Tuesdays with Morrie

1
Tuesdays with Morrie

• Elements of a Story

2
Plot Diagram Exposition

• The exposition takes place through the first four
  chapters. The Curriculum tells us that there
  will be a class taught.
• The Syllabus, The Student, and The
  Audiovisual all explain the who, what, and how
  that will occur in the story.

3
Plot Diagram Conflict

• Morrie grapples to accept his impending death
  from ALS.
• He is visited by his former star student, Mitch,
  who has become disillusioned by the popular
  culture.

4
Plot Diagram Rising Action

• Mitch grows increasingly unhappy with his
  occupation as a journalist and sees Morrie
  featured on Nightline one night as he is
  watching television.
• Morries struggle with ALS.

5
Plot Diagram Climax

• Morrie is visited by Mitch for what will be the
  last time, and finally, after years of trying, he
  gets Mitch to cry openly.

6
Plot Diagram Falling Action

• Mitch attends Morries funeral and conducts a
  conversation with him in his head as he had
  promised he would, even after his death. You
  talk, Ill listen.

7
Plot Diagram Resolution

• The Conclusion there is no such thing as too
  late in life.
• The teaching goes on with experience.

8
Themes

• The rejection of popular culture in favor of
  self-created values
• Love each other or die
• Acceptance through detachment
• If you learn how to die, then you know how to
  live.

9
Motifs

• A recurring subject, theme, idea, etc.,
  especially in a literary, artistic, or musical
  work.

10
Motifs

• Food
• Reincarnation and renewal
• The media

11
Symbol

• Is anything that stands for or represents
  something else.

12
Symbols

• Pink hibiscus plant
• Morries bed
• Waves on the ocean

13
Foreshadowing

• The use of clues that suggest events that have
  yet to occur.

14
Foreshadowing

• When youre in bed, youre dead.

15
Point of View

• First person

16
Tone

• The writers attitude toward his or her audience
  and the subject.

17
Tone

• Mitchs narration uses very basic language, as
  most of the book is composed of dialogue between
  him and Morrie.
• Word for word transcription
• Mitchs attitude towards Morrie is nothing less
  than sweet and adoring.

18
Tense

• The time, as past, present, or future, expressed
  by the author.

19
Tense

• Frequently shifts from present to past
  (flashbacks)

20
Setting

• Time Early - mid 1990s
• Place West Newton, MA

21
Protagonist

• Is the main character in a literary work.

22
Protagonist

• Mitch Albom
• Morrie Shwartz?

23
Antagonist

• Is the character or force in conflict with a main
  character, or protagonist.

24
Antagonist

• The societal pressures that plague Mitch.
• For Morrie, the disease, ALS.