KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS Janine

SETTING Mitch’s wife; she takes a phone call from Morrie, whom she
had never met, and accompanies Mitch to his next visit with
The novel takes place during 1995, in Morrie’s study, in West Morrie. As a professional singer, she never sings upon request;
Newton, Massachusetts. Mitch and Morrie meet every Tuesday, however, when Morrie asked her to sing she did without
in his study, to discuss the meaning of life. hesitation and moved him to tears.

Morrie was a college professor for most of his career, and Mitch Peter
took all of his classes offered, when he was in college. When
Morrie taught small classes, he would often hold them in his Mitch’s younger brother who lives in Spain; he has pancreatic
study, at the university, to give the students a friendlier cancer and refuses any help from his family. He seems reluctant
environment. Morrie would also meet with his students, to rekindle his relationship with Mitch, but by the end of the
especially Mitch, outside of the class for discussion purposes. novel, we see that he has warmed up and may be letting his
brother back into his life.
Since Morrie has been sick and thereby restrained to his house,
he and Mitch meet every Tuesday, in his study. This setting is Charlie
symbolic and parallels to Morrie’s teaching career and the many
students’ lives he had changed. It is only fitting that since Morrie’s father who came to America from Russia. He neglects
Morrie liked to teach in his study, as he was able to give his last Morrie and his brother; he even insists that Morrie keeps the
class, to one of his favorite students (Mitch) in the comfort of death of their mother a secret from his younger brother. He dies
his own study at home. after escaping muggers; Morrie had to travel to New York to
identify his body at the city morgue.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Eva
Major Characters
Morrie’s stepmother who came into his life when he was about
Morrie Schwartz nine years old. She provided much love to Morrie and his
brother, David. She highly valued education and served as a
The novel is centered around him; Morrie is Mitch’s former great motivation for Morrie to work hard at his education.
college professor who was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gherig's Morrie’s love for education stemmed from Eva, which later
disease); he meets with Mitch in his home every Tuesday to lead to his career as a professor.
teach him about the meaning of life.
David

Morrie’s younger brother who developed polio at a young age.

Mitch Albom Connie

Morrie's former student; he has since become a journalist and Morrie’s at-home health care aide; she assists Morrie in going
leads a very fast paced life; finds Morrie after hearing he is sick to the bathroom, getting up and into his chair and also with his
on "ABC's Nightline" and visits him every Tuesday. meals.

Minor Characters CONFLICT

Ted Koppel There are two conflicts in this novel: the major conflict is
Morrie vs. ALS and the second, minor conflict, is Mitch vs.
A famous television newsman/personality; he interviews himself. Morrie must come to terms with his illness and accept
Morrie three times for the “ABC's Nightline” show; he his coming death from ALS. In the meantime, Mitch, his former
eventually describes Morrie as his friend and is almost in tears college student, visits him every Tuesday. Mitch has become
during his last interview with Morrie. very disillusioned with his fast-paced life and constant strive for
materialistic possessions. He struggles to find meaning with his
life and to change the person he has become in the sixteen years
Charlotte
since he had last seen Morrie.
Morrie’s wife, who is also a college professor; she keeps her
job as a professor even while Morrie is sick because it is what Protagonist
he wished for her.
Morrie Schwartz is the protagonist
of Tuesdays with Morrie; he is the character around which the
action develops. Morrie is a loving, compassionate and philosophies that he began taking notes and even recording
accepting older man who is losing his life to the disease, ALS. Morrie.

Antagonist Morrie’s philosophies included rejecting popular culture morals

and following self-created values, loving others, and learning to
The disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is the accept death.
antagonist of the story. This is the disease from which Morrie
is suffering throughout the novel. We see the disease gradually With each lesson, Morrie becomes increasingly sick; during
begin taking over Morrie: he stops dancing; he then eventually their last meeting, Morrie was bed ridden and near death. As he
is confined to his chair in his study; the disease then prevents and Mitch hugged for one last time, Morrie notices Mitch is
him from eating solid foods and moving around without help. finally crying.
Eventually he is bed ridden and fully succumbed to the disease,
which does finally take his life. Morrie dies a short time after. At his funeral Mitch tries having
a conversation with Morrie, as he had wanted. Mitch feels a
Climax certain naturalness and comfort to this conversation and realizes
that it happens to be Tuesday.
Mitch visits Morrie for the last time, when he is very close to
his death; after years of trying to get Mitch to open up, Morrie After Morrie’s death Mitch regains contact with his brother who
finally succeeds at doing so by seeing him cry. lives in Spain and is battling cancer.

Outcome

At Morrie’s funeral, Mitch has a conversation with Morrie, in THEMES

his head, and feels at ease due to the familiarity of the
conversation. Mitch also takes Morrie’s advice and contacts his “Love each other or die” (pg. 163)
brother in Spain. Another outcome of this story is the novel
itself-Mitch relaying the story of a man who changed his life. Throughout the book, Morrie recites a quote by his favorite poet
or this variation in his own words. This is one of the most
SHORT PLOT/CHAPTER SUMMARY (Synopsis) important lessons he wishes to teach Mitch and express on
“Nightline”. Morrie feels that love and compassion are
Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom’s favorite college necessary for a person to be fulfilled. Morrie says that when
professor. At the start of the novel Albom recalls a memory love abounds, there is no higher sense of fulfillment one can
from his college graduation day: he is saying goodbye to Morrie experience.
and gives him a tan briefcase with his initials on it. They hug
and when Mitch steps back he sees that Morrie is crying. Mitch Popular culture vs. self-created values
promises to stay in touch with Morrie but he never does after
college.
Morrie’s lessons often contribute this theme that one should
reject pop-culture values and standards and instead develop his
Since his graduation, Mitch has become a newspaper reporter or her own values. Morrie sees pop-culture as a dictator under
and husband. He leads a very fast paced life and is constantly which we must suffer. Morrie was able to create his own set of
working and traveling. He has become so engrossed in his work culture and values founded on love, acceptance and open
that it consumes his life. communication.

The novel recommences about sixteen years after Mitch’s Acceptance through detachment
graduation day; Morrie has since been diagnosed with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Since Morrie’s Morrie often talks about detaching himself from his experience,
diagnosis, he began jotting down ideas and thoughts onto scrap
especially when he suffers from violent coughing spells. Morrie
paper, yellow pads or even envelopes. He also wrote
bases this theory of detachment, from a Buddhist philosophy.
philosophies about living knowing death was very near. One of
He feels that no one should cling to anything, and that
his friends was so taken with his writing, he sent them to
everything that exists is impermanent. Through detaching
the Boston Globereporter, who wrote a feature story about himself, he is able to remove himself from his surroundings into
Morrie. The story intrigued one of the producers of the show,
his own consciousness. This way he is able to gain perspective
“Nightline”, who then did a feature story about Morrie. Mitch
in uncomfortable and stressful situations.
happened to see the “Nightline” show and recognized his old
professor. He called him to set up a visit.

