Motifs, Symbols and Themes
Ms. Pastwa: 9th College
A
motif is a detail in a story that repeats
itself throughout the work
 Portrayed
as being evil
 The main reason for taking Mitch’s passion
and ambition
 EX: Mitch is out of work due to a strike at the
Detroit newspaper
 EX: Morrie points out that society has
become dependent on and addicted to media
coverage
 “When
you learn to live, you learn to die”
(82).
 In life, Morrie teaches that a person is
everchanging
 EX: With Morrie as his mentor, Mitch is able
to reincarnate himself in life and transform
himself
 EX: Despite his old age, Morrie is still
changing as every person until their dying
day.
 Every
Tuesday Mitch brings a bag of food to
Morrie as a way for Mitch and Morrie to
connect.
 Eating is a favorite pastime, or hobby, of
Morrie’s.
 EX: Mitch believes food is the only gift he can
bring to Morrie, and the one thing he can
give back.
 EX: Food is a reminder of the days teacher
and student shared in the cafeteria at
Brandeis.
A
symbol is an object, image, color, action,
and/or event that stands for something
beyond itself.
 As
Morrie’s body deteriorates, so does the
hibiscus plant.
 This is used as a metaphor for Morrie’s life.
 Morrie
tells a story about a wave who sees
the waves ahead of him crash onto the shore
and fears disappearing into nothingness.
Another wave comforts him with the news he
will actually be part of the larger ocean.
 This is a metaphor for Morrie who will soon
be like the wave and return to something
larger in the afterlife.
 The wave symbolizes Morrie’s faith and
embodiment of his death.
 Morrie
says, “When you’re in bed, you’re
dead.”
 Throughout his struggle, Morrie refuses to
stay in bed because he sees it as a surrender
and a sign of death.
 It is not until his last final days that Morrie
surrenders to his bed.
 Overall
message or lesson
 Reject
the popular culture.
 Love or perish.
 Accepting death is the key to living life.