly turns his thoughts to his work and his need to provide for his parents (he lives with them and his sister) so that they can pay off their debts. He also thinks about how much he hates travelling.

He realises he is already late for work, but hesitates to call in sick because he has never had a day off sick before, and knows this might raise alarm bells. When he responds through the bedroom door after his mother calls to him, he realises that his voice has become different as a result of his metamorphosis into an insect. When his family try to enter his bedroom, they find the door locked, and he refuses to let them in.

Then there’s a knock at the door and it’s the chief clerk for whom Gregor works, wondering where Gregor has got to.

Still Gregor refuses to open the door to his family or to his visitor. The chief clerk is affronted and tells Gregor through the door that his work has not been good enough and his position at the company may not be safe. Gregor seeks to defend himself, and assures the clerk that he will soon return to work. However, because Gregor’s voice has changed so much since his transformation, nobody can understand what he’s saying.

Gregor opens the door and his mother screams when she sees him. He asks the chief clerk to smooth things over at the office for him, explaining his … sudden metamorphosis into an insect.

Later that evening, having swooned and dozed all day, Gregor wakes up at twilight and finds that his sister had brought him milk with some bread in it. Gregor attempts to drink the milk, but finds the taste disgusting, so he leaves it. He climbs under the couch so his family don’t have to look at him, while his sister tries to find him food that he can eat.

Gregor overhears his family talking in the other room, and discovers that, despite their apparent debts, his parents have some money stashed away. He has been going to work to support them when he didn’t have to.

As well as the changes to his voice, Gregor also realises that his vision has got worse since his transformation. He also discovers that he enjoys climbing the walls and the ceiling of his bedroom. To help him, his sister gets rid of the furniture to create more space for him to climb; Gregor’s mother disagrees and is reluctant to throw out all of Gregor’s human possessions, because she still trusts that he will return to his former state one day.

When he comes out of the room, his mother faints and his sister locks him outside. His father arrives and throws apples at him, severely injuring him, because he believes Gregor must have attacked his own mother.

After his brush with death, the family change tack and vow to be more sympathetic towards Gregor, agreeing to leave the door open so he can watch them from outside the room as they talk together. But when three lodgers move in with the family, and his room is used to store all of the family’s furniture and junk, he finds that he cannot move around any more and goes off his food. He becomes shut off from his family and the lodgers.

When he hears his sister playing the violin for the lodgers, he opens the door to listen, and the lodgers, upon spotting this giant insect, are repulsed and declare they are going to move out immediately and will not pay the family any of their rent owed. Gregor’s sister tells her parents that they must get rid of their brother since, whilst they have tried to take care of him, he has become a liability. She switches from talking about him as her brother and as an ‘it’, a foreign creature that is unrecognisable as the brother they knew.

Gregor, overhearing this conversation, wants to do the right thing for his family, so he decides that he must do the honourable thing and disappear. He crawls off back to his room and dies.

Gregor’s family is relieved that he has died, and the body is disposed of. Mr Samsa kicks the lodgers out of the apartment. He, his wife, and their daughter are all happy with the jobs they have taken, and Mr and Mrs Samsa realise that their daughter is now of an age to marry.

The one thing people know about ‘The Metamorphosis’ is that it begins with Gregor Samsa waking up to find himself transformed into an insect. Many English translations use the word in the book’s famous opening line (and we follow convention by using the even more specific word ‘beetle’ in our summary of the story above).

But the German word Ungeziefer does not lend itself easily to translation. It roughly denotes any unclean being or creature, and ‘bug’ is a more accurate rendering of the original into English – though even ‘bug’ doesn’t quite do it, since (in English anyway) it still suggests an insect, or at least some sort of creepy-crawly.

For this reason, some translators (such as David Wyllie in the one we have linked to above) reach for the word vermin , which is probably closer to the German original. Kafka did use the word Insekt in his correspondence discussing the book, but ordered that the creature must not be explicitly illustrated as such at any cost. The point is that we are not supposed to know the precise thing into which Gregor has metamorphosed.

