Tuesdays with Morrie: Figurative Language Quiz

Directions: Identify each example of figurative language as a simile, metaphor or personification. Then explain the meaning and why the example is used in Tuesdays with Morrie. You may use the novel if needed.

Example of Figurative Type of Meaning of Figurative Language Language Figurative How does this example help build understanding? (Morrie, Mitch, the disease, Language etc. and why?/how?) (simile, metaphor, or personification) 1. “For many of us, the curtain Our carefree days are over… we are graduating has just come down on from college and this is the end of our childhood – real responsibility awaits. This comparison allows childhood” (Albom 3). metaphor the reader to see how Mitch feels about this time in his life. He views college graduation as the beginning of the “real world”. He sees this as the end of one part of his life and the beginning of another – end of chapter and start of another. 2. “Wondering why the lights metaphor Why am I not getting the opportunities or breaks? were not turning green for me” This metaphor allows us to understand that Mitch felt he would have had a chance to make it in (Albom 14). music, but he just was not getting any opportunities…while is seemed like others were getting opportunities. We could feel Mitch’s frustration…almost feel as if Mitch felt a little entitled for success – definitely expected it. 3. “I felt as if time were suddenly All of a sudden, time seemed more valuable. As precious, water going down an simile he realized he may not have an infinite amount of open drain, and I could not move time (in his mind, he thought he had less rather quickly enough” (Albom 15) than more). This was Mitch reaction to the concept of time after his uncles’ death. It helped us understand Mitch’s desire to push, push, push…. He wanted to accomplish/do a lot with his time, yet he felt time was slipping away; it was running out. We could feel his pressure.

4. “Morrie had become a metaphor He is full of thoughts and ideas…bouncing ideas lightning rod of ideas” (Albom around and sharing lots of thought 18). Morrie had become full of ideas, thoughts, sayings about life, and he was sharing them. This helps understand that at a time like this – his death imminent – he was concerned with sharing his thoughts, his ideas, It is as if death brought him this great enlightenment. It lets us see the selfless, thoughtful and insightful person Morrie was.