Mitch began visiting Morrie every Tuesday. Their discussions

ranged from the world, regrets, death, love and money; the
purpose of their meetings was to discuss Morrie’s view on the
meaning of life. Mitch became so intrigued by Morrie’s
MOOD SHORT PLOT/CHAPTER SUMMARY (Synopsis)

The mood changes slightly throughout the novel; however, the Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom’s favorite college
mood is mostly solemn because we know from the very professor. At the start of the novel Albom recalls a memory
beginning of the book that Morrie is dying. At times we can feel from his college graduation day: he is saying goodbye to Morrie
Morrie’s positive personality, when he is joking with Ted and gives him a tan briefcase with his initials on it. They hug
Koppel or Mitch, and we sense more of a light hearted tone. The and when Mitch steps back he sees that Morrie is crying. Mitch
novel also expresses a mood of reflection and enlightenment promises to stay in touch with Morrie but he never does after
during Morrie’s lessons. college.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - BIOGRAPHY Since his graduation, Mitch has become a newspaper reporter
and husband. He leads a very fast paced life and is constantly
Morrie Schwartz was one of Mitch Albom’s college professors. working and traveling. He has become so engrossed in his work
Since his college graduation, Mitch and Morrie gradually lost that it consumes his life.
touch; however, Mitch rediscovered Morrie during the last
months of his life and they were able to rekindle their The novel recommences about sixteen years after Mitch’s
friendship. Mitch visited Morrie every Tuesday, in his study, graduation day; Morrie has since been diagnosed with
which turned into a private lesson on how to live amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Since Morrie’s
life. Tuesdays With Morrie is the magical result of Mitch and diagnosis, he began jotting down ideas and thoughts onto scrap
Morrie’s time spent together in the months leading to his death. paper, yellow pads or even envelopes. He also wrote
philosophies about living knowing death was very near. One of
Mitch Albom is not only a best-selling author, he is also a his friends was so taken with his writing, he sent them to
newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, radio host for the Boston Globereporter, who wrote a feature story about
ABC and WJR-AM in Detroit. Morrie. The story intrigued one of the producers of the show,
“Nightline”, who then did a feature story about Morrie. Mitch
happened to see the “Nightline” show and recognized his old
Albom is a native of Philadelphia, PA and attended Brandeis
professor. He called him to set up a visit.
University, where he obtained his degree in sociology. He then
attended Columbia University for his Master's Degree in
journalism and business administration. Mitch began visiting Morrie every Tuesday. Their discussions
ranged from the world, regrets, death, love and money; the
purpose of their meetings was to discuss Morrie’s view on the
Mitch Albom has written seven other books, including the
meaning of life. Mitch became so intrigued by Morrie’s
bestseller, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.His other
works philosophies that he began taking notes and even recording
include Live Albom I, Live Albom II, Live Albom III, Live Albo Morrie.
m IV, BO, which is the autobiography of Bo Schemechler,
and Fab Five, which is a story about the University of Morrie’s philosophies included rejecting popular culture morals
Michigan's men's basketball recruits who became starters as and following self-created values, loving others, and learning to
freshman, during the 1990's. accept death.

Aside from writing novels, Albom has also been deemed the #1 With each lesson, Morrie becomes increasingly sick; during
Sports Columnist in the Nation by the sports editors of America. their last meeting, Morrie was bed ridden and near death. As he
He has received over 100 writing awards from National and Mitch hugged for one last time, Morrie notices Mitch is
Sportswriters and Broadcasters Associations, Headliners Club finally crying.
as well as many others. His work has also appeared in
publications such as Sports Illustrated, GQ Magazine, The New Morrie dies a short time after. At his funeral Mitch tries having
York Times, USA Today, and TV Guide. a conversation with Morrie, as he had wanted. Mitch feels a
certain naturalness and comfort to this conversation and realizes
Mitch to open up, Morrie finally succeeds at doing so by seeing that it happens to be Tuesday.
him cry.
After Morrie’s death Mitch regains contact with his brother who
lives in Spain and is battling cancer.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES / ANALYSIS

Outcome
The Curriculum
At Morrie’s funeral, Mitch has a conversation with Morrie, in
his head, and feels at ease due to the familiarity of the Summary
conversation. Mitch also takes Morrie’s advice and contacts his
brother in Spain. Another outcome of this story is the novel Mitch Albom opens the novel with background information on
itself-Mitch relaying the story of a man who changed his life. Morrie Schwartz. Morrie was one of Mitch’s favorite
professors, in college, at Brandeis University. Mitch introduces
Morrie to his parents and gives him a briefcase for a gift. They
hug; and when Mitch steps back he can see that Morrie is The Student/ The Audiovisual
crying.
Summary
Notes
Mitch explains what has happened to him since he last saw
This first chapter introduces the reader to the setting, mood and Morrie on his college graduation day. He moved to New York
theme of the novel. We learn that Morrie Schwartz was Mitch’s City with high hopes of becoming a musician. However, upon
favorite professor from when he went to college. It is also the death of his uncle he soon saw his life to be too short to
foreshadowed that this novel will be centered around Morrie’s waste time playing at empty venues, committing to unreliable
last class, which was given in his home, to Mitch Albom. The bands, and writing songs which he thinks will never be heard.
theme of the class was the meaning of life and Mitch was the Mitch decided to continue his education at Columbia
only student. It is apparent that this novel will be reflective, University, obtaining his Masters Degree in Journalism.
somber and hopefully enlightening. For we also know that at
the end of the lesson-the “graduation” (1), will be Morrie’s
One evening as he was flipping through the television channels,
funeral.
he heard the voice of Ted Koppel ask, “Who is Morrie
Schwartz” (23)?
The Syllabus
The chapter then flashes back to the first time Mitch met
Summary Morrie: it was their first class together in the spring of 1976. It
was a small class and Morrie asked Mitch what he preferred to
Morrie could sense that his health was suffering, when he could be called. Upon telling Morrie that his friends call him “Mitch”,
no longer dance; this was even before he was diagnosed with Morrie told him that he hopes one day Mitch will think of him
ALS. Morrie loved to dance to any music and even with or as a friend.
without a partner.
Notes

Since the death of his uncle, it seems that Mitch was trying to
make the most of his life by accepting job after job,
As he aged into his seventies, breathing became harder, walking accomplishment after accomplishment. He did not keep touch
more challenging, and sleep troubling; he began to see doctors with any of his college friends, or even Morrie. Albom gives us
and was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the impression that he was so busy trying to live his life that he
which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. never stopped to realize he wasn’t.

Despite his terminal illness, he kept swimming, with help of The Orientation/ The Classroom
course, and even insisted on teaching a class at the University.
Summary
Notes
Mitch arrives at Morrie’s house still on the phone with a
Mitch Albom presents more insight to Morrie’s character in this producer about one of his stories. He does not want to end the
chapter. We see that he is carefree, loves to dance, a call so he pretends he is looking for something in his car. When
distinguished sociology professor, and determined to live his Morrie sees Mitch, he hugs him with so much affection, after
life to the very fullest, to the very end. When Morrie had to give almost sixteen years of not seeing him. The two sit in the house
up dancing, he kept swimming; when he could no longer dress and Morrie begins to speak about his looming death.
and undress himself, he got help and still swam; when Morrie
had to go to the bathroom, he asked one of his visitors to hold Mitch and Morrie talk for over two hours that day, mostly about
his cup; when Morrie was suffering from the terminal illness, Morrie’s sickness. Mitch eventually leaves to catch his
ALS, he still taught a college class. returning flight and hugs Morrie good-bye.

Morrie was innovative and inspirational to those around him. These chapters flashback to Albom’s college years; Mitch
Upon attending a funeral, he felt sad that his deceased colleague nicknamed Morrie, “Coach” and recalls the lunches they ate
never got to hear all of the praise said about him; Morrie held together in the cafeteria.
his own living funeral where he could hear the praise and tribute
paid upon him. Mitch began appreciating the study of human relations and
caught Morrie’s contagious passion for books. They would
often talk after class and Mitch even consulted Morrie advice
about this confusing stage of his life.
Notes The First Tuesday