The vagueness is part of the effect: Gregor Samsa is any and every unworthy or downtrodden creature, shunned by those closest to him. Much as those who wish to denigrate a particular group of people – immigrants, foreigners, a socio-economic underclass – often reach for words like ‘cockroaches’ or ‘vermin’, so Gregor’s transformation physically enacts and literalizes such emotive propaganda.

But of course, the supernatural or even surreal (though we should reject the term ‘Surrealist’) setup for the story also means that ‘The Metamorphosis’ is less a straightforward allegory (where X = Y) than it is a more rich and ambiguous exploration of the treatment of ‘the other’ (where X might = Y, Z, or even A, B, or C).

Gregor’s subsequent treatment at the hands of his family, his family’s lodgers, and their servants may well strike a chord with not just ethnic minorities living in some communities but also disabled people, people with different cultural or religious beliefs from ‘the mainstream’, struggling artists whose development is hindered by crass bourgeois capitalism and utilitarianism, and many other marginalised individuals.

This is one reason why ‘The Metamorphosis’ has become so widely discussed, analysed, and studied: its meaning is not straightforward, its fantastical scenario posing many questions.  What did Kafka mean by such a story? Is it a comedy, a tragedy, or both? Gregor’s social isolation from his nearest and dearest, and subsequent death (a death of despair, one suspects, as much as it is a noble sacrifice for the sake of his family), all suggest the story’s tragic undercurrents, and yet the way Kafka establishes Gregor’s transformation raises some intriguing questions.

Take that opening paragraph. The opening sentence – as with the very first sentence of Kafka’s novel, The Trial – is well-known, but what follows this arresting first statement is just as remarkable. For no sooner has Gregor discovered that he has been transformed, inexplicably, into a giant insect (or ‘vermin’), than his thoughts have turned from this incredible revelation to more day-to-day worries about his job and his travelling.

This is a trademark feature of Kafka’s writing, and one of the things the wide-ranging term ‘Kafkaesque’ should accommodate: the nightmarish and the everyday rubbing shoulders together. Indeed, the everyday already is a nightmare, and Samsa’s metamorphosis into an alien creature is just the latest in a long line of modernity’s hellish developments.

So the effect of this opening paragraph is to play down, as soon as it has been introduced, the shocking revelation that a man has been turned into a beetle (or similar creature).

Many subsequent details in Kafka’s story are similarly downplayed, or treated in a calm and ordinary way as if a man becoming a six-feet-tall insect is the most normal occurrence in the world, and this is part of the comedy of Kafka’s novella: an aspect of his work which many readers miss, partly because the comedic is so often the first thing lost in translation.

And, running contrariwise to the interpretation of ‘The Metamorphosis’ that sees it as ‘just’ a straightforward story about modern-day alienation and mistreatment of ‘the other’ is the plot itself, which sees Gregor Samsa freed from his life of servitude and duty, undertaking a job he doesn’t enjoy in order to support a family that, it turns out, are perfectly capable of supporting themselves (first by the father’s money which has been set aside, and then from the family’s jobs which the mother, father, and daughter all take, and discover they actually rather enjoy).

Even Gregor’s climbing of the walls and ceiling in his room, when he would have been travelling around doing his job, represents a liberation of sorts, even though he has physically become confined to one room. Perhaps, the grim humour of Kafka’s story appears to suggest, modernity is so hellish that such a transformation – even though it ends in death – is really the only liberation modern man can achieve.

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The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka

The metamorphosis themes, economic effects on human relationships.

Gregor is enslaved by his family because he is the one who makes money. Thus, with the possible exception of his sister, the family seems to treat him not as a member but as a source of income. When Gregor is no longer able to work after his metamorphosis, he is treated with revulsion and neglected. Once the family begins working, they also find difficulty communicating with each other, eating dinner in silence and fighting among themselves. The exhaustion of dehumanizing jobs and the recognition that people are only valuable so long as they earn a salary keeps anyone who works isolated from others and unable to establish human relations with them.

