Question

did want to eat a little way away from them because he couldnt stand the smell.

• franz kafka, the metamorphosis (david wyllie, trans.)

what can you infer about gregor from this excerpt?

a. he is upset at being locked in the room and tries to escape.
b. he enjoys disturbing his family by making a lot of noise.
c. he is becoming less human and more like a bug.
d. he is depressed and is trying to hurt himself.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

The excerpt states that Gregor "did want to eat a little way away from them because he couldn't stand the smell." This shows a shift in his physical preferences and sensory experiences. In Franz Kafka Literature, specifically The Metamorphosis Analysis, this detail highlights Gregor's physical transformation.

Evaluate Gregor's behavior

Using Character Analysis, we look at Gregor's changing relationship with food and smell. A human would typically find decaying scraps unappealing, but Gregor's insectoid form begins to prefer rotten food and finds fresh human food or human presence overwhelming.

Connect to implicit meaning

Through Implicit Meaning, we infer that Gregor's instincts and physical nature are shifting. He is no longer behaving or reacting like a human being. Instead, his preferences align with those of an insect.

Evaluate the options

• Option A: There is no mention of him trying to escape.
• Option B: He is trying to avoid them, not disturb them.
• Option C: His changing sensory preferences show he is becoming less human and more like a bug.
• Option D: There is no evidence of self-harm.

Answer:

• (A) He is upset at being locked in the room and tries to escape.
• (B) He enjoys disturbing his family by making a lot of noise.
• (C) He is becoming less human and more like a bug. (Correct answer)
• (D) He is depressed and is trying to hurt himself.