Unit 2 Journey To Identity: Text Analysis

Unit 2 Journey to Identity
Text Analysis
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie Author: Mitch Albom Publication Date: 1997
I had already read it and I really enjoyed it the first time. I was 12, so I want to see if I misunderstood anything now that I’m
older.
Discussion Questions
Use the text and your analysis to prepare two interpretive or evaluative discussion questions, then identify the type of
question you have created.
Question Is your question interpretive or

evaluative?
1. How did your opinion on Mitch change throughout the story? interpretive
2. What did Morrie fear the most about his condition? Evaluative
Connecting with Character: Protagonist’s Name Morrie Swartz
How do you relate to this character?

I am similar to the character in the following ways… I am different from the character in the following ways…
Beginning: I love dancing, and we both connect with Beginning: Besides being physically different, He is a
people. professor in sociology, and I’m just a student.
End: I am not dying and am free to do whatever I want to.
End: I’ll love to the very end.
Identity Development
Identify the protagonist’s stage of identity development throughout the story. Complete the chart with the correct stage
and two instances of support from the text. Recall the different stages:
 Identify Diffusion occurs when an adolescent does not make a commitment to any particular roles, values, or
goals.
 Identify Foreclosure occurs when someone makes a commitment without considering other possibilities.
 Identity Moratorium occurs when an individual is in the midst of a crisis over a particular role or value and tries
out alternatives in order to make a commitment.
 Identity Achievement occurs when someone makes a personal decision or commitment after going through a
crisis and exploring his or her option.
Stage of Identity Text Support – provide two instances of textual support for each stage.
Development
Foreclosure “… Always Dancing, never had a care in the world.”
Beginning “I’ve worked here for twenty year…”
Moratium “The disease took him over, day by day, week by week.”
Middle “Morrie’s doctors guessed he had two years left. Morrie knew it was less.
Achievement “He would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying.”

End “Make peace with the living.”
Conflict
Identify and describe two conflicts in the story. Explain how the protagonist responds throughout the story and what his or
her response reveals about him or her. Write in complete sentences.
Conflict Protagonist’s Response What does this reveal about the character?
Morrie is dying. Made peace with himself. He is responsible and realistic.
Mitch doesn’t understand Life He explains everything best as possible. He truly understands what it is to be alive.
and Death
Plot
What narrative structure (episodic plot, parallel plot, etc.) does the author use to tell the story?
Parallel.
Summarize the story using the elements of plot. Include details to demonstrate your reading.
States who Morrie and Mitch are.

Exposition
Morrie learned that he has ALS, and he is slowly beginning to not do anything.
Mitch and Morrie get back together and Morrie starts to teach him on life.
Rising Action
Morrie’s condition deteriorates further, and the two characters get deeper into the meaning of life.
Climax
Falling Action Morrie Is way worse, and then, he dies.
Mitch talks about Morrie and is thankful for him spending the last months and days of his life to
teach him once more.
Resolution
Looking Back
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1 How does the trailer compare to the book? Is it an accurate representation of the story you read? Why or why not?
It is way less deep and emotional, and more about Mitch finding his love again.
2 What changes would you make to the book trailer? If you would not make any changes, please explain why.
I would make it focus more on Morrie than on Mitch, since that is what the book states.
Theme
What is the message the author communicates through key events in the story?
Death ends a life, not a relationship.
Complete the following chart with details and a thoughtful analysis of how the events in the story influence the theme.

Unit 2 Journey To Identity: Text Analysis

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Unit 2 Journey to Identity

Question Is your question interpretive or

Connecting with Character: Protagonist’s Name Morrie Swartz

How do you relate to this character?

End: I am not dying and am free to do whatever I want to.

End: I’ll love to the very end.

Achievement “He would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying.”

States who Morrie and Mitch are.

Falling Action Morrie Is way worse, and then, he dies.

Death ends a life, not a relationship.

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