What is the theme in the novel “Speak”?
What Is the Theme in the Novel "Speak"? "Speak," by Laurie Halse Anderson, enjoys the dubious distinction of making a regular appearance on the banned books circuit. The main theme of the book -- rape and its effect on those who experience it -- is believed by some to be inappropriate for young readers.
What is the theme of the book Speak by Gillian Anderson?
When she begins to speak out, she realizes that her role in the rape was that of victim not that of perpetrator, and thus the healing begins. The theme of friendship runs throughout Anderson’s novel Speak. It is as if the author were posing questions about what true friendship is. Melinda, the protagonist, was once a fairly popular young girl.
What is the theme of the book Speak by Anne Frank?
Theme of "Speak" Melinda Sordino, the main character in "Speak," loses all her friends when she calls the police to bust up an end-of-summer party, and she spends the following school year as an outcast. One of the themes of "Speak" is isolation. Losing her friends is not the main cause of Melinda's sense of isolation, however.
What is the theme of the book Speak by Melinda May?
One of the themes of "Speak" is isolation. Losing her friends is not the main cause of Melinda's sense of isolation, however. 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.
What is the book "Speak" about?
What is Melinda's life like in High School?
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What is the lesson in speak by Laurie Halse Anderson?
She learns that she must speak about what happened, so people can sympathise with her. From this book, you can learn that you must not run away from your fears, but be strong and face them. to abandon your friends, even in harsh times.
What are some lessons from the book speak?
Not only is it a compelling story, but it also demonstrates a variety of valuable lessons that can last a lifetime. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, touches upon sexual assault, the importance of friendships, and how to handle emotions in a helpful manner.
What is the book speak about?
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, chronicles the struggles of thirteen-year-old Melinda Sordino after she is a raped by at a party the summer before her freshman year of high school by another student. Melinda tells her story in first person narrative.
What does the novel speak symbolize?
“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 are some themes in speak?
Speak ThemesComing 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 the conflict of the book speak?
Person vs Self This is the main conflict in the novel. Melinda has to decide whether or not to tell anyone about being raped. She has to relearn how to stand up for herself and speak up. Eventually she overcomes her struggles by opening up and telling her story.
What does the tree in Speak symbolize?
Near the beginning of the novel, Melinda is assigned a tree as her yearlong assignment in art class. As the narrative progresses, Melinda's attempts to draw a tree come to symbolize her ability to move past her rape, and to mature as a person.
What did Melinda do that everyone hates her for?
What did Melinda do that has caused everyone in school to hate her? Melinda called the cops at Kyle Rodgers's party at the end of the summer. Explain why David Petrakis walks out of Mr. Neck's class.
What is the main setting in speak?
Syracuse, New YorkSpeak is set in Syracuse, New York. This location is most significant because of the weather, which Melinda Sordino is very tuned in to.
What does Melinda's Closet symbolize?
Melinda's closet represents the double-edged sword of her loneliness; on one hand, she makes the environment rich and creative, adding a picture of Maya Angelou, a blanket, and her own turkey sculpture. On the other hand, the closet symbolizes her inability to deal with the real world, and her own immaturity.
What does blood symbolize in Speak?
Melinda is hyperaware of blood throughout the novel. An incredibly charged symbol, blood represents both life and death, and also is especially connected to the idea of adult womanhood (because of menstruation). Blood is also significant because, presumably, Melinda bled during her rape.
What do birds symbolize in Speak?
By the end of the novel, birds have become an unambiguous symbol of freedom and joy. When Melinda realizes that there is something missing from her crucial tree sketch, she adds birds, which symbolize her own eventual release from the trauma and depression that have burdened her throughout the book.
What are some theme statements for Speak by Laurie Halse ... - eNotes
Theme statements should describe an argument, or the author's stance on a certain topic presented in the novel. A theme statement regarding the topic of communication in Speak might be: "The theme ...
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: Themes | Jotted Lines
Trauma and the Restorative Power of Speech The trauma of the rape that Melinda experiences before Anderson’s novel Speak even begins influences the entire story. Because of that trauma, Melinda’s mental state continues to deteriorate as the story progresses. As she attempts to find, within herself as well as in the world around her, places
Speak Themes | GradeSaver
Adolescence. As a coming of age novel, Speak has a strong focus on adolescence and the problems and desires associated with it. Despite Melinda's unusually traumatic experiences, almost every reader can connect to the world she lives in. Melinda lists the cliques that the ninth grade class has broken into: "Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future ...
Themes - Speak
Hiding Everyone hides themselves in one way or another, in different situations we change the way we are, how we act. We answer “good” to “how are you?” even if you’re not doing so well because maybe that isn’t the person you want to tell about it.
What are some memorable quotes in the book Speak with page numbers?
There are any number of memorable quotations throughout the book. Some of Melinda descriptions are her throat, lips, and inability/lack of desire to speak certainly stand out in our minds.
What is the theme of the book "Speak"?
Friendship. The theme of friendship runs throughout Anderson’s novel Speak. It is as if the author were posing questions about what true friendship is. Melinda, the protagonist, was once a fairly popular young girl. She had maintained friendships from elementary and middle school.
What is the theme of the book Identity?
The author takes readers into the lives of teens who are developing a sense of who they are outside of definitions of who their parents and teachers believe them to be. There are many struggles in the process.
Why does Melinda give her teachers unflattering names?
Many of her thoughts reflect the alienation that she feels from her fellow students, her teachers, and her parents. For instance, she gives her least favorite teachers unflattering names. This name-calling makes Melinda’s teachers a little less human in her mind. She can then create a bigger distance between them and her, which is what alienation is all about.
How does Melinda create a gap between herself and her fellow students?
Melinda also creates a gap between herself and her fellow students. One way she does this is to put them down. In particular, she chooses the cheerleaders. She lumps the individuals together as a group and then tears into them. They all sleep with the football players, she states, and then come Monday morning they play their roles as goddesses. Melinda is obviously jealous of them, but rather than admit this human emotion, she alienates herself from them.
How does Melinda begin to understand that she has no reason to feel guilty for what happened to her?
Once she clears her mind, she is then able to think more clearly and in the process she informs herself of the truth of the rape.
Why is Melinda afraid of David touching her?
Melinda’s steps toward being David’s friend show signs of developing, but she is fearful of the thought of him touching her because of the rape. It is easier for her to start a friendship with Mr. Freeman, her art teacher. He is safer, in Melinda’s judgment, because he is like a father figure.
What does Melinda's art teacher know about her parents?
He is the only one who understands that sometimes words are either too difficult or too inadequate to express the deepest emotions.
What is the book "Speak" about?
Coming of Age. Like many novels with high school settings, Speak is deeply focused on ideas of growing up and coming of age. What makes this book’s exploration of that subject particularly poignant and pointed, however, is that Melinda has already experienced a major milestone of adulthood—losing her virginity—before the novel begins.
What is Melinda's life like in High School?
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. Her parents are neglectful and distant, and she feels completely unable to tell them about her recent trauma.
