AP English Literature/ K.

Mitchell – Modified 3/2019

The Metamorphosis Critical Exhibition Project

THE IDEA
Last semester you were asked to consider and demonstrate in writing how literary criticism can enhance
and, in some cases, "deepen" your understanding of a particular text. Now, with Franz Kafka’s The
Metamorphosis, in pairs, you will analyze difficult and complex SCHOLARLY literary criticism of a difficult
and complex text and present that analysis to the class!

THE ASSIGNMENT
You and a partner have been assigned a SCHOLARLY critical essay on Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Having summarized and
connected the critic's views to the novella, you and your partner must reach a consensus, deciding exactly what the critic is
saying in his/her essay. Note, however, the critical theory may not be straight forward, and the essay may even employ several
theories. Be sure to differentiate between them as best you can. Once you have done this, you are ready to begin.

Your assignment is to prepare a 10-20-minute presentation that focuses on the critical essay your group has selected and its
relationship to Kafka's text (it isn’t enough to just analyze the article – you must be able to connect it to the text). Your goal is
to increase your peers' understanding and awareness of the critic's views and how they may enlighten, influence or, perhaps,
cloud a reader's interpretation of The Metamorphosis. There will be time for you to disagree with and/or "bash" the critic, but
your primary objective in this exhibition is to demonstrate how well you can "handle" literary criticism and communicate your
understanding of a particular critical viewpoint and its relation to the primary text.

STEP 1: Read and Outline article (see how to outline a scholarly journal article).
STEP 2: Write rhetorical précis
STEP 3: Gather all information for the sections listed below (NECESSARY BACKGROUND INFORMATION,
UNDERSTANDING and INTERPRETATION, & CONNECTION/APPLICATION TO ANOTHER TEXT)
STEP 4: Organize slides as follow:
 Title slide – include group members’ names
 Rhetorical Precis & Thesis (label each)
 Background & Key Terms (label each)
 Understanding & Interpretation (rest of the outlined points/ 1 point per slide) – ( label
each)
 Agreement and Dissension (label each)
 Connection to Other Text
* LABEL EVERYTHING VERY CLEARLY
*USE BULLET POINTS FOR EASE OF READING

Your group's 10-20-minute exhibition must contain the following four (4) components- EACH
SLIDE/WEBPAGE MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED:
1. NECESSARY BACKGROUND INFORMATION (20 points): What background information—biographical,
historical, literary, social/cultural, etc.—does your audience need to better understand your critic's "reading" of
Metamorphosis? In class we have mentioned such philosophical/scientific movements as Marxism and psychoanalysis.
Surely if your critic's interpretation rests on one of these ideas you should spend time explaining and illustrating it for the
class. While we covered several critical theories in class – Marxist, Psychoanalytic, New Critic, Feminist, Archetypal, Post
Colonial – there are quite a few others, such as Reader response criticism, Structuralist criticism, Deconstructive criticism,
New historical and cultural criticism, Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism and African American criticism, to name a few. If
you find that your article addresses some other theory, be sure to provide the necessary background information.
Similarly, information about Kafka's life, his other works, etc. may be necessary to paint a more complete picture and
provide a deeper understanding of the link between essay and primary text. Also consider the vocabulary the critic uses;
if the critic uses words like "hermeneutic" to prove his/her point, make sure both you and your audience know what they
mean.
 AP English Literature/ K. Mitchell – Modified 3/2019
2. UNDERSTANDING and INTERPRETATION (20 points): Discuss, explain and illustrate your critic's particular
interpretation of Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Clearly note the article’s thesis and the main points it uses to develop the
thesis. Organize slides in order of point made in thesis. Remember, students have already studied critical theory, so gear
your presentation towards an audience that is familiar with both the primary and secondary texts. Students will also
have a copy of your scholarly article (copy pieces you think they need), so direct references to Kafka's text and the critical
essay should be used to both illustrate and focus your own explanations. DON’T FORGET TO CONNECT POINTS TO
KAFKA’S TEXT. Also consider what aspects of the essay gave you and your partner difficulty and be prepared to assist
students over these intellectual hurdles as well.

3. AGREEMENT & DISSENSION (disagreement) (20 points): What do you think about the critic's interpretation
of the text as a group and/or individuals? As we mentioned in class, a particular criticism of a literary work is often simply
one "lens" through which the text can be viewed. As we have seen with Metamorphosis, there is more than one lens
from which to choose. Of course, which of these lenses provide the best view of and insight into the text is a debatable
point . . . and I encourage you to participate in this debate, providing support for your own "bashing" or "championing"
of the critic in question.
4. CONNECTION/APPLICATION TO ANOTHER TEXT (20 points): To what other literary work can this particular
critical viewpoint be applied (other than The Metamorphosis)? This is not to say, what other texts are like Kafka's The
Metamorphosis; instead, consider the ideas and arguments that are central to your critic's essay, then think about other
texts with which you are familiar to which this same "lens" can be applied in a sensible manner. Remember, if a critical
essay is one "way of seeing" a text, ask yourself for this section, what other texts can I see through or from this particular
vantage? Provide one (1) text to which your critic's interpretation can be sensibly applied and explain this connection, in
depth.

TURN IN (20 points): Compile all information into a report cover to turn into teacher on due date. Must include:
Article, Outline, slide printouts, and any other handouts you have.

PRESENTATION (THOUGHTFULNESS, THOROUGHNESS AND CREATIVITY) (55 points): Original hand-outs,

charts, graphics, illustrations, videos, worksheets, etc., may prove useful in achieving these goals. Presentation
techniques such as lecture, question and answer, cooperative exercises, PowerPoint, panel discussion, dramatic
performances, etc. may also prove effective and help to distinguish your exhibition. BE SURE TO CLEARLY LABEL
SLIDES – DON’T FORGET THE THESIS.
Exhibitions are worth 155 points. You will not be writing an essay for this assignment, but you will need some sort of
outline to guide and organize your discussion. See PRESENTATION & TURN IN, above, for written products needed. A
complete scoring guide for the exhibition will be distributed. Each member of the group must take an active role in
preparing and presenting the exhibition in order to receive credit for his/her efforts.

Exhibitions will be presented in-class beginning on _____________________ and run through

_____________________. See the attached presentation schedule for exact
dates and texts.