Family duty

The theme of family and the duties of family members to each other drive the interactions between Gregor and the others. His thoughts are almost entirely of the need to support his parents and sending his sister to the Conservatory. Though Gregor hates his job, he follows the call of duty to his family and goes far beyond simple duty. The family, on the other hand, takes care of Gregor after his metamorphosis only so far as duty seems to necessitate. He is kept locked in his room and brought food. In the end, his room is barely cleaned and his sister no longer cares about what food she brings him. Her actions are routine, as she only wants to do enough that she can claim she has fulfilled her duty. When she decides she has had enough, she insists that their duty to him has been fulfilled: "I don't think anyone could reproach us in the slightest," she says as she suggests that they need to get rid of him.

Before his metamorphosis, Gregor is alienated from his job, his humanity, his family, and even his body, as we see from the fact that he barely notices his transformation. In fact, even his consideration for his family seems to be something alien to him, as he barely notices it when he loses this consideration at the end. After his metamorphosis, Gregor feels completely alienated from his room and environment and, as a symbol of this, can't even see his street out the window. The Metamorphosis , then, is a powerful indictment of the alienation brought on by the modern social order.

Freedom and escapism

Gregor is trapped in his job by his duty to his family, but he dreams of the day when he can finally pay off their debts and quit his job. His need for freedom from the restrictive demands of work is expressed in his metamorphosis, by means of which he escapes. This escape, however, fails to bring Gregor freedom, for he is now imprisoned by his family in his room. Thus, when Gregor works, he is enslaved by his job and, when he doesn't work, he is enslaved by his family. There is no way of balancing out freedom and duty, and in the end one is always a slave. The only means of escape turns out to be death.

Guilt stems from family duty, and is Gregor's most powerful emotion. When he is transformed into an insect, Gregor is made unable to work by circumstances beyond his control. Despite the fact that his metamorphosis is not his fault, however, he is racked by guilt every time that the family mentions money or that he thinks about the pain that he has inadvertently inflicted on them by losing the ability to support them. Guilt, it turns out, is deadly, as Gregor realizes at the end that his life is the only thing keeping the family from a better life. He dies for them just as he lived for them: out of guilt.

Personal identity

Alone in his room, Gregor tries to rebuild the self-identity that he had lost by living entirely for others and ignoring his own needs. He cannot, however, escape from what he sees as his family duty, and continues to act only to serve his family by doing his best not to inconvenience them. Gregor's comments about his family's behavior are often tinged with resentment at the way they treat him, but he will not allow himself to recognize his bitterness. Gregor manages to escape his self-effacing sense of duty only in the last chapter, when he asserts himself in realizing that his family has been neglecting him. Gregor's search for his identity seems hopeless, however, because he never had an identity to start with. He finds his humanity only at the end, when his sister's playing reminds him of his love for his family. This love, coupled with his freedom, is the final ingredient he needs to establish his identity.

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The Metamorphosis Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Metamorphosis is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

In paragraph 57, note the parts of sentences that are set off in parentheses.

I'm sorry, you will need to provide the text in question.

Paragraph Eight does not pertain to Gregor's relationship with his family. What section are you referring to?

The mood of the section is best described as?

I'm sorry, what specific section are you referring to?

Study Guide for The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis study guide contains a biography of Franz Kafka, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Metamorphosis
  • The Metamorphosis Summary
  • The Metamorphosis Video
  • Character List

Essays for The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Metamorphosis.

  • Separate and Alone: Alienation as a Central Theme in Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Kafka's Metamorphosis
  • Sacrifice in Kafka
  • Starving for Attention: Food in Kafka's Metamorphosis
  • A Biographical Analysis of Kafka's The Metamorphosis
  • Distorted Literature: Metamorphosis

Lesson Plan for The Metamorphosis

  • About the Author
  • Study Objectives
  • Common Core Standards
  • Introduction to The Metamorphosis
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Bringing in Technology
  • Notes to the Teacher
  • Related Links
  • The Metamorphosis Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Metamorphosis

  • Introduction
  • Interpretation
  • Translation of the opening sentence

essay topics for the metamorphosis

Metamorphoses

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Discussion Questions

Many of the nondivine women in the Metamorphoses suffer greatly at the hands of gods and goddesses. Still, some of these women find or regain some element of power or agency, sometimes in surprising ways. Pick one example and explain how this woman finds her power or agency.

