Tuesdays with Morrie Part I Analysis The Curriculum

Tuesdays with Morrie Part I Analysis

“The Curriculum” ▪ How does the use of “I was the student” add credibility to the memoir?

“The Curriculum” ▪ The text on page three is in italics. After reading the text, decide how it functions in the book. What do you call this literary technique?

“The Curriculum” ▪ How does the narration change during these flashbacks?

“The Syllabus” ▪ Describe the effect of beginning the chapter with, “His death sentence came in the summer of 1994. ”

“The Syllabus” ▪ Describe the tone of the book when the narration describing the types of tests that Morrie undergoes when he is first being diagnosed.

“The Syllabus” ▪ On pages 8 and 9, the narration uses an effective rhetorical technique called repetition. “That was the end…” is used in different ways. Cite some examples of repetition and then explain the meaning of each.

“The Syllabus” ▪ “By the end, if you are still alive, you are breathing through a tube in a hole in your throat, while your soul, perfectly awake, is imprisioned inside a limp husk, perhaps able to blink, or cluck a tongue, like something from a science fiction movie, the man frozen inside his own flesh. ” (p. 10) ▪ What literary term is used to describe the effects of ALS? What is the purpose of that device?

“The Student” ▪ How did Mitch’s uncle’s death change Mitch? Is his reaction normal? Why or why not?

“The Student” ▪ How does the structure of the sentences and the paragraphs on page sixteen reflect the pace at which Mitch works?

“The Student” ▪ How does the end of this chapter serve as a narrative bridge to the next chapter?

“The Audiovisual” ▪ What does the reader learn is the “something [that] caught my ear” from the previous chapter?

“The Audiovisual” ▪ Describe the meeting between Morrie and Ted Koppel. How does Morrie’s attitude toward Ted help to illustrate how Morrie feels about society?

“The Audiovisual” ▪ On pages 24 and 25, Mitch includes another memory, as indicated by the italicized text. Why do you think this particular memory is inserted here?

“The Orientation” ▪ Contrast Morrie’s life with Mitch’s life at the very beginning of this “final class. ”

“The Orientation” ▪ Explain the metaphor of the food and meal that Mitch receives when he first visits Morrie.

“The Classroom” ▪ What nicknames do Mitch and Morrie use for one another? What do the nicknames imply?

“The Classroom” ▪ Summarize the memory that follows Mitch’s promise to come back and visit Morrie.

“Taking Attendance” ▪ Compare Mitch’s culture with Morrie’s culture. Which culture is more similar to your own?

“The First Tuesday…” ▪ Why does Morrie try to stay caught up on the news? To whom does Morrie feel the closest?

“The First Tuesday…” ▪ Morrie shares an aphorism with Mitch about love. What is the aphorism? How do you feel about this aphorism?