Outside Reading-Week 5 Post A

VOCAB:

Till:A drawer, tray, or the like, as in a cabinet or chest, for keeping valuables.

Sequoia: either of two large coniferous trees of California,both having reddish bark and reaching heights of more than 300 ft.

APPEALS:

1) Mitch describes the way more looks on his last visit to Morrie's. He says, "I entered, pushing a smile onto my face, He wore a yellow pajama-like top, and a blanket covered him from the chest down,, The lump of his form was so withered that I almost thought something was missing. He was as small as a child"(183). This is a good quote because it shapes an image of how Morrie looked as he neared the end, but also it makes a nice comparison to child hood. In a way, Morrie is back to being a baby again. He eats only liquidized food, he has to have his bottom wiped, and is discovering life in a new way. I think this is a good way to look at death, it's in a way, being reborn. It is a more positive take on death. Except Mitch's description of Morrie is not all that positive; It shows more of Morrie's deterioration.

2) "Finally, on the fourth of November, when those he loved had left the room just for a moment--to grab coffee int he kitchen, the first time none of them were with him since the coma began--Morrie stopped breathing"(187). This is a very powerful and moving quote. I think this was the one that finally hit me, and made me tear up a bit. This seems like a powerful quote to me because Morrie had to die in that one moment when no one was there, to die, but I think this is good because I don't think Morrie would've anyone to watch him take his last breath. He wouldn't want them to be haunted by that for the rest of their lives. It sort of makes you think that their has to be someone out their watching and listening to us, and because Morrie would not have wanted anyone to see him die, someone out there let him leave at the exact moment he was ready. To me this is a comforting thought, thinking that a force bigger than me is listening and will bring me home when I'm ready.

3) " I believe he knew that he was in his own bed, that his books and his notes and his small hibiscus plant were nearby. He wanted to go serenely, and that is how he went"(188). This quote kind of shows a part of Morrie's personality. Morrie did what he wanted in life and did what made him happy, and by having all the little things by him that made him happy and doing it, in a way, on purpose just sort of demonstrates that part of Morrie. Also, I think Mitch says this because it makes him feel more comfortable, if I may, about Morrie's death.

QUOTE:

This is taking place at Morrie's funeral," 'You talk, I'll listen,' he had said. I tried doing that in my head and, to my happiness, found that the imagined conversation felt almost natural. I looked down at my hands, saw my watch and reallized why. It was Tuesday"(188).
This is one of the most siginificant quotes throughout the whold memoir, in my opinion. It closes the memoir with not a feeling of sadness, but of joy and hope. It was really a bittersweet moment; because Morrie did die, but knowing that Mitch and Morrie still have their Tuesdays together makes it O.K.

THEME:

As always, the theme of the book is too live life to its fullest with passion, love, and no regrets,but for this particular section it seems to be that you hace to except and move on with what has happened. It can't be changed. Mitch does a good job at handling Morrie's death and I beleive that he will learn to move on quickly, but not forget Morrie. You have to learn that there is a time to hold on and a time to let go, a time to dream and a time to be realistic, a time to remember and a time to forget. I think that Morrie's death was a way of telling Mitch this.