Speak by laurie halse anderson speak, by laurie halse anderson, is a story written in the first person about a young girl named melinda sordino. Laurie halse anderson, who received the margaret a. Melinda is filled with fear, anxiety, and depression and is alone with no support. 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. The title of the book, speak, is ironically based on the fact that melinda chooses not to speak. At the party, melinda feels uncomfortable and out of place. August before her freshman year, melinda and her closest friends attend a party with seniors and beer. While she does exhibit some obvious external signs, such as cutting her wrist with a paperclip, much of melindas depression is internal and is not fully understood by anyone, including herself. A theme statement regarding the topic of communication in speak might be. Learn how to find the theme of a book or short story. Symbolism and symbolism in speak, by laurie halse anderson.
In a book talk, the goal is to engage the listeners and present a fun, exciting, and even suspenseful commercial for your book. What are some theme statements for speak by laurie halse. Themes in speak other topics for theme transformation isolation friendship guilt blame memory identity literary evidence 4. Big old grasshopper body, like a stiltwalking circus guy. It is ironic that melinda has confidence at the end of the book as opposed to her earlier lack of it. In the book speak, by laurie halse anderson, melinda is a freshman who struggles with her first year of highschool. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. The theme of nonverbal communication throughout the laurie halse andersons novel speak is a metaphor for the main.
As a coming of age novel, speak has a strong focus on adolescence and the. What is a book talk your guide to making them work in. I need some help writing a thesis statement for an essay on. In the novel speak by laurie halse anderson, the narrator, melinda sordino, experiences several forms of depression as well as, quite possibly, dissociation. Speak literary devices examples flashcards quizlet. The difficulties of growing up in speak, a book by. Melinda sordino, the fourteenyearold star of speak, loses the ability to communicate after she is sexually assaulted at a party. The theme is a pivotal element, because it lingers throughout the entire story, from start to finish. Jul 11, 2019 a book s theme is the main idea that flows through the narrative and connects the components of the story together. Due to her trauma and inability to tell anyone about what happened, melinda spirals into a dark depression. Melindas only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in her schemes to gain popularity. I have gathered all the data and made paragraphs, though the topic sentence isnt quite done but the thesis statement seems a little frustrating. What are some examples of depression in the book speak by laurie halse.
I need some help writing a thesis statement for an essay. Learn and understand all of the themes found in speak, such as identity. All of the art that the author describes is symbolism for her feelings. What are some examples of irony in the novel speak answers. A work of fiction may have one theme or many, and they arent always easy to pinpoint right away. Speak by laurie halse anderson essay 1749 words bartleby. I have seen many authors who literally forget about the basic theme of the book after first few chapters. A complex, nuanced, and beautifully written meditation on language, immortality, the nature of memory, the ethical problems of artificial intelligence, and what it means to be human. Symbols and motifs by laurie halse anderson mirrors mirrors are a reoccurring motif for melinda. The first main theme from before i fall is, do onto others, as you want done onto you. Melinda nearly loses that strength completely as she shuts down emotionally, psychologically, and verbally. Once a cheater, always a cheater, or actions speak louder than words, arent themes. In speak, memory, the familys exile sits at the emotional core of the book.
The theme of strength of character is the most prevalent theme. Even though most high school students never suffer the trauma melinda did, they do experience at one time or another what melinda calls the one big hazing activity. I checked out a book from the library, dracula, by bram stoker. Accurate descriptions of the minutiae of high school will appeal to any teen who has felt like an outsider, and when melinda is finally able to speak, readers will rejoice in her triumphs. This is a gritty, powerful book that teachers and parents could use to launch a number of discussions. Book summary 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. A book talk is a short presentation about a book with the goal of convincing other people to read it. What book does melinda read on halloween instead of going.
Outline thematic essay on speak by laurie halse anderson introduction. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in speak, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Because of the rape situation, melinda was very shy and selfconscious. Like many novels with high school settings, speak is deeply focused on ideas of growing up and coming of age. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino.
Speak tells the story of melinda sordino, a ninth grader at merryweather high school in syracuse, new york. The ultimate communication in the story is distinctly left out of the novel, making the theme even more apparent. She called the police during a summer party and now the entire school hates her. In the book sam was very rude and harsh to other people, and right before she died one girl got the courage to call her out on it. For example, melindas janitor closet has been abandoned since the new. The pain of isolation and the struggle to be accepted by ones peers can be difficult. It can be whatever the author deems appropriate, and there can also be more than one theme. The theme of adolescence connects melinda to the real world. I need some help writing a thesis statement for an essay on novel speak by laurie halse anderson the topic is melinda is lonely, negative, and frightened. The book is written in the form of a monologue in the mind.