The Metamorphoses is a product of early imperial Rome. What role does empire or the emperor play in the poem?

There are hundreds of stories within the Metamorphoses , including stories-within-stories and stories-within-stories-within-stories. Pick one example of when Ovid uses a framing device to present a narrative . Explain how the nested story relates to the framing story and why Ovid might have presented these stories in this way.

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The Metamorphosis: Essay Topics & Samples

The Metamorphosis is one of Kafka’s best-known books. It is also one of the most intricate literary pieces in world literature. This is why coming up with an excellent The Metamorphosis essay topic can be challenging. The following list can help you to get started. See if any of these ten topics pique your interest.

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Essay Topics

  • Describe Gregor’s life before the metamorphosis. To write an outstanding The Metamorphosis essay on this topic, try to answer the following questions. What was Gregor’s life before his physical transformation? Do you think any circumstances in his life could’ve had a dehumanizing effect on him before the physical change? Did he like his work? Did he have friends?
  • What is the significance of the number “3” in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis? The number “3” is a significant symbol in The Metamorphosis book. Enumerate the elements of the novel that come in three: rooms, chapters, family members, tenants, etc. What might this number symbolize? Do you think there is religious symbolism in the novella?
  • How can you interpret The Metamorphosis through the existential lens? In The Metamorphosis essay, you can offer an existentialist interpretation of the novella. Think about the questions like: Is Kafka an existentialist writer? What are some elements of existentialist literature, and can you find them in The Metamorphosis? In which ways Gregor questions his existence? Is happiness attainable for him?
  • Father and Son relationships in The Metamorphosis. You can divide this essay into two parts. The father-son relationships before the physical transformation can become the focus of the first part. Think about how Gregor’s father treated him as a human. In the second part of Metamorphosis’s essay, you can analyze the relationships after the transformation.
  • Analyze the dehumanizing effect of work in Gregor Samsa’s life. How does Kafka start the novella ? Why does Gregor only think about his work when he wakes up? Do you believe it is essential for the readers to know what profession Gregor had before the transformation? What effect does Gregor’s job have on his metamorphosis?
  • Write about food as a symbol of starving for attention. In this essay, you should focus on the use of food symbols in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis . What do these symbols tell about the relationships in the family? Analyze every account of food in the story and see how the character transformation is described through it.
  • Explore the theme of isolation and alienation in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. First, you can explain the difference between isolation and alienation . Using the text, tell why Gregor’s isolation happened before his transformation into an insect. Does physical change reveal the emotional separation in the family? What about Gregor’s inner self? Was there an alienation from his true self?
  • What is the importance of third-person narration in The Metamorphosis? If you decide to choose this topic, think about Kafka’s choice to use third-person narration. What does this perspective allow the readers to see? Would the story be different if the author used another technique? For instance, if Kafka told the story through the eyes of Grete.
  • Analysis of Gregor’s inability to communicate with the family. The paradox in The Metamorphosis by Kafka is that Gregor’s inability to communicate was present even before his physical transformation . Give some examples from the text—for instance, Gregor’s dissatisfaction with his work, etc. How did his physical inability to speak after the change contribute to his alienation, both emotional and physical?
  • Trace Grete’s metamorphosis. Grete’s transformation is thematically significant for understanding the novella. It seems that The Metamorphosis is a book about Gregor’s transformation. However, Grete’s metamorphosis, in a way, is more symbolic. What does it symbolize? What are the stages of her change?

Essay Samples

To dive deeper into the story’s analysis, check The Metamorphosis essay samples below. Here you’ll see how to explore the novella and prove your opinion on the given topic .