In these two chapters it is apparent that Mitch is ashamed of the Summary

person he has become in the sixteen years since he has seen
Morrie. Mitch feels guilty for staying on the phone, in his car, Mitch visits Morrie for the second time. Mitch notices a stack
while Morrie is anxiously awaiting his arrival. Mitch feels even of newspapers that Morrie had obviously read. Mitch is
guiltier when Morrie welcomes him so affectionately. As they surprised that Morrie is keeping up-to-date with the news.
sit and talk Mitch feels embarrassed that he is no longer the They discuss a bit of news going on in the world and Morrie
same as Morrie remembered him; he only hopes to fool Morrie cries.
into thinking he is the same.
The flashback in this section takes place in one of Mitch’s
college classes with Morrie. Morrie enters the room and is
silent for about fifteen minutes. The students become
uncomfortable which thus leads into a discussion regarding
For the remainder of these chapters we can tell that Mitch is silence. Morrie tells Mitch, after the class, that Mitch reminds
very uncomfortable around Morrie and even about the person him of himself.
he himself has become. We can only infer from this, that Morrie
will discover Mitch’s confused personality and help bring him Notes
back to the person he wishes to be.
Morrie still is interested in the world news even though he is
Taking Attendance near his own death. While discussing the war in Bosnia, Mitch
begins to cry because he says that he can “feel their anguish”
Summary (50). We can tell that Mitch becomes uncomfortable with
Morrie’s crying. Morrie tells Mitch that he will loosen him up
A few weeks after his visit with Morrie, Mitch flies to London one day and show him that it is ok for a man to cry.
to cover Wimbledon. He notices the slough of printed tabloids
and hungry reporters around him. He thinks of Morrie and their Morrie explains that he thinks the most important thing in life
conversation. is to learn how to give and receive love. He thinks that many
do not believe they deserve love, but that “Love is the only
When Mitch arrives back in Detroit, the unions at his newspaper rational act” (52). With this said Mitch gave Morrie a hug and
had gone on strike. Mitch was currently out of his newspaper a kiss while agreeing to meet him again the next Tuesday.
job. He called Morrie and the two agreed to meet again the
following Tuesday. We see Mitch very slowly opening up to Morrie, as he once
had in college. He is no longer hiding behind his job and his
The chapter then flashes back to Mitch’s sophomore year in arrogance and is gradually shedding his emotional shield
college when he began to meet Morrie outside of the classroom which he had gained the past sixteen years.
for discussions. Mitch talks to Morrie about his aspirations in
life because Morrie listens, unlike Mitch’s father who wants
him to be a lawyer.

Notes Mitch’s persona, on this first Tuesday, coincides with his

character in the flashback presented in this chapter. During a
Mitch, even more so, realizes the shallowness of the media and particular class in college Morrie noticed that Mitch was quiet
even his career. He is frustrated that people waste so much time and shy about participating in the class discussion. Morrie told
consumed in the lives of celebrities and gossip. He thinks of Mitch that he thinks he has a lot of assets to add to the
Morrie and the culture he chose for himself: Morrie dedicated discussion and that he reminds Morrie of himself: by keeping
his time to discussion groups, time with friends, dancing, everything to himself.
reading and constantly thinking of new ideas on how to improve
his life as well as the lives of those around him. He enjoyed his On this particular Tuesday Mitch also seems hesitant to speak
food and the nature around him while Mitch was too busy about his feelings. This is foreshadowing that Morrie will
rushing past it. again “loosen” (51) him up as he once did back when Mitch
was his student.
When the union members went on strike Mitch finally realized
that life went on without him and his column.
The Second Tuesday in his life choices. He also begins taking notice of the people
around him and how most are so wrapped up in greed and
Summary anger; it seems as though Mitch is seeing the lack of meaning
in his life, through observing the lives of those around him.
This second Tuesday Mitch and Morrie discuss feeling sorry
for yourself. Morrie says that he feels sorry for himself in the
mornings when he realizes how much feeling or movement he
has lost; he cries and then gets on with his day.

Mitch recalls a specific class with Morrie during his junior

year in college. Morrie had everyone in the class stand and
turn their backs to one another. He wanted each student to fall
backwards in trust that their assigned partners would catch
them. Only one student in the class completed the assignment.

Notes

Mitch flies approximately seven hundred miles to see Morrie

on Tuesdays. He no longer rents a cell phone to take on the
rides with him. He is beginning to loosen up and enjoy his
time alone and with Morrie.

We can also see that Mitch is finally becoming more

comfortable and less awkward around Morrie; he begins to
help Connie in lifting Morrie to and from his recliner. As
Mitch feels Morrie’s dead weight in his arms, he finally
realizes that their time together is running out.

The Third Tuesday

Summary

Mitch brings a tape recorder to Morrie’s in order to remember

their discussions. They discuss regrets and how culture
prevents us from thinking about such things until we are near
our death.

On the plane ride home that day, Mitch made a list of all of the
questions he had for Morrie.

During Mitch’s senior year in college, Morrie convinced him

to write a sociology thesis on sports. Mitch is very proud of
his work and momentarily considers returning for graduate
school.

Notes

Morrie and Mitch discuss regrets and how our culture prevents
us from acknowledging our life until it is too late. Morrie
states that most people have this fear of “What if today were
my last day on earth” (64)? Would they have been happy with
their life? Would they have released their inner child or helped
others? Mitch becomes uneasy at this point; he pictures
himself slumped over his desk, writing a story, and his editors
greedily snatching the story from him as he is taken away in
an ambulance to his death.

Mitch is starting to observe his own life and his own

happiness. He is beginning to feel that he is not entirely happy
The Fourth Tuesday compassion. Morrie is very openly affectionate with those
around him which seems to be contagious. We can see from
Summary the pictures that Morrie raised his family to also appreciate
this importance of love and compassion.
Morrie is now becoming dependant on an oxygen machine but
still meets Mitch on this fourth Tuesday. They discuss death Morrie also describes his experience from having children. He
and how most people do not believe that they are ever going to feels that having children is learning to love and bond in the
die. Morrie tells Mitch that once one learns how to die, they deepest way. It is apparent that Mitch has a void in his life and
learn how to live. that is because he has never experienced this ultimate type of
love.
With this said, Morrie asks Mitch that if he could accept the
fact that he could die at any time, would he still work as much Mitch recalls and instance where he and his brother were near
as he does. He suggests that Mitch find some sort of spiritual death when their sled skidded in front of a car. Their friends
development. who saw thought it was “cool” that they “could have died”
(99). Albom states at the end of the chapter, “that wasn’t so
hard, we think, and we are ready to take on death again” (99).
Notes
This causes us to reflect back on what Morrie said earlier
about believing that we will die one day. Although Mitch and
Morrie explains to Mitch how he is able to see life differently his brother could have died, they did not believe in the
now that he has accepted that he may die at any time. He says, possibility of them dying. Mitch thus continued to never learn
“Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it” how to live his life. Had Mitch believed that he could have
(81). He feels that if people, in general, were able to believe actually died, and he may at any time, we can assume that he
that they could die at any moment, that they would live their would have lived his life entirely different from that day
lives differently. Morrie feels that we need to be prepared and forward.
learn how to die before we can learn how to live.
The Sixth Tuesday
Morrie asks Mitch that if he could accept the fact that he could
die at any time, if he would still be ambitious as he was. Mitch
smiles and we can infer that he would answer that question by Summary
saying he would not live so quickly and busy.
Mitch arrives at Morrie’s once again with his usual food
supply. Morrie’s wife, Charlotte, answers the door for the first
The Fifth Tuesday
time and she tells Mitch that Morrie is not doing so well this
particular day. She also tells him that Morrie has not eaten any
Summary of the food that Mitch has been bringing because he can no
longer eat solid foods.
This Tuesday Morrie and Mitch discuss family and children.
Morrie again emphasizes the importance of love, especially As Mitch and Morrie start talking, Morrie talks of “detaching”
love from a family. He feels that if he did not have the love (103) himself. He says that if one is too afraid of an
and support from his family, that he would have nothing at all. experience a certain emotion, they he or she will never be able
to detach themselves. The two discuss other emotions and the
Morrie then discusses the joy he had in raising a family and fears that come along with them inhibiting people to let go of
asks about Mitch’s own family. the fear and to experience the emotion.

