The Metamorphosis Chapter 2 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What buggy body part is Gregor learning to appreciate?

his antennae

Who is bringing food to Gregor?

his sister/Grete

What food is first brought to Gregor?

fresh milk with bread floating

How did Gregor know about the family's daily habits?

Through letters from Grete Signup and view all the answers

How does Gregor know what is going on in the apartment now?

He looks through the crack in the door Signup and view all the answers

How did his father used to like to spend time during the day?

reading the newspaper aloud Signup and view all the answers

How does Gregor's room make him feel?

nervous Signup and view all the answers

What kind of food does Gregor realize he likes?

old cheese, rotten vegetables, congealed sauce Signup and view all the answers

Where does Gregor hide when Grete enters his room?

under the couch Signup and view all the answers

How many family members were always at home at any time?

two Signup and view all the answers

What does Gregor learn about the family's financial situation? Did his father lose everything?

There was still some money saved that increased with interest Signup and view all the answers

What was Gregor's sole concern as he earned money?

to make the family forget the father's business disaster Signup and view all the answers

How did the family react the first few times Gregor presented them with his earnings?

astonished delight Signup and view all the answers

As time passed, how did the family react to Gregor's earnings?

The money was received with thanks, but no longer any feeling of warmth, they had gotten used to it Signup and view all the answers

What was Gregor's secret plan for Grete?

to send her to the Conservatory Signup and view all the answers

If Gregor had known of his father's saved money, what could he have done?

Quit his job sooner Signup and view all the answers

Is Gregor angry to learn of his father's subterfuge?

False Signup and view all the answers

How has Gregor's father changed now that he does not work?

He has gained weight, had become sluggish Signup and view all the answers

What was Grete's life like prior to Gregor's metamorphosis?

wearing pretty clothes, sleeping late, playing the violin Signup and view all the answers

How old is Grete?

seventeen Signup and view all the answers

What is happening to Gregor's eyesight?

he sees things less and less distinctly Signup and view all the answers

What does Grete describe to her parents each day?

what Gregor ate, how he behaved, how he looked Signup and view all the answers

How does Gregor feel as he hangs from the ceiling?

a happy absent-mindedness Signup and view all the answers

What does Gregor like to do in his room?

look out the window, crawl on the walls and ceiling Signup and view all the answers

What do Grete and the mother decide to change in Gregor's room?

remove the furniture Signup and view all the answers

How long has Gregor been a monstrous vermin?

two months Signup and view all the answers

What is Gregor on the verge of forgetting (and for which the furniture is a symbol)?

his human past Signup and view all the answers

How does Gregor try to hide his appearance?

He pulls a sheet over himself Signup and view all the answers

What item in his room does Gregor hope to retain?

the picture of the woman in the fur Signup and view all the answers

How does he make sure the women won't take it away?

He presses himself against the glass Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the sister crying out, 'you, Gregor!'?

it's the first words addressed directly to him since his metamorphosis Signup and view all the answers

What does Gregor find impossible to tolerate?

the disruption and noise of the women coming and going, moving furniture Signup and view all the answers

Where does the mother see Gregor?

clinging to the wall Signup and view all the answers

What is the mother's reaction to the sight of Gregor on the wall?

she faints Signup and view all the answers

Grete runs to the other room to get something to revive her mother, what does Gregor do?

he follows her out of his room Signup and view all the answers

How does Grete react when she sees Gregor behind her?

she drops the bottle, the glass cuts Gregor's face Signup and view all the answers

Gregor is stuck in the other room, what does he do?

he crawls all over the walls, furniture and ceiling, gets dizzy and falls onto the middle of the table Signup and view all the answers

Who comes home from work?

Gregor's father Signup and view all the answers

How is the father dressed, how does he carry himself?

He is wearing a tight-fitting bank messenger's uniform, with gold buttons, he is holding himself very erect Signup and view all the answers

What does the father do when he sees Gregor in the room?

he throws apples at him Signup and view all the answers

What does Grete answer when the father asks what happened?

Gregor's broken out, mother has fainted Signup and view all the answers

What does Gregor feel when one apple lodges in his back?

unbelievable pain Signup and view all the answers

Why does the father stop throwing apples?

the mother begs for Gregor's life Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Gregor's Transformation and Perception

Gregor develops an appreciation for his antennae, which helps him perceive his surroundings.
His sister, Grete, is responsible for bringing him food, initially fresh milk with bread.
Gregor is informed of daily family habits through letters from Grete, demonstrating his isolation yet connection to the family.
He observes the family dynamics by looking through the crack in his door.

Family Dynamics and Financial Situation

Gregor’s father enjoyed reading the newspaper aloud to the family during the day.
Gregor feels nervous in his confined room, indicating his discomfort with his new form.
His taste in food shifts towards old cheese, rotten vegetables, and congealed sauce.
Grete enters his room and he hides beneath the couch, further showcasing his shame and desire to conceal himself.

Family Response to Gregor’s Earnings

Initially, the family reacted to his earnings with astonished delight, but their response changes over time to mere gratitude without warmth.
Gregor's primary motivation for working was to help the family forget about his father’s business disaster.
He learns that his family has some savings that are increasing through interest, revealing their financial stability despite his condition.

Gregor's Emotions and Experiences

Gregor harbors aspirations for Grete, wanting to send her to the Conservatory for music education.
His eyesight deteriorates, making it difficult to see distinctly.
As he hangs from the ceiling, he experiences a sense of happy absent-mindedness, reflecting a moment of carefree escape.

The Change at Home

Grete and their mother decide to remove furniture from Gregor's room, signifying a shift away from his human past.
After two months as a monstrous vermin, Gregor is on the brink of forgetting his humanity, with the furniture symbolizing his past life.
He tries to hide his appearance by covering himself with a sheet, displaying his shame.

Family Crisis and Conflict

The first direct words addressed to Gregor post-metamorphosis, “you, Gregor!,” signify a poignant moment of acknowledgment from Grete.
The mother fainting upon seeing Gregor clinging to the wall illustrates the family's horror and inability to cope with the transformation.
After the mother faints, Gregor follows Grete into the other room, where she reacts with fear, dropping a bottle that injures him.

Escalation of Tension

Gregor feels unbelievable pain when an apple is lodged in his back after his father throws apples at him in a fit of rage.
The father’s bank messenger's uniform and stiff demeanor reflect his attempt to maintain authority in the altered family dynamics.

Grete's Changing Role

Grete's transformation from a carefree girl to a caretaker signifies her shift in responsibility within the household as they all adapt to the new reality.
The family's reaction to Gregor, swinging from care to resentment, marks a dramatic thematic element of alienation.

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Description

Test your understanding of Chapter 2 of 'The Metamorphosis' with these flashcards. Explore key details about Gregor's transformation and his family's interactions with him. Perfect for students studying Kafka's work.