  • Metamorphosis and the Necklace The author of the essay compares two completely different stories, revealing similar aspects and themes. Melancholy and sadness are in focus as they are connected to death in both stories, though on various levels. See how Kafka’s and Maupassant’s stories are connected in the paper.
  • Infinite Regression in Franz Kafka’s Works Franz Kafka is a writer with a tragic life filled with suffering and health issues. His problems inevitably affected his works, which reflected the author’s inner turmoils ad philosophy. In the essay, the writer analyzes Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and The Castle and examines the infinite regression in them.
  • Transformation in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” Kafka’s implementation of this theme in the novella has illustrated the change of the main characters. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, changed physically, which affected his family. The present paper explains how the main character’s change led to the psychological transformation of everyone.
  • Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”: Life in Modernity The complexity of The Metamorphosis ’s plot has been a topic for many debates. In the novella, the author depicts the existential nature of urbanization. The essay discusses how the central character represents the metaphor of being released from the norms of society.
  • Lessons Learned from “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka The central character, Gregor Samsa, turns into an insect. This transformation significantly changes his life and separates him from the rest of the people. This paper discusses the lessons learned from the experiences of the main character.
  • Absurdity in “The Metamorphosis” and “The Stranger” One of the central themes of The Metamorphosis and The Stranger is that the world and the norms of society are absurd. The stories also explore physical and emotional detachments and how they affect people. The paper compares and contrasts them on the topic of absurdity.
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The Metamorphosis Study Guide

Welcome to The Metamorphosis study guide! Here, we’ll explore the genre in which the novella is written. You will also learn about Kafka’s influences and the historical background of the novella. Find out some useful information about The Metamorphosis setting, the plot, the main themes, and symbols. The Metamorphosis Key...

The Metamorphosis: Summary and Analysis

The Metamorphosis is a short story written by Franz Kafka, which was first published in 1915. One of his best-known works, it tells a story about a man called Gregor Samsa and his peculiar transformation. He and his family have to deal with the consequences of this metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis...

The Metamorphosis: Characters

The novella The Metamorphosis focuses on two main characters Gregor and Grete. However, two more heroes are present in every chapter throughout the novella, Mrs. Samsa and Mr. Samsa. All the other The Metamorphosis characters represent the outside world for the family. They appear and disappear in the narrative without...

The Metamorphosis: Themes

There are several overarching themes of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, but only two are crucial. The story starts when the central transformation has already happened. However, each character in the novella goes through its journey: Gregor, Grete, Gregor’s mother, and Gregor’s father. In this article, you’ll see how characters...

The Metamorphosis: Symbols

Since its publication in 1915, Kafka’s The Metamorphosis puzzled readers and critics all over the world. The story centers around Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a gigantic insect. The situation is both surreal and unusual. However, the writer proceeds with the story in a realistic manner. Nevertheless, there is a lot...

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The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples - Links & Descriptions

essay topics for the metamorphosis

To write an exceptional essay on The Metamorphosis , you need an extraordinary example. In this article, our team collected relevant samples that will help you compose the paper on any topic. Besides, you’ll see the ideas for your own The Metamorphosis essay.

📝 The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples

  • The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Genre: Essay Words: 2281 Focused on: Society and individuality, human and material values Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Grete Samsa
  • Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Analysis Essay Genre: Analytical Essay Words: 1654 Focused on: Modernism perspective and symbolism Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Mr. Samsa
  • The Limited Third-Person Narrator in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Genre: Essay Words: 1546 Focused on: The role of the omniscient narrator Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Genre: Essay Words: 1319 Focused on: Dreams in The Metamorphosis , the father-son relationship Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Mr. Samsa, Grete Samsa
  • “Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka Genre: Essay, Book Review Words: 699 Focused on: The author’s message and the predicament of the modern man Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ and Joseph Conrad’s ‘The Heart of Darkness’ Genre: Critical Essay Words: 1494 Focused on: Theme of colonization Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • Gregor’s Relationship with His Father in “Metamorphosis” Genre: Essay Words: 1983 Focused on: Father-son relationship Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Mr. Samsa
  • Kafka’s Stories “Metamorphosis and A Hunger Artist” Genre: Research Paper Words: 2214 Focused on: Existential and social alienation Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • Kafka’s Stories “A Hunger Artist”, “Jackals and Arabs” and “The Metamorphosis” Genre: Essay Words: 1093 Focused on: Theme of self-sacrifice Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Grete Samsa
  • Alienation Theme in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Genre: Research Paper Words: 1402 Focused on: Alienation and isolation theme Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • The Metamorphosis, a Novel by Franz Kafka Essay Genre: Essay Words: 897 Focused on: Symbolism in The Metamorphosis Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa
  • Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”: Social Aspects Essay Genre: Essay Words: 1234 Focused on: Social issues Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Mr. Samsa
  • Decisions of the Samsa in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” Genre: Essay Words: 664 Focused on: Gregor’s family from the perspective of Saint Leo’s core values Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Grete Samsa, Mr. Samsa, Mrs. Samsa
  • Writing Techniques in Stoker’s Dracula and Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Essay Genre: Essay Words: 1128 Focused on: Writing techniques used in The Metamorphosis Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa

Thank you for reading the article! We hope our samples will help you with your own The Metamorphosis essay. You can consider our original topics as well.