Mitch has a younger brother who was always a family Morrie tells Mitch that he does not want to die in a state of
favorite. He moved to Europe after high school and caught fright and that he would rather die peacefully.
pancreatic cancer just as their uncle had. His brother would
not allow any of the family members to help him while he Notes
battled cancer, which made Mitch angry.
Morrie becomes noticeably sicker in this chapter and we can
Mitch then recalls a memory of him and his brother sledding see that Mitch is scared of his death. Morrie’s main topic in
when they were children. The sled went in front of a car and this chapter is emotions, learning not to fear them and how to
the boys jumped off to safety. The two were filled with pride detach oneself.
at having just skipped death.
Morrie feels that in order to be able to let go of an experience
Notes or an emotion you must let the experience “penetrate
you fully” (103). He further explains that if we hold back on
As Mitch looks around Morrie’s study he notices the many emotions and don’t allow ourselves to proceed through them,
pictures of his family. In on particular picture, one of Morrie’s we will never be successful at detaching ourselves. He thinks
sons is kissing him. Throughout the novel so far Morrie has that by throwing ourselves into these emotions, and allowing
emphasized continuously, humans’ need for affection and ourselves to fully experience them, then we will know exactly
what they are. He feels that once we are able to recognize I know I didn’t” (116). As he states this we are reminded of
these emotions we will have the power to detach ourselves the conversation in which he is telling Ted Koppel about that
from them. This way we are able to see exactly what the his mother died when he was very young. Because of this
emotion is and have the power not to let it control us. Mitch finally sees why Morrie enjoys human touch to the
extent that he does. Morrie feels that he, himself, did not
receive enough, due to the early death of his mother, so he
seemed to live his life giving out as much as he could to those
around him.
The Professor Part II
Morrie was never particularly scared to age. Being a teacher
he sees much of the misery and confusion in young people; he
Summary
thinks that it can be quite rough being young. He also feels
that the young are not yet very wise; they do not yet
After Morrie received his PhD, he spent time working at a understand life and its directions, and are still negatively
mental hospital near Washington, DC. Morrie ended up influenced by the media.
working at the hospital for five years and even befriended
some of the patients.
Morrie feels that with age comes growth and knowledge. He
sees ageing as a growth and the ability to live a better life. He
Following his work at the hospital he went to Brandeis to feels that people who wish they were young, lead unfulfilled
teach. He taught classes on social psychology, mental illness lives. He states, “...If you’ve found meaning in your life, you
and health; he focused more on personal development than don’t want to go back” (118).
career skills.
In this chapter, Morrie again emphasizes his theory that once
Notes we understand we are going to die, we will lead a better and
more fulfilling life.
Albom is allowing us in to more of Morrie’s background.
Before he worked as a professor he was given a grant to The Eighth Tuesday
observe mental patients and record their treatments. He even
became friends with some of the patients. Through his work at
the mental hospital, he saw that most of the patients had Summary
experienced so much rejection and lack of compassion in their
lives, that they were left feeling like they didn’t exist. Since Influenced by a quote from the newspaper, Morrie and Mitch
many of the patience came from wealthy backgrounds Morrie discuss money and power. Morrie lived his life enjoying
learned that this wealth did not buy them happiness; Morrie simple pleasures such as dancing, singing and laughing. He
never forgot this lesson or the importance of compassion. explains in this chapter how he sees society being brainwashed
into thinking that “more is good” (124).
The Seventh Tuesday
Morrie tells Mitch that in order to feel satisfied, people should
offer to others, what they have, whether it be a skill or simply
Summary
just listening.
This Tuesday Morrie and Mitch discuss the fear of ageing.
Morrie has finally surrendered to his illness: he can no longer Notes
go to the bathroom by himself. Instead of being frustrated he
is enjoying all the people around him who are helping him and Morrie discusses the negative impacts that our society has on
taking care of him. our conception of what we think creates happiness. He feels
that society is trying to promise happiness in materialistic
Morrie describes why he thinks it is beneficial to age: to learn things. Morrie interprets people who constantly buy the latest
more, gain a better understanding of your life and to must-haves, as people who are very deprived of love. He feels
that people embrace material things when they are lacking
experience growth.
some sort of meaningful relationship.
Notes
Morrie feels that we can gain satisfaction in our lives if we
offer to others, what we have to give; he says that the best way
Throughout the book thus far, Morrie would joke that one day to do this is by offering companionship.
he would need someone to wipe him after he was finished in
the bathroom. We see such an impact of his sickness since he
can no longer go to the bathroom alone, wash himself, or blow This is an important lesson for Mitch because he realizes that
his nose. Morrie says he is enjoying being taken care of so he is striving for such materialistic things. He is constantly
surrounded by rich athletes and the media and is always
much, just as a baby does. Morrie states that when we are
competing for a higher salary, bigger house and so on. Mitch
babies we can never get enough of our mothers holding us and
even admits to himself that he is one of those people who
rocking us; Morrie then states, “Most of us didn’t get enough.
Morrie is describing who is lacking tenderness and
compassion. This is emphasized when Mitch states that he wanted them to know what happened so no one would get a
kept taking notes on what Morrie was saying so Morrie would phone call, a telegram or have to claim his body from a
not be able to read Mitch’s thoughts and feelings through his basement.
eyes.
The Tenth Tuesday

