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Symbolism

Symbolism

Symbolism is basically something that represents something else. (object, event, person and etc.) The author uses symbolism to explain Melinda and what she’s been going through alone. In the beginning of the year her art teacher Mr. Freeman gives them a project for the entire year. He wanted them to make it speak to people that look at it. he told them that this year they would learn how to "feel the wind." (page 10.) She had to draw a tree, she thought it was a joke. On page 12 paragraph 3, “By the end of the year, you must figure out how to make your object say something…speak to everyone who looks at it." At first, she doesn’t take it seriously, but as time passed she had a different feeling towards it. she started to understand the project more and go through her problems better. In the end Melinda had found a way to put her feelings into her project. It was still with her but she was healing overtime. On page 198 paragraph 2, “I look at my homely sketch; even through the river in my eyes I can see that…” It’s been eating her up inside, but it will go away. “The bruises are vivid, but they will fade.” (pg 198.)

Discussion Questions
1) Why do you think Melinda thinks the project was 'to good to be true'?
2) What do you think Melinda did to actually start facing her problems?

- Ashley U.

Tone

Tone is the writer or speakers attitude towards a subject. Throughout the story, Melinda is always depressed and never in the mood for anything. She always isolated herself from the world and is an outcast in school. Shes been through so many things, but she won't say what happened. On page 28 paragraph 2, "You don't understand...I can't even look at that part of myself..." People judge her for calling the cops during the summer party, but they don't even know the entire story. Her tone is also angry towards the secret she had been keeping in. On page 51 paragraph 2, "I want to confess over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else." The book is written in Melinda's point of view. Melinda's always used to have a negative view on everything. But in the end, she starts to face her problems.

Discussion Questions
1) Why do you think Melinda called the cops?
2) What do you think happened during the party?

- Ashley U.

Structure

Structure

           Structure is the way in which an author lays out their story. Structure consists of many different things such as one sentence paragraphs, small sentences leading to longer ones, words left alone, the way authors seperate sections of a book, and many other things like that.

 

           Speak is filled with different structure styles. Each large section of the book is devised into marking periods. Four marking periods take up the entire book and at each end of a marking period it shows Melinda's grades. Sections usually beginwith a one or two sentence paragraph to set the mood of the section. Marking periods are further devised into sub headings to mark special events in the book.

          

  All of the structual styles in this book set the mood and tone of the story. Diolouge in the book is usually quick and shows the way characters act. The short length going to long length sentences really create an anticipating mood as do the short ending paragraphs and sections. Single words and names also fill the book to set a tone to a characters actions during the story.

 

• Does structure change the mood to stories in your oppinion?
• Does Structure confuse you when reading a story or help you to understand it?

- Luca Damasco

Point of View

Point of view is the way in which a story is told.

- First person point of view is when the story is told directly by a character in the story. This is told in an "I watched as she walked through the door." type of way.

- Third person point of view is when the story is told through an outside narrator not related to the story. This is told in the " He said "The doctor ran away" format.

- Omniscient points of view can be both first and second person. This means that the narrator, whether first or third person, knows everything in the story.

- Limited points of view can also be first or third person. This means the narrator, whether first or third person, knows a limited amount of information pertaining to the story,

- Multiple points of view can also be used in stories. This means that omniscient and limited third and first person points of view can be used at different times in the story.

Speak is told through the first person limited view of Melinda Sordino a high school freshman at Merryweather High School. The first person view is shown in sentences and diolouge such as this excerpt from page 42 when Melinda says "I just thought of a great theory that explains everything." the book is solely in an I, she, he first person format. Melinda describes all of the characters, places, and things important to the book. 

The way Melinda sees things is a very straightforward way of thinking. For example her English teacher which she describes as someone who doesn’t comb their hair is known as "Hairwoman" and the main antagonist in the book, Andy Evans, is simply known as "IT" to personify his scariness. Through Melinda’s point of view when things aren’t going her way or she is annoyed at someone she will avoid it in a nice manner. Towards the end of the book when her old "disposable" friend Heather who had just dumped her mid story asks for her help she found an excuse to not help her because she didn’t find it right or necessary to help someone who was mean to her.

• What point of view to you is the best way to tell a story? 
• Are limited and omniscient views better when a narrator tells a story?