In the book speak by laurie halse anderson the main character melinda learns many things. Melinda sordino, the star of speak, goes through intense growth over the course of the story. I would recommend this book to the age group of 1216, because the theme, to my surprise is a little bit more mature, yet its at an easier reading level. You should always be there for your family, isnt a theme, its a suggestion. Examples of overarching theme in a sentence, how to use it. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative. Get an answer for what are some theme statements for speak by laurie halse. Losing her friends is not the main cause of melindas sense of isolation, however. Open with a few sentences that relate to your theme.
A literary analysis of silence in speak by laurie halse anderson. She cannot speak about what is unspeakable pain, until she learns from her experiences throughout the school year that she has to dig deep within herself to find the power to. As you show how the theme works throughout the book, be sure to offer specific examples to support your ideas. Depression is the unspoken theme that defines melindas behavior for much of the. The summer before starting high school, she was raped by a senior student, andy evans. May 17, 2009 i need some help writing a thesis statement for an essay on novel speak by laurie halse anderson the topic is melinda is lonely, negative, and frightened. What are some examples of symbolism in the book speak.
In the book speak, laurie halse anderson used figurative language. Melinda, a high school freshman, is the protagonist in laurie halse andersons speak. Speak is what fancy literary types call a bildungsroman. The books overarching theme is certainly well taken.
I have gathered all the data and made paragraphs, though the topic sentence isnt quite done but the thesis statement seems a. Edwards award for her contributions to young adult literature in 2009, published her first novel, speak, in 1999. Keep your theme statement objective and based solely on evidence from the story the bond between family can overcome any obstacle. The story can also be viewed as speaking out against. In 1917, when vladimirs liberal fathers political party loses the power they had, the nabokovs leave st. Given that the name of the book is speak, it is unsurprising that communication versus silence is a critical theme within the book. The themetracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of family and friendship appears in each chapter of speak. These sentences should convey a general idea about the topic not. Apr 24, 2009 in the book speak, laurie halse anderson used figurative language. Theme of a novel seems to be very easy to decide but this is one of the toughest part. Analysis of laurie halse andersons book speak 1644 words. The book is about a girl, melinda, who stops speaking at school. What are some examples of depression in the book speak by.
Depression is the unspoken theme that defines melindas behavior for much of the novel. Now, i havent read speak in a while, so i cant think of any of the specific examples. Choose from a theme on this list or choose a theme youve noted in the text, and write about the way the theme is introduced and developed through the novel. For the large herd of themes in this book, exile might be the one at the head of the pack. In speak no evil, uzodinma iwealas protagonist, niru, says that his father reminds us constantly that if he could walk ten miles to get sardines and tinned tomatoes for his family during the war, dodging lowflying nigerian fighter plans that made a sport of strafing hungry refugees, then there is nothing he or we cant do. A books theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related and necessary in building the larger story. Analysis of laurie halse andersons book speak 1644. Laurie halse anderson once said in an interview, ive learned that speak is not just a book about rape. She gulps down a couple beers before walking outside for some fresh air.
By the end of the novel, melinda is ready to tell mr. The use of symbols to portray the theme in speak, a novel by laurie halse anderson. Like cloud atlas, speak has a theme which, if you try to state it too plainly, begins to sound like a particularly simple bit of selfhelp. Comingofage novels are often novels of education and like speak they often not always. What makes this books exploration of that subject particularly poignant and pointed, however, is that melinda has. And, its more persuasive than expositorythink sales and marketing. Figurative language allows the reader to understand the author better by using. Melinda used to be shy but now because of big events and different people she is confident. It seemed like since she was mean to others she got that treatment in return. The war to which nirus father refers, the reason why he emigrated. The illuminated adventures by kate dicamillo, miss brooks loves books. The creators of sparknotes speak themes from litcharts. How does andyit change in the fourth marking period.
1441 1508 519 518 959 1589 197 488 1143 1137 43 746 774 1204 35 303 387 923 1399 623 1048 1607 868 52 1175 951 913 21 1564 914 1100 1208 988 702 817 988 632 1022 96 280 1445 699 314 552 1063 1011 235