Summary

The Ninth Tuesday On this tenth Tuesday, Mitch brings his wife to meet Morrie.
Mitch had called Morrie earlier in the week to see how he was
Summary feeling and he asked to talk to Mitch’s wife, Janine. When she
got off the phone with Morrie, she told Mitch she was coming
The previous day, someone had asked Morrie if he was afraid on the next trip. They talk and Morrie asks about her career as
of being forgotten after he was dead. He feels that since he has a professional singer and he asks her to sing something for
been involved with so many people in close ways, that he is him. She sang a 1930’s song written by Ray Noble. When she
not so worried about being forgotten. finished singing, Mitch noticed tears running down Morrie’s
face.
Mitch describes how he loves the way Morrie greets him upon
his entrance. Mitch admires how Morrie has such a talent as to Mitch and Morrie then discuss marriage and Morrie shares
make each person feel special when they are around him. with him, what he has learned through his many years of
marriage.
Morrie tells Mitch how important it is to stay focused and to
only be present with the people who are around you. He thinks Notes
that so many people are in a hurry and do not find the time to
even engage in a real conversation without thinking of Mitch brings his wife, Janine, to meet Morrie on their tenth
something else. meeting. They talk about Detroit, the city where she is from
and Morrie asks her to sing for him. Mitch is very surprised
Notes when she openly starts singing to Morrie. Mitch states that,
since Janine is a professional singer, many people often ask
her to sing for them and she politely declines. However, when
Morrie feels that it is important to truly be engaged and
devoted when in the presence of others and also during Morrie asks this of her, she starts singing without hesitation.
conversation. He says that when he is with someone, he This is another example of how Morrie is able to draw
emotion from people. Mitch said that he had never heard his
believes in being fully present only with that person. Morrie
wife sing as well as she had that day; Morrie drew out Janine’s
feels that so many people have not found meaning in their
best singing while her song drew tears out of Morrie.
lives, so they rush and run around time after time in search of
it. They are in search of more materialistic things which only
provide them with less meaning. Morrie emphasizes the Mitch asks Morrie why his generation has so many problems
importance on skipping small talk and really listening to with marriage. Morrie states that he feels it is so important, in
someone, without trying to gain anything in return. We can today’s culture, to find a loving relationship; he feels that
infer that since Morrie has given so much of his time and people are either too selfish to take part in a real marriage, or
attention toward others, that this is why he has been having so rush into marriage and get divorced shortly thereafter. He feels
many visitors; they were drawn to him due to all of the that these people, who rush into marriage, do not know exactly
attention he had paid to them. Despite his pain and suffering, what they want in a partner.
Morrie continued to listen to others, just as he had always
wanted someone to listen to him. Morrie shares some of what he has learned throughout his
forty years of marriage. He feels that there are a few essential
Albom goes into further detail about Morrie’s father in this rules that are true about love and marriage: respect for the
chapter. We learn that the last time Morrie saw his father was other person, compromise, open conversation and a common
while he was claiming his body in a city morgue. His father set of values. He believes also that the two must believe in the
had been robbed that evening and ran and ran until he suffered importance of their marriage.
from a heart attack.
The Eleventh Tuesday
Morrie’s father rarely talked to his children and never hugged
them or tucked them into bed at night. Morrie knew that when Summary
he raised his own children he would emphasize everything he
had wished for as a child: hugging, kissing, talking and plenty Morrie’s disease is starting to hit his lungs, which is how he
of laughter. predicted he would die. The physical therapist teaches Mitch
how to slap Morrie on the back to break up the poison in his
Morrie told Mitch that when his final moment had arrived, he lungs.
wanted to be surrounded by his family and those he loved; he
Mitch and Morrie discuss our culture and the shortsightedness Aside from the millions of lives Morrie has touched, through
of most people. television, teaching, and his family and friends, he has now
touched Ted Koppel. Koppel now refers to Morrie as his
Later that afternoon, Mitch and Connie watch the verdict of friend and he kissed Morrie upon greeting him.
the O.J. Simpson trial.
During the interview Koppel asked Morrie if he was afraid of
Notes dying. Morrie, true to form, explained how he was less afraid
now that it is near. He enjoyed letting go of the outside world,
the newspapers and television, and enjoyed listening to music
In this chapter Mitch has admitted to becoming more open in
and watching the seasons change through his window.
showing his affection and accepting Morrie’s sickness. He
states that he regularly holds Morrie’s hand, is comfortable
around his catheter bag, and does not mind the smell of the Morrie tells Koppel, “...living means I can be responsive to the
room that Morrie is living in. These are all things Mitch said other person. It means I can show my emotions and my
would have otherwise made him very uncomfortable. It seems feelings” (162). Throughout his life, we saw how Morrie
as if Mitch is benefiting and learning from Morrie’s lessons. valued compassion and showing emotion and feeling towards
others. Since Morrie lacked this so much as a child, he lived
his whole life continuously offering emotion and feelings
During this lesson Morrie and Mitch discuss our culture.
Morrie feels that people become mean when they are towards others. He feels that when he can no longer do this, it
threatened. He feels that our culture threatens us because it will be the end of his life. For he lived emphasizing so much
importance around this notion that he feels if he cannot offer
creates chaos and fear of losing our jobs, not earning enough
his emotions and feelings toward others, that he should no
money or not staying thin enough. Morrie feels that we should
longer be able to live.
obey the small rules such as speed limits and red lights;
however he feels that we should create our own subculture
determined for each individual: how we think, what we value The Twelfth Tuesday
etc. He feels that these characteristics should be chosen
specifically by each individual and that one should not let a Summary
society chose for them.
It is the Twelfth Tuesday and Mitch and Morrie discuss
Morrie also feels that we, as a society, do not like to believe forgiveness. The whole time, Mitch rubs lotion on Morrie’s
that we are as much alike as we are. He feels that if we all saw feet to relieve them of some pain.
ourselves as similar to one another, then maybe we would all
be eager to join together as one family. Morrie tells Mitch a story in which he never forgave one of his
friends for an incident which happened years ago. He then
Later that afternoon, Mitch and Connie watch the verdict of continued to say that we also must forgive ourselves for the
the O.J. Simpson trial, the “Trial of the Century” (158). This things we feel we should have done.
trial was a major milestone in pop-culture; people watched the
trial daily, read about it and basically the entire nation watched At the end of the chapter Morrie tells Mitch that if he could
the verdict. It is only fitting that Morrie was in the bathroom have had another son, he would have liked it to be Mitch.
as the verdict was announced on the news. This is simply
another example of how Morrie wanted to create is own
The chapter flashes back to a conversation between Mitch and
subculture, and not let society sway his opinions or waste his
Morrie when Morrie found the place in which he would like to
time.
be buried. It is on a hill beneath a tree and overlooking a pond.
He hopes that Mitch will come visit him and tell him all his
problems.

Notes
The Audiovisual Part III
In this chapter we learn that Morrie did once have spite and
Summary pride towards one of his old friends. His friend Norman and
his wife moved away to Chicago. When Morrie’s wife had to
Ted Koppel and the “Nightline” crew come back for a third have a serious operation they did not receive as much as a
and final interview with Morrie. Morrie is much sicker now phone call from Norman or his wife. Morrie became very
and is not sure he can even do the interview. angry with him and never treated their friendship the same.
Morrie regretted never reconciling with Norman and accepting
Ted Koppel and Morrie do the entire interview from Morrie’s his apologies, especially when he died of cancer.
study, since he is confined to his chair. He is noticeably
weaker but successfully completes the interview. Morrie feels that as much as it is important to realize
when we should have forgiven someone else, we should also
Notes forgive ourselves for this mistake. He states that we must
acknowledge what it is we wished we would have done, and Charlotte kept the ceremony small for only friends and family,
then forgive ourselves for it. although hundreds wanted to attend.

Morrie also states that he feels sad that his time is dwindling Mitch talked with Morrie in his head and noted how familiar
but he is also grateful with the chance he has to “make things the conversation felt. He then realized that it was Tuesday.
right” (167).
Notes
The Thirteenth Tuesday
On this last Tuesday it does not seem as if Morrie has the
Summary energy to talk. He tells Mitch what a good person he is and
that he has touched his heart. Mitch holds Morrie’s hand like
Morrie has decided to be cremated upon his death. He tells usual, and tells him that he loves him. He then begins to cry
Mitch how people act as if death is contagious and how they and hopes that Morrie is a bit satisfied that he has finally made
are afraid to see it. him cry. This was foreshadowed at the beginning of the novel
where Mitch’s character was still stiff and lacking emotion.
We could assume that Morrie would find a way to open Mitch
Morrie has been having very bad nights involving terrible
coughing spells. He had recently had one so terrible that he up and let out his emotions. We can gradually see this
almost felt as if he was going to die. He told Mitch that he throughout the novel as Mitch kisses Morrie, holds his hand
and massages his feet. Finally, at their last moment together,
suddenly felt at piece with dying.
Morrie has successfully made Mitch cry.
Mitch asks Morrie what he would do if he was perfectly
healthy for one day. Morrie describes a simple day of being When Morrie died, he was alone in his room. It was the one
with friends and dancing. moment where no one in his family was with him. It seems as
though he had waited for it to be that way so there were no
horrifying moments and no one witnessing his last breath. It
They then discuss Mitch’s sick brother who he has been trying seems as though he did not want anyone haunted by his death,
to reach for weeks. Mitch cannot understand how his brother such as he was by the deaths of his parents.
wants to be left alone during this time. Morrie tells him that he
will eventually find a way back to his brother just as he found
him. Conclusion

Notes Summary/Notes

One of the main things that Morrie taught Mitch was that,
Mitch asks Morrie that if he could be healthy for one day,
"there is no such thing as 'too late' in life" (192). Mitch seemed
what would he do. He described a simple day to Mitch:
to take this thought to heart, as he was inspired to contact his
waking up and having breakfast, visiting with a few of his
friends at a time so he could talk with them each about their sick brother in Spain. Mitch told him that he respected his
families and their lives, have lunch with them and then meet desire for the distance between them but that he wanted to
remain in contact because Mitch loved him. Mitch stated that
his friends again for dinner and dancing. Mitch realized that
he had never said such a thing to his brother; it seems as
such simple things could be perfection for Morrie. He did not
though by Mitch telling his brother that he loves him, also
choose any exotic vacations, he chose to remain where he was,
allowed his brother to see that it is never too late to regain
and to be surrounded with those who he loved.
contact and include his family in his life.

