Tuesdays with Morrie An old man, a young man, and life’s greatest lesson Written By: Mitch Albom

Agree or Disagree? AgreeDisagreeStatement We are often unsatisfied with our lives; people have meaningless lives. Love always wins. We are not sheltered by our fears. Death is the center point of our lives. A great way to die would be while sleeping. It is okay to feel sorry for one’s self. Silence affects human relationships. People who are younger have more fun. Professors can become your friends. Popular culture does not teach us to feel good about ourselves.

Background Reading 1. Name three accomplishments of Gehrig’s baseball career. 2. Summarize the way Lou Gehrig’s baseball career came to an end. 3. Have you ever known someone with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) or another degenerative disease? If so, briefly describe your interactions with that person. If not, do you think you would be uncomfortable with someone who is terminally ill? Why or why not? 4. Lou Gehrig described himself as “the luckiest man on earth.” He said this even after being diagnosed with ALS. Why do you think he would consider himself “lucky”? 5. As you read “Death and Dying,” please respond to the following questions. Briefly summarize in one sentence each of the five stages of grief. 6. The article describes some opportunities given to us if diagnosed with serious or terminal illnesses, such as the opportunity of being able to mend broken relationships. Why do you think that people are willing to hold grudges or be angry with someone until they are expecting the worst (such as, until they find out they’re going to die)? 7. What is your personal belief about the afterlife? What do you think happens? Is your belief informed by a certain religion? 8. Who in your life do you consider to be your mentor? A friend, parent, couch, teacher? Briefly describe how this person has helped or supported you.

The Curriculum and The Syllabus “The Curriculum” 1. Who is the narrator of the story? 2. In the first paragraph the subject of the class is stated. What is the subject? 3. Name two things that were expected of Mitch during his “classes” with his old professor Morrie? 4. Write down three physical descriptions of Morrie that Mitch describes in this chapter. “The Syllabus” 5. How does Morrie know something bad is coming? 6. After Morrie is diagnosed with ALS, what two activities can he no longer do? 7. What is a “living funeral”? 8. ALS is likened to a candle. How?

Figurative language from text (with page #) Type of figurative language What is the author trying to show? In “The Curriculum” and “The Syllabus,” there are several examples of figurative language (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and personification) used to describe things, action, and people. Create a chart like the one below, list at least seven you find in these sections.