- Coming of Age. Like many novels with high school settings, Speak is deeply focused on ideas of growing up and coming of age.
- Communication versus Silence. Given that the name of the book is Speak, it is unsurprising that communication versus silence is a critical theme within the book.
- Family and Friendship. Like any student in high school, Melinda’s life revolves around family and friends. Unlike most high schoolers, however, Melinda is completely alienated from both groups.
- Isolation, Loneliness, and Depression. Because Speak takes place within Melinda’s mind, author Laurie Halse Anderson is able to vividly and achingly portray the effects of isolation and loneliness upon human ...
- Coming of Age. Like many novels with high school settings, Speak is deeply focused on ideas of growing up and coming of age. ...
- Communication versus Silence. ...
- Appearance versus Reality. ...
- Family and Friendship. ...
- Isolation, Loneliness, and Depression. ...
- Memory and Trauma.
What is a summary of the book Speak?
Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson that tells the story of high school freshman Melinda Sordino. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to a sexual assault, Melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. Unable to verbalize what happened, Melinda nearly stops speaking altogether, expressing her voice through the art she produces for Mr. Freeman's class. This expression slowly helps Melinda acknowledge w
What is the mood of the book Speak?
In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the narrator, Melinda Sordino, experiences several forms of depression as well as, quite possibly, dissociation.
What are the allusions in the book Speak?
There is a definite allusion (direct or indirect reference to another piece of literature) to Alice in Wonderland at the very beginning of "Fourth Marking Period" in Speak . Melinda feels pushed out of her "shrinking" house, . . . I'm sure she's feeling the need to speak to Rachel about the evils of Andy.
What is a good theme for a book?
Themes About Emotions and Attitudes
- Accepting Differences. Learning how to accept differences is a common theme in children's literature. ...
- Bravery and Courage. Bravery and courage are often the focus of children's books. ...
- Compassion for Others. Compassion is a recurrent theme in children's literature. ...
- Honesty and Trust. ...
- Self-Concept. ...
What is a theme in the book speak?
Theme of "Speak" Melinda was raped at the party by a boy named Andy Evans. After the rape, Melinda is unable to speak about what happened to her and quits speaking altogether. Rape and the consequences for the victim is the main theme, along with losing one's voice and the tremendous courage it takes to find it again.
What is the moral of the book speak?
This book has many themes, one of which is moral dilemma, and Melinda has to decide if she wants to speak up or not. Read this book to discover why the cops were called, what happened to Melinda the late summer night, and why she needs to speak up.
What is the book speak about?
Speak is written for young adults and middle/high school students. Labeled a problem novel, it centers on a character who gains the strength to overcome her trauma. The rape troubles Melinda as she struggles with wanting to repress the memory of the event, while simultaneously desiring to speak about it.
What are the main events in the book speak?
"Speak" by Laurie Halse AndersonPeriod: Jun 1, 1999 to May 31, 2000. Freshman year.Jun 10, 1999. The rape. ... Jun 11, 1999. Quiet. ... Aug 28, 1999. School starts. ... Aug 28, 1999. Art class. ... Aug 31, 1999. Janitor's closet. ... Oct 9, 1999. Report card. ... Nov 26, 1999. Thanksgiving.More items...
What does it symbolize in speak?
“Speak” tells the story of Melinda Sordino, a high school student who stops speaking after she is raped by a classmate at a party. Anderson uses symbolism to illustrate Melinda's struggle and her eventual emotional growth as she begins to move past the trauma.
What is the significance of the title of the novel speak?
Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak is a novel that makes a definite argument. The title gives us a pretty big hint as to what this might be. In short, the novel argues that if you are a victim of a sexual assault, you will need to speak about it in order to heal. furthermore, you need to report your attacker.
Is speak on Netflix?
Can I stream Speak on Netflix? Speak is not currently available to stream on Netflix.
Is the book speak a movie?
Speak is a 2004 American independent coming-of-age teen drama film based on the award-winning 1999 novel of the same name by Laurie Halse Anderson. It stars Kristen Stewart as Melinda Sordino, a high school freshman who practically stops talking after a senior student rapes her.
What happens to Melinda at the end of speak?
For example, at the end of Speak, Melinda finally draws a tree that expresses her emotions. At the very, very end, Melinda is about to tell Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, her story.
What page does Melinda cut herself in speak?
Chapter 43 - Rent Round 3 She hides in her bedroom and sleeps in her closet while also scratching herself with the sharp edge of a paper clip. She wonders if a suicide attempt is a call for help, what is the cutting?
What did Andy do to Melinda in the closet?
Melinda realizes that she doesn't need her burrow, or closet, anymore since she no longer wants to hide. After school, she goes to the closet and gathers things that she wants to take home. As she steps out of the closet, Andy suddenly slams into her, flicks on the light, and closes the door.
What happened to Melinda over the summer?