OVERALL ANALYSES

CHARACTER ANALYSIS
The Fourteenth Tuesday/Graduation

Morrie Schwartz
Summary

Charlotte had called Mitch that day, to tell him that Morrie Morrie, to whom the title of the novel refers, spent most of his
was not doing well but he still wanted to see him. When Mitch life as a sociology professor at Brandeis University. He
continues to teach as long as he can even after being
arrived, Morrie was still asleep and now bed ridden. He was
diagnosed with ALS. He realizes that he is dying and learned
very weak; he told Mitch that he was not doing well, and that
to accept his death; he wanted to share his philosophies, on the
he loved him. Mitch kissed Morrie, longer than usual, and
finally began to cry. meaning of life, with the world. He is successful in two ways,
through the “Nightline” show with Ted Koppel and through
Mitch Albom and this novel. He and Mitch met every Tuesday
Morrie died on a Saturday morning with his immediate family to do their “final thesis” together, which was published
present. The funeral was held on a damp, gray morning. intoTuesdays With Morrie.
One of Morrie’s signature characteristics is his ability to draw successful at penetrating Mitch’s ignorance and allows Mitch
human sprit and genuine emotion from everyone he befriends. to see life in a whole new perspective.
He even draws tears out of Ted Koppel after they are done
filming the last interview for the “Nightline” show. Morrie PLOT STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
believes that love and compassion are crucial methods of
communication. He is determined to see Mitch return to his
Albom wrote the plot very straightforward with little
caring self that he was in college when in Morrie’s class.
ambiguity and complicated historical references. He has a
During their meetings, he tells Mitch stories about his life and tendency to include flashbacks to his college years from when
about his personal beliefs; he teaches him to reject pop-culture he was a student of Morrie’s; he does this to give background
beliefs and to create his own values based on compassion and
on his once, slightly naïve and less materialistic self, so the
what he can offer others. Through their weeks together Morrie
readers have a clear conception of the person he has become in
is also successful at drawing emotion out of Mitch; during
the following sixteen years. He also does this to emphasize
their last lesson, as they are hugging goodbye, Morrie sees
Morrie’s loving and compassionate values that he has always
Mitch begin to cry. tried to express through his teachings.

Morrie is adamant about rejecting pop-culture norms and

Mitch feels so thankful to have had Morrie in his life; for he
values and maintaining his own. He has learned to accept his
has helped bring value and purpose into Mitch’s life. Through
death and manages to continue offering love and compassion
the plot Mitch wishes to express how Morrie has changed his
until he dies. life, through these Tuesday lessons; also, Morrie wishes to
express his teachings and values to the world and he was able
Morrie also accepts and does not become ashamed of his to do that through Mitch and this novel.
disabilities. When he becomes so sick and can no longer do
his daily tasks without help from others, he embraces this and
enjoys feeling like an infant or a child. Since he was so
deprived of love in his childhood, he now thrives on the
affection and love of others, which is usually the case when
we are all infants who are solely dependent on our family. It’s
as if he has returned to his childhood and is finally getting the
love and compassion he so longed for as a young boy.
EXPOSITION
Mitch Albom
In the Exposition, introductory material is presented
which gives the reader the setting, creates the tone and
Mitch is a sports writer who gave up his dream of becoming a
musician for a life of money, success and materialism. Since presents the characters and other facts necessary to
his college graduation he has become very disillusioned and understanding the story. The exposition takes place
has since devoted his life to money and success. He works through the first four chapters. “The Curriculum” (1) tells
most days and nights dedicating little time to himself or his us that there will be a class taught, on the meaning of
wife. When the union for the Detroit newspaper goes on life, by a teacher who is dying; his death would come at
strike, he finds himself for the first time, without steady work the end of the course. The author also tells us that he is
or paycheck. Since his visits with Morrie and the strike, he the student. In the second chapter the author presents
becomes very frustrated with his career decisions, materialistic background information on Morrie Schwartz: the teacher.
mentality and the way he treats his relationships. Through his We learn information about Morrie: he is a teacher, he
meetings with Morrie, he realizes that he must change this life loves to dance and he has been diagnosed with ALS.
in which he thought he was happy. He wants another chance The following chapter presents background information
to reassess his values and priorities so that he can create a
about the author and narrator, Mitch Albom. We learn
fulfilling life for himself before it is too late.
here that he is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free
Press and that he is very wealthy and successful. “The
Audiovisual” (18) is the final chapter in the exposition in
which the narrator describes how he first knew of
Morrie’s sickness, which leads him to these weekly
Through his meetings with Morrie, he has learned how much
Tuesday visits with Morrie. After this chapter all of the
of his life he has wasted consumed in his work. After listening
to Morrie’s philosophies Mitch finds his life quite background information, and major characters have
meaningless. As he watches Morrie inch closer to his death been introduced and from here on, the action begins to
each week, Mitch sees what he must change in his life: he rise as Mitch visits Morrie every Tuesday.
wishes to die knowing that he has lived his life to the fullest,
that he has loved and forgiven himself as well as others and to
have no regrets. Morrie helps him see the man who he wishes RISING ACTION
to become; he would like to value love instead of money and
accept people over pop-culture and media gossip. Morrie was The Rising Action is the events that build from the
conflict. There are two conflicts in this story: the first
being Morrie’s struggle with his fatal disease, ALS; the
second being Mitch’s struggle with himself in dealing
with the person he has become and the person who he “Love each other or die” (163)
wishes to be and the new life he wants to lead. The Morrie stresses this quote and theme throughout the
action begins to rise after Mitch sees Morrie on the novel. He feels that an abundance of love and
“Nightline” show. He has not seen or spoken to Morrie in compassion is the highest sense of fulfillment that one
over sixteen years. After Mitch sees Morrie on “Nightline” can experience. The expression of love and compassion
he contacts him and begins to visit him every Tuesday is very important to Morrie, especially since he lacked
for lessons which all encompass the meaning of life. The such expression in his childhood. With the early death of
action rises throughout the novel with each new lesson his mother, and his busy father, Morrie did not feel a
as we see Mitch struggle with his life and Morrie struggle sense of love until Eva came into their home. Eva
with his impending death. nurtured and cared for him as if he was her own child
and Morrie carried this sense of love and compassion
with him for the rest of his life. Because he was void of
CLIMAX love at an early age, for the rest of his life he
continuously offered his love and compassion to others.
The climax is the high point of the story and also the
point at which the outcome can be predicted. The climax Love is also important to Morrie as he is nearing the final
in this story does not happen until the last Tuesday Mitch days of his life. He feels that without the care of those
and Morrie spend together. Throughout the novel and for who love him, he would perish. Morrie is not afraid of
the entire time Morrie has known Mitch, he has been dying, as he so often tells us throughout the novel, but
trying to get him to open up and express more emotion. he hangs on because he wants to share his story and
When they meet again, towards the beginning of the his lessons to Mitch and the rest of the world. Morrie
novel, Morrie tells Mitch that he is still going to try and lives long enough to express the essence of his
make him cry. After all these years, during their last visit teachings to Mitch (love, compassion and acceptance);
Mitch hugged Morrie for what will be the last time and he then allows himself to be released to death. He
began to cry. From here on the action begins to fall as leaves Mitch and the readers, with his message that love
we can predict the outcome will be Morrie’s death. brings meaning to life and that without it, we may as well
be dead.
FALLING ACTION

The Falling Action is the events after the Climax, which

close the story and lead to the resolution. The falling Acceptance through Detachment
action begins just after Morrie makes Mitch cry. Morrie
dies not too long after and Mitch attends his funeral. Throughout the novel Morrie, continuously talks about
detaching himself from his experience, especially when
he suffers from violent coughing spells. Morrie bases this
theory of detachment, from a Buddhist philosophy. He
RESOLUTION (Denouement) feels that no one should cling to anything, and that
The resolution is the outcome of all the events in the everything that exists is impermanent. Through
story. During one of the Tuesday lessons, Morrie says to detaching himself, he is able to remove himself from his
Mitch, “you talk I’ll listen” (188); implying that after his surroundings into his own consciousness. This way he is
death he still wants Mitch to talk with him just as he did able to gain perspective in uncomfortable and stressful
when he was alive. At the end of the novel, when Mitch situations. However, Morrie does not use this method to
is at Morrie’s funeral he tried talking with Morrie and was stop feeling or experiencing; he actually wants to
pleasantly surprised at how natural it felt. We can experience the situation fully. After he experiences a
assume that Mitch will continue to find comfort and certain feeling he is then able to let go and detach
guidance in his life through these conversations with himself. He practices this often during life threatening
Morrie. situations, such as his severe coughing spells, because
he does not want to die upset or scared. He detaches
With his new outlook on life, Mitch also tried contacting himself so that he can accept these situations in his life
his sick brother in Spain. For the first time, Mitch told his and so that he will be able to embrace his death easier
brother how much he wanted to be a part of his life and since it is approaching.
how much he loves him. At the end of the novel we can
tell that Mitch and his brother will continue to remain in
contact as opposed to before. Popular culture vs. self-created values

