Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

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Tuesdays with Morrieby Mitch Albom

• Symbols, Themes, and Motifs

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What is a symbol?

• when something has additional meaning beyond its
  literal significance
• When they represent something other than what
  they are, they are symbolizing something.

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There are symbols all around us.

• What does this peace sign symbolize?

• What does this recycling sign symbolize?

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Find the symbols in the following video

• ..\..\Education Videos\Symbolism.mp4

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What does the hibiscus plant symbolize?

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Hibiscus Plant Symbolizes

• the natural life cycle which eventually leads to
  death
• as Morrie's condition worsens and he becomes more
  dependent on people, the pink petals wither and
  fall

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What does the Waves on the Ocean story
symbolize?

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Waves on the Ocean symbolizes

• small wave symbolizes Morrie (happy, loving life)
• small wave is happy until he realizes all the
  waves are going to crash into shore and die
• another wave comes by and says "you're part of
  the ocean" (something larger, bigger than
  himself)
• Morrie has come to the realization that he is
  going to be part of something bigger in the
  afterlife

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What does Morries bed symbolize?
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Morries bed symbolizes

• death (to him)
• Morrie prefers to sit in his chair in his study
  so he can be surrounded by books, pictures, and
  look out his window.
• Morrie moves to his bed in his final days,
  symbolizing his surrender to death.

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What is theme?

• the central meaning or dominant idea in a
  literary work

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Don't follow popular culture, develop your own
values.

• But what does this mean?

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This means

• Most people dictate their choices and values on
  what popular culture focuses on (greed, violence,
  superficiality, etc.)
• Morrie encourages Mitch and others to reject
  popular culture and focus on love, accepting
  others, forgiveness, and open communication.

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How about this one?

• Love each other or die.

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This means

• Love is the essence of every human and every
  person craves it. Without love in one's life,
  there is no point in living.

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What is a motif?

• a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc

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Some motifs in Morrie

• the media
• food
• But why are they motifs?

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The Media

• The media is portrayed as evil.
• Throughout the story Mitch references events
  going on in the media - OJ Simpson trial,
  celebrity gossip, murders, theft, crime.
• The evil media serves to juxtapose (show the
  opposite of) Morrie's goodness (Mitch and others
  watch OJ Simpson verdict while Morrie is in the
  other room).

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Food

• Mitch brings Morrie his favorite foods every
  Tuesday, even after he can no longer eat them.
• It reminds Mitch of college days when he was
  passionate about life and Morrie was healthy.
• Mitch feels it is the only gift he can give
  Morrie he doesn't want to accept that Morrie is
  closer and closer to death.