Heltzel/Loeb
World Literature
UICCP
Name:
The Metamorphosis (Chapter III) Reading Annotation Guide
The following is a guide to annotating Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. You will be
responsible for annotating the novel as you read. Your annotation guides should include at
least ten (10) different annotation elements drawn from below. Avoid using the same ones
each time you annotate. Please make sure that you are citing the page number from where
you are extracting your quotations. Good luck!
Annotation Elements
1. Narrator’s/Author’s Tone
• Comment on the narrator’s/author’s tone. Is it harsh? Depressing? Hopeful?
Provide evidence, indicating the page number and passage in the text.
2. Relation/Relativity
• State your relation to a passage in the book that you found interesting.
• What does the passage remind you of?
• Make a connection(s) to the passage(s) using examples from your own experience,
other literary work, or your research on existentialism.
• Indicate page numbers!
3. Summary
• Provide a summary of what you just read. If it helps you to summarize every 5 pages,
feel free to do so.
• Comments such as “This was stupid,” “it was confusing,” or “this is dumb” are
descriptions to avoid.
• Be descriptive and avoid vague references!
4. Infer
• Inferences should be prefaced with phrases like “It seems as though…,” or “It could
be that…”
• Be sure to include the passage(s) and page numbers!
5. Speaker
• Make an attempt to identify with the speaker.
• Put yourself in the narrator/author/character’s shoes. What if you were him or her?
• What would you do in the speaker’s situation?
• Be sure to point out passage(s) and page number(s)!
6. Literary Elements
• Locate them within the text and provide the passages and page numbers.
• Be sure to explain why/how it is an example of a particular literary term.
• Be on the lookout for imagery, simile, metaphor, allusion, foreshadowing, etc.
7. Draw Conclusions/Ask Questions
•
•
•
Point out specific passage(s) and make predictions.
If a section or passage from the reading is unclear, explain why and ask a question.
Be sure to provide page numbers.
8. Analyze
• Look for deeper meaning.
• You can also point out a passage that you would like to discuss in class. Be able to
explain/interpret the significance of the passage.
• Ask an interpretive question. An interpretive question is not a yes/no question, but
involves a deeper meaning. Interpretive questions often begin with “how” or
“why.”
• Provide page numbers.
9. Theme
• Point out specific passages and page numbers.
• Relate your text selection to the theme of power or individuality.
• Be sure to clearly explain your point(s).
Your annotation guide should be set up in table form. This annotation guide is arranged to
help you organize your thoughts and help facilitate your reaction to the novel.
Annotation Element – Passage and Page
Explanation and Reaction
Narrator/Author’s Tone:
(Kafka
).
(Kafka
).
(Kafka
).
Relation/Relativity:
Summary:
Infer:
(Kafka
).
(Kafka
).
Speaker:
Annotation Element – Passage and Page
Explanation and Reaction
Literary Elements:
(Kafka
Draw Conclusions/Ask Questions:
).
(Kafka
).
(Kafka
).
(Kafka
).
Analyze:
Theme:
Your Choice!
(Kafka
).