Discussion
Director- Alexander Grande
The group started the discussion by pointing out the
questions to be realized and reflected. Most of the questions evoke our point
of view about the book especially with, death! Alex raised the following
questions: (1) What makes us afraid of death? (2) What are you going to do if you
know you’re going to die? (3) Do you believe with Henry Adam’s statement that a
teacher affects eternity? (4) What makes Albom attachd with his teacher (5) Was
the ending just?
On the
first question, Hazel shared that she’s afraid to lose her family. Beverly told
the group that she’s afraid because she’s uncertain to the cause of her death. I
added that what make me afraid of death are the consequences of facing it, the
people and our memories together.
No one attempted
to answer the question No. 2, so the Discussion Director volunteered. He said
that he will spend all his remaining time with his family and tell them how he
loves them. Especially to his father whom he never seen, he would like to see
him and spend a great time to cope with those years they wasted.
Ian
Kith, on question No. 3, agreed with the author’s statement, “Teacher affects eternity.”
He stretched out that students always agree with the teacher. Whatever he/she
says, they believe or follow. Often they believe to their teachers more than
their parents. Students, especially the young ones us to say “sabi ni teacher eh!” One added that the
teacher must be careful with his actions since he/she is the ideal person the
students look into.
The group guessed that Mitch might be
Albom’s favorite professor that’s why he was so attached to him. Grace added
that, since they spent many times together, Morrie influenced him especially
with Albom’s dealing with his brother. Morrie’s wisdom affected Albom the way
he perceives life.
Mon
found the ending realistic very far from the happy ending other stories used to
end. Beverly proposed that the ending could have been more tragic though the
life lessons were visible for the learners to apply in their daily lives.
Vocabulary
Enhancer- Grace Mascariñas
1. Zapped- (verb) to destroy or obliterate.
“In one of those tests, he sat in a special seat as
they zapped him with electrical
current.”
2. Stunned- (verb) to astonish or shock so that they are temporarily
unable to react.
“My old professor, meanwhile, was stunned by the normalcy of the day around him.”
3. Cluck- (noun) a stupid or foolish person
“… perfectly awake, is imprisoned 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.”
4. Hobbled- (verb) walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an
injury
“Instead, he hobbled
into the classroom, his home for more than thirty years”
5. Strutting- (verb) to walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or
conceited gait
“The years after graduation hardened me into someone
quite different from the strutting graduate
who left campus that day headed for New York City, ready to offer the world his
talent”
6. Cranked- (verb) give a bend to (a
shaft, bar, etc.)
“I was cranked to a fifth
gear, and everything I did, I did on a deadline.”
7. Clamor- (noun) A loud and confused noise, especially that of people
shouting vehemently.
“All except Morrie, who wheeled himself forward,
raised his eyebrows, and interrupted the clamor
with his high, singsong voice.”
8. Narcissist- (noun) Excessive love or admiratison of
oneself
“I thought you were a narcissist.”
Koppel burst into laughter.”
9. Beamed- (verb) (of a light or light source) shine brightly or glared.
Morrie beamed. “That’s me. I’m
still your coach.
10. Tabouli- (noun) a salad of Lebanese origin consisting chiefly of cracked
wheat, tomatoes, parsley, mint, onions, lemon juice, and olive oil.
“…up bread and tomatoes and brought containers of
chicken salad, hummus, and tabouli.”
Connector- Ian Kith Parcon
Ian found it easy in connecting the
story since it involves relation towards a professor or teacher and his
students. Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie subjects acceptance, promise and
friendship and how a person influences the other.
He pointed that nowadays, teachers are
one of the most influential persons. They shape or discourage a person. As what
Henry Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops.” He also stressed that
as future educator, we must be accountable with our words, actions and
decisions. Just like what happened on a teacher in his alma mater who was
replaced because of certain acts. The teacher lost her rage and as consequence,
he lost his credibility.
Passage Picker- Jaydee Paid
I picked some passages that speaks to the heart. These quotations were
mostly the advices of Morrie to Albom.
1. “You’re not a wave, you are part of the
ocean.” (pg. 52)
Among all the lessons Morrie had shared, I find this the best
since it teaches us to go out of our shell. This reminds me to b courageous
every time I feel alone and inferior.
2. “Accept what you are able to do and
what you are not able to do”; “Accept the past as past, without denying it or
discarding it”; “Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others”; “Don’t
assume that it’s too late to get involved.” (pg. 7)
This suggests that accepting is respecting, that there are things
we can and cannot do. Therefore, what really counts is how we empower ourselves
beyond imperfection. Also, if we free ourselves from hatred, we feel the sense
of inner peace. In order to forgive others, forgive ourselves first.
3. “Love wins. Love always wins.” (pg. 12)
Love conquers everything. If we truly love someone, you tend to
forget his/her past and accept him/her wholly.
4. “The most important thing in life is to
learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” (pg. 16)
I abide with this adage since it teaches us the essential feeling
of being in love and to be loved back.
5. “Don’t cling to things, because
everything is impermanent.” (pg. 30)
This passage was a Buddhist saying that also consonance with the
Bible in Colossians 3:2. I strongly agree that we must not invest with worldly
things, because they are temporary and withers.