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Study Guide Menu

  • Short Summary
  • Chapter III
  • Characters Analysis
  • Symbols & Literary Analysis
  • Important Quotes
  • Essay Samples
  • Essay Topics
  • Author’s Biography‌
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, August 13). The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples - Links & Descriptions. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-the-metamorphosis/essay-samples-links-descriptions/

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IvyPanda . 2023. "The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples - Links & Descriptions." August 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-the-metamorphosis/essay-samples-links-descriptions/.

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples - Links & Descriptions." August 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-the-metamorphosis/essay-samples-links-descriptions/.

What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

essay topics for the metamorphosis

It almost time! Millions of Americans across the country Monday are preparing to witness the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as it passes over portions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's a sight to behold and people have now long been eagerly awaiting what will be their only chance until 2044 to witness totality, whereby the moon will completely block the sun's disc, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness.

That being said, many are curious on what makes the solar eclipse special and how is it different from a lunar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA .

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and bird and insects to fall silent.

Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.

Lunar eclipses are often also referred to the "blood moon" because when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon's surface, even though it's in Earth's shadow.

Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse

The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, says NASA.

Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it is pertinent to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions because the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

IMAGES

  1. "The Metamorphosis" By Franz Kafka (analysis)

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  2. Analysis of “The Metamorphosis”

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  3. The Metamorphosis Free Essay Example

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  4. Kafka / Metamorphosis In Class Essay (EDITABLE) by Lauren MacTurk

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  5. A Critical Review of The Metamorphosis Free Essay Example

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COMMENTS

  1. The Metamorphosis: Suggested Essay Topics

    1. No characters, Gregor included, try to determine how to cure Gregor. What does this suggest about Gregor's transformation and how does it affect the reader's interpretation of the story? 2. Kafka grants readers access to Gregor's thoughts, but we only learn about other characters through what Gregor sees, hears, and infers.

  2. 77 Unique Metamorphosis Essay Topics [with Examples]

    77 Unique Metamorphosis Essay Topics [with Examples] When you have to write The Metamorphosis essay, you should find or come up with a solid idea. Our writers developed a number of topics that can help you with your task. In this article, you'll read the ideas for the paper. Besides, if you click on the links, you'll open The Metamorphosis ...

  3. The Metamorphosis Suggested Essay Topics

    1. The picture of the woman wrapped in furs on Gregor's wall is something that he refuses to part with. Write an essay showing the importance of this picture in Gregor's life and, if possible ...

  4. 115 The Metamorphosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Decisions of the Samsa in Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". His mother is shocked by the transformation In this paper, the author will use Saint Leo's core values of integrity and community to analyze the decisions made by Samsa family when Gregor changes into bug. […] The Metamorphosis, a Novel by Franz Kafka.

  5. 128 The Metamorphosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    128 The Metamorphosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a classic work of literature that has captivated readers for generations. The novella tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. This bizarre premise raises many thought-provoking ...

  6. The Metamorphosis Essay Topics

    for only $0.70/week. Subscribe. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also ...

  7. The Metamorphosis Sample Essay Outlines

    Topic #1. The term metamorphosis means a complete and profound change in form, structure, and substance or a change in form from one stage to the next in the life of an organism. The central ...

  8. A Summary and Analysis of Franz Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis'

    By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'The Metamorphosis' is a short story (sometimes classed as a novella) by the Czech-born German-language author Franz Kafka (1883-1924). It is his best-known shorter work, published in German in 1915, with the first English translation appearing in 1933. 'The Metamorphosis' has attracted numerous interpretations, so it might be worth…

  9. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

    Learn More. This is one of the key issues fairly depicted by Franz Kafka in his story "The Metamorphosis", the bright example of modernism story highlighting realistic problems concerning traditional values perverted by the surrounding society. Having described an outcast in his family, the writer shows alienation of a person with his or ...

