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Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak (1999) walks the reader through a typical year as a high schooler. The narrator, Melinda, experiences the brutal side of adolescence, including the ever-present cliques, bullies, and petty fights. By using powerful symbols Anderson brings this novel to life. The images of lips and trees tell Melinda's story, eventually helping her accept the tragedy she has endured.
Anderson first introduces the tree symbol when Melinda chooses her art class topic (p. 12). She involuntarily gets "tree"; however it is evident that the author purposely wrote this object into the text. Anderson could have given Melinda any generic topic to turn into art; however she uses a tree, which typically symbolizes life. In contrast, the tree symbolizes death in Speak since Melinda is dying inside by hiding the details of her rape. Whenever Melinda tries to create her tree in art class, she struggles. Her tree lacks dimension; she "can't bring it to life" (p. 78).
The tree symbol reappears in Melinda's fascination with raking leaves. In an effort to beautify her yard, Melinda cleans piles of neglected leaves out of the bushes in front of her house. She works with the "dead leaves still clinging to the oak branches by the street" (p. 167). Melinda is like these leaves; she feels dead inside and struggles to remain safe, just as the leaves struggle to grasp onto the branches. Not to mention, the tree in Melinda's front yard is literally rotting. Her dad points out that the "branches on the left don't have any buds" (p. 167). One section of the tree is decaying and if left untreated, it will cause the entire tree to weaken and collapse. Melinda's life after the rape is like the sick part of the tree; her pain and suffering threaten to cross over to the other aspects of her life and ruin her entirely.
after Melinda lets go of her painful secret, she becomes able to successfully draw her tree for art class. Mr. Freeman's words of advice empower Melinda. When he explains that "perfect trees don't exist", Melinda accepts the pain she has experienced, realizing that the rape was not her fault (p. 153). When Melinda expresses that her "tree is definitely breathing", the reader sees that she is breathing and is moving on with her life. Regarding her tree drawing, Melinda remarks, "one of the lower branches is sick ... that branch better drop soon so it doesn't kill the whole thing". It is evident that she knows that we humans cannot allow tragedies to break our spirits. She acknowledges that her future is bright when commenting that the "new growth [of the tree] is the best part" (p. 196).
What else can I help you with?
What trees did Melinda draw in the book Speak?
In the book Speak, Melinda draws a droopy Willow tree.
What was the mascot in the book Speak?
Trojans blue devils tigers wombats hornets
How is Melinda in Speak at the end of the book?
she has multiple projects, her first one was the turkey bone project which was a barbie head on a turkey with bones and forks and knives for legs. Then the tree was something she was working on the whole year and it represented her loneliness and then there was her other tree, the cubism tree which was a whole bunch of weird shapes.
What does Melinda paint the week after the pep rally in the novel Speak?
In the novel "Speak," Melinda paints a tree in art class the week after the pep rally. This tree symbolizes her inner struggles and emotions that she is unable to express verbally. She uses art as an outlet to convey her feelings.
How does Melinda compare her survival to the decease tree?
In Laurie Halse Anderson's novel "Speak," Melinda sees herself as similar to the diseased tree in her backyard because they are both struggling to survive under difficult circumstances. The tree's leaves are slowly falling off, just as Melinda isolates herself from her friends and family. By nurturing the tree back to health, Melinda finds hope for her own healing and growth.
How does laurie halse Anderson use mascots as symbolism in the book Speak?
In the book "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, the school mascot represents Melinda's struggle to find her voice and speak up about her traumatic experience. The school's mascot, a tree, symbolizes growth, renewal, and resilience, mirroring Melinda's journey towards healing and self-empowerment throughout the story. Anderson uses the mascot as a powerful symbol to reflect Melinda's emotional journey and inner strength.
How does Melinda's tree art reflect her inner emotions?
They symbolize Melinda and her emotional journey. But after her resulting depression (like winter) she is able to recover and regrow her leaves in spring. there was one part in this but i would rather not write it in
How does Laurie Halse Anderson use symbolism in the book 'Speak'?
Sordino is Melinda's last name and that means mute in italian. The reason Melinda faints during the frog disection is because it reminds her of being raped. The changing of the mascot names shows how she cannot grasp one specific feeling. hope this helps:) Melinda's closet (hiding in the janitors closet), is symbolic to her internal, personal, hiding. Her physical appearance, cracked and swollen lips, symbolize her inability to speak, and tell people what happened to her. The drawing of Trees, and inability to "bring them to life", and draw details in the branches, referring to her own life and inability to live and tell details. Also, the "barbie-Turkey" in the chapter "wishbone"; all parts of her artwork are symbolic, the bones, the fork, the knife, the palm tree, the "deserted island" and the barbie head on a dead body. All aspects represent her pain.
How might a tree work symbolically to represent Melinda life specifically?
In "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, a tree symbolizes Melinda's journey toward healing and self-acceptance. Initially, her artistic representation of the tree is barren and lifeless, mirroring her emotional state and trauma. As she learns to confront her pain and express herself, the tree becomes more vibrant and complex, reflecting her growth and resilience. Ultimately, the tree embodies Melinda's struggle and transformation, symbolizing hope and the possibility of renewal.
Why did Laurie Halse Anderson use the tree as a symbol instead of another symbol?
The tree symbolizes growth and change. Melinda's tramatic event took place in the woods in the book.
In The Odyssey what does the tree symbolize?
The Odyssey is a book by Homer about the gods and goddess of ancient Greek mythology. It mentions a lot of trees.
What did the tree in 'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson symbolize?
In "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, the tree symbolizes the protagonist's inner turmoil and emotional growth. As the protagonist struggles to find her voice and face her trauma, she connects with the tree's strength and resilience, ultimately finding the courage to speak up and heal. The tree serves as a powerful metaphor for overcoming challenges and finding empowerment.