- Luca Damasco

 

Plot

The plot of a literary piece is basically the story line. "Speak" is a well written novel by Laurie Halse Anderson about a young girl named Melinda Sordino. She has gone through much in her life. Her parents could care less what takes place in her life. The story starts with Melinda's first day of high school. Nobody in Merryweather high likes her anymore, due to the fact that she called the cops during an end of the year party; but no one knows or really cares why, no one except Melinda. Whatever happened the night of the party, (which you find out towards the end of the book), has mentally scarred her for most of the time to come. Melinda lost all her friends, her spot on the social ladder, and most of all her pride. She is now quiet and rarely speaks to anyone, she lives inside her head, which she feels is the safest; far away from anyone else. She soon meets Heather, the peppy new girl in town. They develop some sort of a friendship, even though Melinda would rather be left alone. Even that quickly ends, when Heather abandons Melinda for a clique of girls titled "The Martha's." Melinda soon starts cutting class and failing almost every subject besides art. Mr. Freeman, who is the art teacher at Merryweather high, has Melinda draw a tree by the end of the year, which was symbolic to the growth that she was going through as a character. Over time Melinda reconnects with some old friends and gets back at what she describes as "IT", aka Andy Evans, who caused her all that pain and suffering over the months, and for the first time she is able to move on with the rest of her life. Melinda is finally able to speak again.

Discussion Questions:
1) Why do you think Melinda reffers to Andy Evans as "IT"?
2) How do you think you would react if you were in Melinda's shoes?

- Emma M.

Characterization

Three Characters

• Melinda: Melinda is the main character of the book "Speak". In the beginning of the book, she seems to isolate herself from the world. Throughout the story, she seems to be holding on to a secret that's killing her internally. She is very insecure and tries hard to stay as invisible as possible, for the fear of being seen or heard. She struggles to get through each day of what seems to be her never ending life. These traits are all results of her traumatizing past. On page 51; paragraph 2, you can see Melinda bashing on herself, personifying this dark secret as "The beast in my gut...", and claims its "scraping away at the inside of my ribs..." This shows the deep and painful emotions that Melinda is feeling, that is causing her to be so depressed. As a character, Melinda develops and grows the most. Towards the end of the novel, once she is able to let go of the past and is able to move on to the future, she thinks of herself as a new person. Melinda admits it all to herself, and is finally able to understand she can't change the past. For the first time she realizes that no matter how difficult it was, it made her the new, better Melinda she is today. This is all shown on the last page, (page 198), in the first paragraph. Melinda ends this paragraph with the inspiring words "It wasn't my fault. And I'm not going to let it kill me. I can grow."
  
• Mr. Freeman: Mr. Freeman is the art teacher is the art teacher at Merryweather High. He, like Melinda experiences many deep feelings and emotions which affect his everyday life. He easily fits into the stereo type of the "crazy art teacher." He is very outspoken and opinionated. Unlike Melinda, instead of bottling up all of his thoughts and feelings, he lets them all out through painting, which is his escape. On page 122, in the fourth paragraph; Mr. Freeman gives Melinda advice. He explains that "When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time." This paragraph shows how Mr. Freeman is as a person. It shows you how he thinks and goes about life; gives you a bit of background on his personality. Mr. Freeman doesn't necessarily grow as a character himself, but yet helps Melinda do so. He is her inspiration, her mentor. He helped guide her to a new beginning, and she was very thankful for that.
• Heather: Heather's character in this novel is new to Syracuse, New York. She takes on the role as the sweet new girl, just desperate to fit in. Heather comes along to meeting Melinda, and instantly thinks that they are the best of friends when actually to Melinda, Heather is just a nuisance. Heather is also the only student at Merryweather even on speaking terms with Melinda. Heather's character is the complete opposite of Melinda's. Heather is always very neat and organized. She does what she is told and is always available to lend a helping hand. Yet, Heather has a tendency to be quite pushy. She is consistent in trying to get Melinda to join a majority of clubs in a search to make new friends. Heather is also always in a joyous mood, as opposed to Melinda's depressed state. Somehow the two managed to form some kind of a relationship. Melinda describes her as "the dog that keeps jumping into your lap..." as seen on page 24. Heathers character does change towards the end of the book. Over time, she ends up abandoning Melinda for a clique of "Martha Steward wanna-bees". This brings out a different side to the sweet and innocent Heather that Melinda thought she was. This scene is shown on page 106. It gives off a harsh tone, as Heather makes cruel remarks, such as "what's next - hanging out with the dopers?", in the fifth paragraph. As opposed to Melinda's character, Heather develops for the worse instead of the better.

Discussion Questions:
1) Which character do you feel you can relate the most too?
2) Do you think what Heather did was right?

- Emma M.