English II w/ Mr. Donn

If there is no struggle, there is no progress (F. Douglass).

Tigers win because they embrace the struggle!

Created for Neville High School Students2013-2014 English II GT & Honors

Unit 2: Lesson 4, Symbolism in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

Kafka Flag Project

If there is no struggle, there is no progress (F. Douglass).

Tigers win because they embrace the struggle!

PREPARATION FOR THE FLAG:

1. Watch Ted Talk video on flag design.2. List design elements that make a good flag and why.

If there is no struggle, there is no progress (F. Douglass).

Tigers win because they embrace the struggle!

Let your freak flag fly. . .or, flap. Whichever.

Great book covers are like flags. They represent the “undiscovered country” of the book, and should follow the same principles.

Examples of great book covers:

Let your freak flag fly. . .or, flap. Whichever

Task Prompt:

TRUE FACT: Although he wrote one of the strangest books in history, he was pretty shy and even uncomfortable about his own strangeness. In fact, although the first lines of the book show us Gregor waking up as a giant insect, Kafka did not want the main character of his book depicted on the cover! Why do you think this is?

Let your freak flag fly. . .or, flap. Whichever

As per Kafka’s wishes, a more appropriate cover would be one that contains symbols of the characters, setting, and landscape. One that stands for the book’s tone and characters, but doesn’t try to pin them down by representational drawing.

Task: Design a “flag” or book cover for The Metamorphosis that expresses these simple elements. Your design should communicate the idea that when you walk into Kafka's world, you are entering a psychological country that is unlike any other.

Because the number THREE holds such symbolic significance in the book, we’re going to work in threes (if you don’t believe me, look up all the 3s in the book!)

Be sure to include THREE symbols that represent the story and the feeling of the novella, using THREE colors.

Your choice of symbols, how you arrange them, and the choice of colors is very important. Choose colors that are appropriate (do a little homework on color symbolism…BLACK or GREY is not an option.)

Assessment:

Students should present their designs, allowing the class to interpret the meaning of the design. Students may choose to explain if they wish.

Use your annotations…. Overview of The Metamorphosis

I. Differences in Style Kafka’s work does not follow all the rules of conventional narrative—what are some rules

that it breaks?1.2.3.

II. Consistencies in Narrative StyleIt seems that the tale is written to reflect Gregor’s mindset—as such, it seems at times random, obsessive, and even irrational. However, it has literary elements that hold it together. What did you notice about….

A. Family Relationships (themes, characters)? 1.

2.

3.

B. Existentialism (authors tone, mood of the story as it relates to this philosophy?)

1.

2.

3.

C. Allegory, Archetypes, Symbols? (Review Powerpoint, “Archetypes and Symbols”)

1. Allegorical nature of the plot?

2. Archetypal characters, objects, events?

3. Symbolism (number symbolism in particular)?

D. Narrator’s Point of Viewa. Do you believe Gregor’s complaints and views?

b. What ironies do you feel are present?

1)

2)

3)

E. Summing up:How do these terms apply to Kafka’s text?

SymbolismTypologyArchetypesDialogueIntertextualityNetworkInfluence

PREVIEW CHAPTER 1: Close Reading & Focus on Text

Symbol and Setting: What are Gregor’s concerns in section I? To what degree do they differ from what would matter to him if he had not been transformed into an insect? What symbols represent his station life, his way of thinking?

Make an Inference: Why does Gregor dismiss the idea of calling for help when he tries to get out of bed? Is anything foreshadowed in these passages? How does the style of the sentences reflect his psychology?

Indirect Characterization: What seems most important to members of his family as he lies in bed?

Make Connections: After reviewing Chapter 1, do you believe Kafka’s novella should be considered an “existentialist” work? Why or why not? (RL.9-10.3)