  10. The Metamorphosis Themes

    Essays for The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Metamorphosis. Separate and Alone: Alienation as a Central Theme in Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Kafka's Metamorphosis; Sacrifice in Kafka

  11. The Metamorphosis Critical Essays

    SOURCE: "Kafka's Metamorphosis and Modern Spirituality," in Tri-Quarterly, No. 6, 1966, pp. 5-20. [In the following essay, Greenberg examines The Metamorphosis as the dying lament of a spiritually ...

  12. The Metamorphosis: Full Book Analysis

    Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis explores the degradation and transformative power of alienation. As its protagonist, Gregor Samsa, experiences personal alienation from the people he has cared for and served, he is transformed, losing himself altogether. Simultaneously, in ironic contrast to his experience, his transformation enables those ...

  13. Metamorphoses Essay Topics

    1. Many of the nondivine women in the Metamorphoses suffer greatly at the hands of gods and goddesses. Still, some of these women find or regain some element of power or agency, sometimes in surprising ways. Pick one example and explain how this woman finds her power or agency. 2.

  14. The Metamorphosis: Essay Topics & Samples

    The complexity of The Metamorphosis 's plot has been a topic for many debates. In the novella, the author depicts the existential nature of urbanization. The essay discusses how the central character represents the metaphor of being released from the norms of society. Lessons Learned from "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka.

  15. The Metamorphosis Critical Overview

    Suggested Essay Topics ... , Stanley Corngold was able to publish a book of summaries of essays on The Metamorphosis containing accounts of well over a hundred articles, beginning as early as 1916 ...

  16. The Metamorphosis Essay Topics

    Sacrifice in The Metamorphosis Starving for Attention: Food in Kafka's Metamorphosis Alienation and Humanity in The Metamorphosis The Author's Internal Distress Present in The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis as Art Freedom in isolation The Other Side of Happiness Essay movie vs. book; Essay significance of the title; Analyze Gregor;

  17. The Metamorphosis: Essay Samples

    Kafka's The Metamorphosis Analysis Essay. Genre: Analytical Essay. Words: 1654. Focused on: Modernism perspective and symbolism. Characters mentioned: Gregor Samsa, Mr. Samsa. The Limited Third-Person Narrator in Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Genre: Essay. Words: 1546. Focused on: The role of the omniscient narrator.

  18. The Metamorphosis: Themes

    Essays Mini Essays Suggested Essay Topics Further Study Suggestions for Further Reading Franz Kafka and The Metamorphosis Background Please wait while we process your payment ... The Metamorphosis deals with an absurd, or wildly irrational, event, which in itself suggests that the story operates in a random, chaotic universe. The absurd event ...

  19. The Metamorphosis Essay Examples

    The Absurdity of Life. The Disconnect Between Mind and Body. The Limits of Sympathy. Alienation. Symbols: Food, The Father's Uniform, The Picture of the Woman in Furs. Write your best essay on The Metamorphosis - just find, explore and download any essay for free! Examples 👉 Topics 👉 Titles by Samplius.com.

  20. The Metamorphosis Essays and Criticism

    The Meaning and Significance of The Metamorphosis. Goldfarb has a Ph.D. in English and has published two books on the Victorian author William Makepeace Thackeray. In the following essay, he ...

  21. My sisters 3rd grade essay about internet safety is the most ...

    What a rollercoaster. The metamorphosis from well-intentioned and impassioned champion of internet security, to cold-hearted vigilante out for revenge against children of all ages was really a joy to witness. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.

  22. Solar vs. lunar eclipse: The different types of eclipses, explained

    The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA. A lunar eclipse can last for a few ...

  23. What would be a good thesis statement for The Metamorphosis

    The Metamorphosis is a novella written by Franz Kafka. It was first published in 1915. It follows the story of its main protagonist, Gregor Samsa, who finds himself transformed into a beetle-like ...