Morrie’s lessons also center around this theme that we

THEMES - THEME ANALYSIS should reject pop-culture values and standards, to
develop our own sense of values. Morrie feels that pop- During one of the flashbacks to when Mitch was a
culture resembles a dictator under which we all suffer. student of Morrie's, he recalls this specific class in which
Throughout his life, Morrie has been successful at Morrie had the students participate in "trust falls". The
rejecting this dictatorship and creating his own culture students stood with their backs to their classmates and
based on love, compassion, acceptance and tried to fall backwards relaying on the others to catch
communication. Morrie feels that the media drives greed them. Most of the students were unable to fall
and violence, which is then promoted by pop-culture. He backwards and trust that the student would catch them.
was successful at reevaluating his own life and what he One girl closed her eyes and fell backward as her
feels is true fulfillment. We also see how unfulfilled Mitch partner caught her. Morrie explains that she was able to
seems to be with his busy working life and material trust her partner because she closed her eyes. Morrie
aspirations. Through his lessons, Morrie was able to stated that we cannot always believe what we see but
open Mitch’s eyes to see what really fulfills one in life. we can believe what we feel. Many of the other students
who were looking around the room were unable to trust
their partners because of what they saw. Morrie feels
POINT OF VIEW that if we ever want others to trust us, we must show that
we trust them in return. The trust that is shared between
The story is told in the first person, limited point of view. two people can sometimes be risky, but it is a risk we
In the first person, the narrator does participates in the must take if we ever want to be trusted or we ever want
action of the story; however, it is important to note that to trust others; this risk is to be taken by an instinctive
since the narrator is taking part in the action, he or she feeling and not by rational thinking as the other students
may not be telling the objective truth. The point of view is had done who could not complete the fall.
also limited because Albom’s knowledge is limited to
only himself and he is not all knowing or omniscient.
3.) "As you grow old, you learn more. If you stayed at
twenty-two, you'd always be as ignorant as you were at
QUOTES - IMPORTANT QUOTATIONS AND twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. It's
ANALYSIS growth. It's more than the negative that you're going to
die, its also the positive that you understand you're going
1.) "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
to die, and that you live a better life because of it." (118)
(82) - Morrie
- Morrie

Morrie says this during the seventh Tuesday where he

Morrie says this during the fourth Tuesday when he and and Mitch talk about the fear of aging. Morrie does not
Mitch discuss death. Morrie feels that people refuse to accept today’s culture and emphasis on youth. He is
believe that they will one day die, and therefore, do not aware that being young can be quite a misery.
live there lives as fully as they would have liked and also Especially being a teacher, he saw many young people
have many regrets as they become older and their death and their struggles, their feelings of inadequacy and the
becomes closer. He feels that once we learn and accept lack of purpose they felt in life. He feels that the young
that we are one day going to die, we learn to live our are also not very wise because they have little
lives fully and without any regrets. Morrie repeats this understanding about life. This is why he enjoys aging.
quote frequently throughout the chapter to emphasize Morrie embraces aging because he sees it as an
how important and helpful it is to accept death, and what opportunity to learn more. He explained that contrary to
a benefit it would be to living the remainder of our lives. many peoples' fear, he does not want to remain young
Morrie also wants Mitch to see how he is able to because he would always be as ignorant as he once
appreciate the smaller, more genuine things in life, was at a young age. He feels that once people have
knowing that his death is approaching. found meaning in their lives, they never want to go back
and be young again. He feels that if your life has
meaning you will want to progress forward with age by
doing more things, seeing more and learning more.
2.) "You closed your eyes. That was the difference.
Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have
to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to
have other people trust you, you must feel that you can 4.) "So many people walk around with a meaningless
trust them too-even when you are in the dark. Even life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy
when you're falling." (61) - Morrie doing things they think are important. This is because
they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get
meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving
others, devote yourself to your community around you,
and devote yourself to creating something that gives you was very young and his father was often working and not
purpose and meaning." (43) --Morrie interested in showing affection toward Morrie and his
brother. When Eva came into their house she provided
them with all the motherly love of which they had been
Mitch recalls this quote, that Morrie had once told him, at deprived. Morrie realized just how important it is to be
the beginning of the novel when he was describing his compassionate towards others and emphasized that for
job and his lifestyle. Mitch was a very busy, career and the remainder of his life.
success oriented sports reporter. He chased money, 7.) "If you don't have the support and love and caring
success, and materialistic things. He recalled that Morrie and concern that you get from a family, you don't have
had once told him how so many people get caught much at all. Love is so supremely important." (91) -
leading a meaningless life; they become too involved in Morrie
their job, money, and fall under the popular culture
dictatorship. Morrie feels that so many people are As one of the major themes in the novel, Morrie
mislead thinking all of these things are important and discusses that if we do not have love, we do not have
they are too busy chasing these things that their life anything at all. He then quotes Auden in saying, "Love
passes right by them. Morrie says that to create meaning each other or perish" (91). Morrie feels that if he did not
in our life, we must love and show compassion for have his family around him, during his sickness, it would
others. This way we create our own meaning of life and be much harder for him. He feels safe knowing his family
do not waste our life chasing false and superficial will never leave and always be watching out for him. He
dreams. Ironically, Mitch lives this exact life of "chasing feels that the love between family members goes hand
the wrong things" (43). and hand with letting someone know that there will
always be someone there for them, someone always
5.) "The culture we have does not make people feel watching over them. This is also one of the things Morrie
good about themselves. And you have to be strong missed after his mother died. He refers to this as
enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it." "spiritual security" (92)- knowing that your family will
(42) - Morrie constantly be watching over you.

8.) "The truth is, you don't get satisfaction from those
This quote illustrates one of the themes in the novel: things. You know what really gives you satisfaction?
popular culture vs. self-created values. Morrie feels that ...Offering others what you have to give." (126) - Morrie
we should reject pop-culture values and develop our Morrie says this during the eighth Tuesday when he and
own sense of values and culture. Morrie feels that the Mitch discuss money. "...those things", to which Morrie is
media creates a culture of greed, violence, and lacking referring, are money and materialistic possessions. He
satisfaction. Morrie developed his own culture long feels that living a full life and being satisfied means
before he got sick. He appreciated such things like offering other people what we each have to give. By this
holding discussion groups, walks with friends and Morrie means giving your time and concern to others. He
dancing. He read books, founded community projects several examples such as playing cards with an elderly
and kept in touch with old colleagues and students. He person in a hospital and donating some time to teach a
never wasted time watching TV; instead he took more skill at the senior center. Morrie feels that there are so
time enjoying nature, food, and human activities. Morrie many people who are in need of some compassion and
also feels that if we are successful at rejecting pop- if we all offer some time to give it, we will find a new
culture we will lead more meaningful lives, embrace respect for ourselves. He states that devoting ourselves
aging, and live without regret. to loving others, and to the community gives us purpose
6.) "The most important thing in life is to learn how to and meaning.
give out love, and to let it come in." (52) - Morrie 9.) "Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive
Morrie tells this to Mitch during the first Tuesday. others." (166) - Morrie
Throughout the novel, Morrie emphasizes the On the twelfth Tuesday Morrie and Mitch discuss
importance of giving out love and showing affection. He forgiveness. Morrie sees no point in holding any kind of
thinks that a lot of people feel that they do not deserve vengeance or stubbornness; he then admits that he has
love and if they let love in, they become too soft. He had some pride in his life and regrets it. He recalled a
quotes Levine in saying, "love is the only rational act" story about his old friend Norman with who he used to
(52). They way Morrie emphasizes this quote on the first spend much time. After Norman and his wife moved to
Tuesday, foreshadows that this will be on of the Chicago, Morrie's wife, Charlotte, had to undergo a
recurring themes throughout the novel. We later see that serious operation. Norman never contacted Morrie or
Morrie derived this theory due to the lack of love present Charlotte even though they knew about the operation.
throughout his childhood. Morrie's mother died when he This hurt Morrie and Charlotte so much that they
decided to drop their relationship with Norman. Norman Simpson trial is also referenced a lot throughout the
tried to apologize and reconcile but Morrie never novel; this emphasizes Mitch's claim that society has
accepted his apology. After Norman died, Morrie become obsessed and depended on pop-culture and
regretted how he never forgave him. Morrie therefore, media stories which contribute nothing to life or
feels that we need to also forgive ourselves for the compassion of other human beings.
things we should have done. He explains that we can't
get stuck on regrets of what should have happened. He
advises to make peace with yourself and those around
you.

