PAPER #1

1. Carefully define the Void. What does it mean to “touch” it? Explain similarities and differences in the “Void touching” experiences of either Joe, Elie, Gregor and/or Jean-Dominique.

2. Compare and contrast any (all?) of the poems to either Touching the Void, Night, and/or The Metamorphosis.

3. Explain the differences and similarities to the “world ending” experiences of Joe, Elie, Gregor and/or Jean-Dominique.

4. Using the article that was handed out about “The Myth of Permanence,” (November 2009 issue of Shambhala Sun) analyze each text (Touching the Void, Night, The Metamorphosis, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly from that perspective.

The Metamorphosis Study Questions

1. Metaphorically, what does it mean to be a bug? Has there ever been a time when you felt this way? If you care to, please explain.

2. Do you have any sympathy for Gregor? If so, why? And if not, why not?

3. Obviously, Gregor's world “ends” when he turns into an insect. But what does it really change in his relationships with his family? Explain.

4. Is there any way to view this story in a positive light? Explain why or why not?