Over the summer, she and her friends went to a party and Melinda ended up calling the police, causing her friends and everyone at the party to socially reject her. Melinda's only friend is Heather, a new student, who tries to get Melinda involved in her schemes to gain popularity.
speak
Melinda is the protagonist of Speak . She begins ninth grade friendless and depressed. After Melinda calls the police at a party in August, her fo...
why is the main character so hated in this novel
Melinda is the protagonist of Speak . She begins ninth grade friendless and depressed. After Melinda calls the police at a party in August, her fo...
Party events step by step
The party was outside of town and Melinda felt out of place. She gulped down a few beers, even though she hated the taste, in an attempt to feel mo...
What is the theme of the book "Speak"?
Speak is a book about depression.". Depression is the unspoken theme that defines Melinda's behavior for much of the novel. While she does exhibit some obvious external signs, such as cutting her wrist with a paperclip, much of Melinda's depression is internal and is not fully understood by anyone, including herself.
What is the theme of the plant in the novel?
Growth. Plants are a major motif in the novel, used to symbolize the importance and the difficulty of growth . In art class, Melinda is assigned "tree" as the object with which she will be working for the remainder of the school year.
How does Melinda communicate?
Much of Melinda's life revolves around communication or lack thereof. In the novel, we witness various forms of communication: sticky notes on the kitchen counter, notebooks passed between students, letters left on school lockers, words on the chalkboard, recording devices, telephone calls, and spoken conversations. Melinda's communication is mostly non-verbal. She expresses anxiousness and fear by biting her lip or running away. She asks her parents for favors by writing them notes. Even when she speaks, she often does not say what she wants to. When Heather tells Melinda that they can no longer be friends, Melinda says, "I try to think of something bitchy, something wicked and cruel. I can't" (105). Of course, the most major communication conflict in the novel involves Melinda's need to tell someone about the rape. It is not until the Fourth Marking Period that Melinda finds the courage to say anything. Interestingly, however, in this initial confession of her secret, she still does not speak. Instead, she passes a note to Rachel explaining the night of the party. Even after her second attack, when the entire school learns of her history with Andy Evans, Melinda still has not spoken, the lacrosse team has. It is not until the very last line of the novel that we understand Melinda is going to finally tell her story out loud. The ultimate communication in the story is distinctly left out of the novel, making the theme even more apparent.
What does David Petrakis say about Melinda?
After Melinda receives a "D" on the report, David Petrakis says, "But you got it wrong. The suffragettes were all about speaking up, screaming for their rights. You can't speak up for your right to be silent.
Does Melinda speak in the book?
Of course, the most major communication conflict in the novel involves Melinda's need to tell someone about the rape. It is not until the Fourth Marking Period that Melinda finds the courage to say anything. Interestingly, however, in this initial confession of her secret, she still does not speak.
What are the themes of "Speak"?
Speak Themes. T he main themes of Speak include trauma and recovery, authenticity and integrity, and finding one’s voice . Trauma and recovery: Melinda is so devastated by her assault that she can barely acknowledge it to herself—let alone confess it to anyone else. This isolation makes it harder for Melinda to process her trauma and heal.
Who is the girl in the book "Speak"?
Speak covers about a year in the life of Melinda, a teenage girl who suffered a trauma the summer before the book’s action begins. A teenage boy, Andy, who attends the same school, raped her during a party.
Identity
In the wake of the attack, Melinda loses her sense of identity. She doesn't recognize herself anymore. She stops washing her hair, turns down the offer of new clothing, and takes her bedroom mirror off the wall so she doesn't have to look at herself.
Communication
For Melinda, communication is the most important aspect of reclaiming her shattered identity. Melinda loses her sense of self when she fails to fend off Andy's sexual attack at the party. She wants to speak, to shout no, but she is too afraid. This lack of communication leads to feelings of deep shame and guilt.
Rape Culture
Melinda 's story reflects the current rape culture that pervades American society.
Trauma and Recovery
Authenticity and Integrity
- Over the course of the year, Melinda feels alienated from almost everyone around her. As she is just starting high school, had she not been traumatized, she might have made friends and enjoyed some of the social activities. However, she is an intelligent and very creative person who had already considered herself different from other children; some of the problems she experiences …
Loyalty and Friendship
- Along with the overall unpleasant atmosphere that she senses at school, Melinda has few friends. Her optimism at making friends with a new girl, Heather, is short-lived. The novel stresses the importance of genuine friendship, which includes loyalty to one’s peers. Melinda realizes too late that she had misjudged Heather’s motives; the other girl i...
Finding One’S Voice
- Throughout the book, Melinda is depicted as so traumatized that she can barely speak aloud. In contrast, she thinks constantly about the world around her and writes extensively. The return of her physical ability to speak is strongly connected with her developing self-esteem, including vehicles for finding her creativity. Thus, “voice” is both a literal and metaphoric representation of …