These are other passages I found interest:
6. “Find someone to share your heart, give to your community, be at
peace with yourself, try to be as human as you can be.”(p. 34)
7. “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem
half-asleep, even when they’re busy 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 purpose
and meaning.” (p. 13)
8. “Love is the only rational act.” (p. 16)
9. “Once
you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” (p. 24)
10. “If you accept you are going to die at any time, then you might
not be as ambitious as you are.” (p. 83)
Summarizer-Hazel Lorraine Solis
The
summarizer dictated to us her self-made summary of the book. It was all about an
old professor who seems to consider death as his friend. Morrie Schwartz is suffering from ALS or amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis. This illness gradually weakens his body and later caused his death.
Unlike other people, Morrie is open to every conversation about
his death. One time he joined the funeral of a friend who died because of heart
attack. Many people had shared their testimonies and Morrie realized that the
ceremony is worthless since his friend could no longer hear and appreciate it. So
he gathered his friends, family members, old professors and former students and
gave him an advance funeral service. In fact, some of them cried.
On the other hand, Mitch the former student of Morrie also has his
own battle in life. He was devoured by his work and ambition, his pain and
fears, by the culture that pushes him to the life of a business.
Mitch met his old professor and on his first visit, everything in
his early life flashed like a light that simply passed and then went away. He
tried to recall all the time they spent together and even the promise he made
that he will keep in touch with his professor. While conversing Mitch learned
that the paramount purpose of life is to make it a meaningful one. Same as the
old time Professor Morrie moved him.
From that first visit come another one and another one until it his
routine to visit Morrie. In each visit, they talk about several topics. They
talked matters about love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and, even,
death. Though it sounds ironic for a dying man to talk such things, Morrie made
an exception and prove that nothing is too late in life.
Before Morrie died he taught Mitch a lesson in life that “even I
don’t know what ‘spiritual development’ really means. But I do know we’re
deficient in some way. We are too involved in materialistic things, and they
don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships we have, the universe around us, we
take these things for granted.”
In his last statement Mitch said, “ The last class of my old
professor’s life took place once a week, in his home, by a window in his study
where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink flowers. The class
met on Tuesdays. No books were required. The subject was the meaning of life.
It was taught from experience”.
Character Captain- Monlouie Sorzano
1. Mitch
Albom- Morrie’s former student in Brandeis University whom
after graduation promised to keep in touch with him. He desired to be a
professional musician but end up earning a Masters in Journalism and writing
for The Detroit Free Press. He was overturned by his desire for financial
success and material wealth even though he knew that it did not satisfy his
happiness. He drowns himself to work. He loses contact with Morrie, but regains
it after seeing Morrie's episode of Nightline. He learned ample life lessons from his former professor in whom he
visits every Tuesdays.
2. Morrie Schwartz -
Mitch's favorite professor from Brandeis University, and the focus of the book,
Morrie now suffers from ALS. He had
taught sociology at Brandeis, and continues to teach it to Mitch about the
meaning of life, how to accept death and aging. He has a passion for dancing
and music, and is quick to cry, especially he got his disease. He does not keep his emotions,
but shares them openly, and rejects the popular cultural norms in favor of
creating his own system of beliefs. Mitch portrays him as a man of ultimate
wisdom.
Minor
Characters
3. Ted Koppel –
the famous TV interviewer in a news show “Nightline” where he guessed Morrie
for three times. He is moved almost to tears during his last interview with
Morrie, having deconstructed what Morrie had called his "narcissistic"
television personality.
4. Charlotte - Morrie's caring wife, who, at his
insistence, keeps her job as a professor at M.I.T. throughout Morrie's illness.
5. Janine – Mitch’s
wife who is very patient. She willingly takes phone call from Morrie and very
insistent to join Mitch in his next visits to Morrie. Although she usually does
not sing upon request, she does for Morrie, and moves him to tears with her
beautiful voice.
6. Peter -
Peter is Mitch’s brother who moved to Spain when he grew old enough. He
diagnosed with cancer. He refuses to keep in touch with Mitch and the rest of
his family, insisting he needs to battle by himself. At the end of the book,
after Morrie dies, Mitch finally gets through to Peter and they keep in touch
via fax. Peter helps Mitch apply what he learns about family in his own life.
7. David -
Morrie's younger brother who, after their mother's death, is sent with Morrie
to a small hotel in the woods of Connecticut. There, he develops polio,
seemingly just after he and Morrie have spent a night frolicking outside in the
rain. Although his paralysis has nothing to do with their night in the rain,
Morrie and blames himself for David's paralysis.
8. Eva -
The kind, caring immigrant woman who became Morrie’s stepmother after their biological
mother died. She cared for Morrie and David and thought them about books and
education.
9. Jon and Rob - Morrie's two sons. They appear briefly when
Morrie is opening letters from Nightline viewers. Both of them comfort
Morrie and are in town when he dies.
10. Connie -
Morrie's health assistant. She stays at his house and helps keep him in best
condition as possible. She demonstrates to the reader how much help Morrie
needs to stay alive.
11. Norman, Al
Axelrad and Tony are other characters who played important roles in Morries
life as friends and someone who cared for him.
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