10. "Death ends a life, not a relationship." (174) - Morrie

Morrie's hibiscus plant
Morrie states that as long as we can love each other and
remember this feeling of love, we can die without ever
going away because all of the love we have created will
The pink hibiscus plant is used as a metaphor for
still remain. He states that after we die, we live on in the
Morrie's life throughout the time of his sickness. As we
hearts of everyone we have touched and nurtured while
see Morrie's body gradually give way to death, we see
we were on earth. This also emphasizes and expands
his hibiscus plant deteriorate as well. The plants petals
on Morrie's concept of always giving love and
slowly wither and die as Morrie becomes more
compassion; if we are able to form these loving
dependant on other people. The plant is also a metaphor
relationships while we are on earth, not only will we live
for life itself; we all experience the natural life cycle
more fulfilled and substantial lives, but when we die our
which ultimately results in death. Throughout the novel
love and relationship will remain in the hearts of those
Morrie also stresses how important the realization of
who we love. At the end of the novel, during Morrie's
death is to leading a fulfilling life.
funeral, Mitch has an internal conversation with Morrie.
He feels very comfortable and serine in the Morrie's bed
conversation; this is because he and Morrie had
expressed their love and compassion for one another Throughout Morrie's sickness he always preferred to
during Morrie's life, and now their relationship is in each stay in his chair, in his study, where he was surrounded
others hearts. by pictures of his family, friends and could look out his
window and appreciate the seasons and sunlight. Morrie
SYMBOLISM / IMAGERY / MOTIFS / SYMBOLS states that, "when you're in bed, you're dead" (131).
Morrie is determined to live the last days of his life as
Food
much as possible because he feels that if he decided to
Aside from dancing, one of Morrie's favorite things to do stay in bed, he would be surrendering himself to death.
is eat. Each Tuesday Mitch stops at the grocery store We only see Morrie in his bed on the last Tuesday which
and brings Morrie a bag of food. Shortly after Mitch happens to be one of the final days of his life. He had
starts this tradition, Morrie is no longer able to eat solid been successful at not staying in his bed until these last
food. Mitch does not find this out until a few weeks later few days which was when he fully accepted and
when Morrie's wife, Charlotte, shows Mitch all his food surrendered himself to death.
she had stored away in the freezer and refrigerator.
IMPORTANT / KEY FACTS SUMMARY
Each week Mitch continues to bring the bag of food and
presents it to Morrie who acts excited to see it. Although Title: Tuesdays With Morrie
Mitch knows Morrie can no longer eat the food he
continues to bring it because it reminds him of when Author: Mitch Albom
Morrie was not sick, especially when he and Mitch used
Date Published: September 1997
to have lunch together in the cafeteria at Brandeis. Mitch
feels comfort in bringing the food each week, to cushion Meaning of the Title: The title, Tuesdays With Morrie,
the reality that Morrie's death is actually approaching. refers to Mitch and Morrie's weekly Tuesday meetings,
in Morrie's home, in which they discussed the meaning
The Media
of life.
The media is referenced a lot throughout the book as an
Setting: Morrie's home in West Newton, Massachusetts.
inherently evil dictator under which our society suffers.
The media has caused Mitch to become a materialistic Genre: Non-Fiction
workaholic, and has drained him of compassion and
appreciation of life and love. Mitch's career forces him to Protagonist: Morrie Schwartz
be only concerned about stories of crime and hatred,
Antagonist: ALS
which so negatively impacts our society. The O.J
Mood: Sentimental, thoughtful b. dancing

Point of View: First person limited c. swimming

Exposition: First four chapters, “The Curriculum”, “The d. writing

Syllabus”, “The Student” and “The Audiovisual”. In this
first part of the novel the major characters and conflicts
are introduced which provides as the background 5. What did Morrie feel void of during part of his
information for the remainder of the novel. childhood?
Climax: The last Tuesday Mitch visits Morrie, when he is a. father
very close to his death. They hug each other and Morrie
is finally successful at making Mitch cry. b. mother figure

c. a relationship with his brother

Outcome: Mitch finds comfort in talking with Morrie’s d. love

spirit, after his death. Mitch also contacts his brother in
Spain.
6. How does Morrie feel about popular culture values?
Themes: Love or perish, acceptance through
detachment, rejection of pop-culture for self-created a. he accepts them and chooses to live by them
values
b. he does not accept them but feels the younger
STUDY QUESTIONS - MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUIZ generations should live by them

c. he rejects them and feels that our society should also

reject them
1. How did Mitch and Morrie meet?
d. he rejects them but feels they are suitable for Mitch
a. They were childhood friends

b. Morrie is a friend of Mitch's father

7. What does the pink hibiscus plant symbolize?
c. Mitch interviewed Morrie for a story in one of his
papers a. Morrie's love for life
d. Mitch was a former student of Morrie's b. The natural human life cycle

c. Morrie's life
2. What disease was Morrie diagnosed with? d. a and c
a. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) e. b and c
b. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 8. What major news/media story was happening during
Morrie's sickness?
c. Colon Cancer
a. the Presidential election
d. Epilepsy
b. the O.J. Simpson Trial

c. Gulf War coverage

3. How did Mitch learn that Morrie was sick?
d. Mitch's Wimbledon story
a. Morrie's wife Charlotte called Mitch
9. Why does Mitch bring Morrie food every Tuesday?
b. Mitch's wife heard it on the news
a. he wants to bring Morrie his favorite food
c. Mitch saw him on Nightline
b. he wants to help Morrie's wife Charlotte
d. Morrie called Mitch and told him
c. he brings it to thank Connie for caring so well for
Morrie
4. What was one of Morrie's favorite activities?
d. it reminds him of when Morrie was not sick
a. baseball
10. Why does Morrie feel it is important to accept our b. he feels that once he remains in bed, he will have
death early in life? surrendered to death

a. so we can appreciate life and our loved ones c. he has less coughing spells sitting up in the chair

b. it will allow one to live life to the fullest d. so he can sit upright and see Mitch on Tuesdays

c. it will minimize having regrets in life ANSWER KEY

d. all of the above

1. d

11. What does Morrie feel are the most important things 2. a
in life
3. c
a. offering what you can to others, compassion, love
4. b
b. love, compassion, materialism
5. d
c. compassion, career, offering what you have to others
6. c
d. family, dancing, compassion
7. e

8. b
12. With who does Mitch wish to regain contact?
9. d
a. his other college professor
10. d
b. his mother
11. a
c. Peter
12. c
d. his college roommate
13. a

14. d
13. Who gave Morrie an understanding of love,
compassion and education? 15. b

a. Eva

b. his mother

c. his grandmother

d. his father

14. What does Morrie mean by the quote, "love each

other or die" (163)?

a. in life it helps if you love someone

b. family is the most important thing in life

c. Morrie would be dead without his wife

d. if we do not have love, we have nothing

15. Why does Morrie choose to stay in his chair?

a. it is easiest for Connie to lift him from his chair