Mitch changes emotionally over the course of the memoir as he visits with Morrie and begins to reconnect with his former convictions and beliefs. Use the activity for Character Evolution.
| PLOT POINT | MITCH'S TRAITS | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
| Exposition | workaholic, self-absorbed, unfulfilled | Mitch is a successful sports journalist with the Detroit Free Press. He is married, but not totally invested in his life with his wife. He is a workaholic and not fulfilled with the path his life has taken, despite the fact that he has lots of money. |
| Conflict / Rising Action | guilty; careful; bottled up; confused; fearful | When Mitch reconnects with Morrie, he feels guilty about the path his life has taken. As he starts his project with Morrie, he continues to hold back his emotions and not acknowledge them. He feels confused about how to get his life back on the right path again, and afraid of opening himself up emotionally. He is also fearful of losing Morrie. |
| Climax | opening up; affectionate; heartbroken | Over the course of his time with Morrie, Mitch has found himself more open with his affections, including not hesitating on holding Morrie’s hand or rubbing his feet and legs. As he says his final goodbye to Morrie, Mitch finally feels his tears welling up as his heart breaks. |
| Falling Action | enlightened; regretful; hopeful; open | After Morrie dies, Mitch wishes he could go back in time and tell himself not to waste time on things that don’t matter. He also wishes he could tell himself to visit Morrie before Morrie loses his ability to dance. He gets in touch with his brother and opens up to him about how much he loves him and wants to stay in touch. They rekindle their relationship. |
| Resolution | reflective; grateful | Mitch feels that he has been blessed by having a teacher like Morrie in his life. His old papers, between him and “Coach” make him miss Morrie, but he also realizes how much he and many others have learned from his wisdom. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows the evolution of Mitch throughout the course of Tuesdays with Morrie.
Adapt the character evolution storyboard for grades 2–8 by using familiar stories or class read-alouds. Younger students connect better with characters they already know. Choose a book or fairy tale your class has read, and help students track how the main character changes from beginning to end using simple language.
Demonstrate how to complete a character evolution template by thinking out loud as you fill in each story stage. Show students how to identify character traits and connect them to events. This concrete modeling builds student confidence and understanding.
Incorporate visual tools like anchor charts, images, or character cards. Visuals help K–8 students grasp abstract changes in character traits. Display a sample storyboard and discuss each part of the character’s journey together.
Invite students to work in pairs or small groups to discuss how the character changes. Collaborative conversations prompt deeper thinking and peer support. After brainstorming, students can create their own storyboards or contribute to a group version.
Guide students to reflect on times they have changed or learned something new. This personal connection builds empathy and helps students better understand character growth. Allow students to share their own stories or draw pictures showing how they’ve changed.
Mitch's character evolution in Tuesdays with Morrie shows his transformation from a workaholic, emotionally distant journalist to a more open, reflective, and grateful person. Through his visits with Morrie, Mitch learns to reconnect with his feelings, values relationships, and finds deeper meaning in life.
Students can create a storyboard by breaking down the story into five key stages: Exposition, Conflict/Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each stage, they should illustrate Mitch’s traits and the major events that influence his development, using a template for visual organization.
Mitch’s key traits change through the story: Exposition: workaholic, unfulfilled; Conflict/Rising Action: guilty, fearful, bottled up; Climax: affectionate, heartbroken; Falling Action: enlightened, regretful, hopeful; Resolution: reflective, grateful.
Character evolution helps students understand personal growth, empathy, and the impact of relationships. Analyzing Mitch’s changes makes key themes more relatable and encourages reflection on one’s own values and choices.
Major events include Mitch reconnecting with Morrie, their weekly conversations, Mitch opening up emotionally, Morrie’s passing, and Mitch reaching out to his brother. Each event triggers shifts in Mitch’s outlook and values.