speak book summary

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.

Is Speak based on a true story?

SPEAK is NOT a memoir. SPEAK is a work of fiction. However, the kind, positive influence that Mr. Freeman has is very much like the kind, positive influence Mr.

How did Melinda get raped in the book Speak?

The summer before starting high school, she was raped by a senior student, Andy Evans. Due to her trauma and inability to tell anyone about what happened, Melinda spirals into a dark depression; loses her ability to speak with ease; and can express her pain only through physical acts, such as biting her lips and nails.

How does Speak end?

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 is the moral of Speak?

Moral/Message: The moral in this book spoke strongly of standing up and not being afraid to face your fears. This is such an important message for teens to grasp because so many kids today end up hating their high school years. Those years should be the best of their lives!

Why is Speak an important book?

Speak gives a great look at depression and related mental illnesses. It allows a teen reader to gain a new perspective on what is going around them, and perhaps within them. The novel does this by being very relatable through the language used through the eyes of Melinda.

Was the author of Speak raped?

In her new memoir, Shout, Anderson reveals that she was raped when she was 13, and it took more than two decades before she could find the words to talk or write about it.

Why does Melinda call Andy Evans it?

Then she uses his full name, Andy Evans, indicating she is more willing to confront what happened to her. From there, she moves on to call him Andy Beast, suggesting she is not only willing to face him but to call him what he is — a horrible animal, a beast.

How old is Melinda in Speak?

Melinda is very perceptive and bright, but her vision is sometimes clouded by her suffering. She’s only fourteen-years-old, and she’s dealing with one of the worst things that can happen to a person: rape. High school senior Andy Evans rapes Melinda at the end-of-summer party just before Melinda starts 9th grade.

What did Andy do to Melinda?

Andy Evans was a senior in high school as well as the rapist of Melinda Sordino. He met Melinda at a party, and he took her into the woods to rape her. Melinda tried to call 911 to help her, but she didn’t know what to tell them. This led to several people getting arrested at the party, and Melinda becoming an outcast.

How old was Kristen Stewart in speak?

Stewart starred in the Lifetime/Showtime television film Speak (2004), based on the novel by the same name by Laurie Halse Anderson. Stewart, aged thirteen at the time of filming, played Melinda Sordino, a high school freshman who nearly stops speaking after being raped.

Why does Melinda finally speak up for herself?

Finally, having shared the story of her rape, Melinda is able to find internal peace. On her bike ride, she returns to the scene of the rape. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Melinda embraces the role of a survivor and sees herself as a “Melindagirl” seed, ready to grow and flower.

How does Melinda compare her survival with the diseased tree?

How does Melinda compare her survival with the diseased tree? By chopping off the dead branches, Melinda is comparing it in a way that if she could just remove the guilt inside her, she will be able to regrow like the tree.

What does Melinda write her extra credit report about?

By Laurie Halse Anderson

Now, Mr. Neck allows David to speak his mind when David raises his hand. For extra credit, Melinda does a report on the “suffragettes” who risked jail to fight for women’s right to vote, own property, and get the same access to education as men.

How does Melinda warn Rachel about Andy?

She is torn between wanting to leave Rachel to her fate and speaking to Rachel to protect her from harm. As she vacillates between the two ideas, Melinda stares at her Maya Angelou poster and knows Maya wants her to tell. So, Melinda writes an anonymous note warning Rachel that Andy has attacked a ninth grader.

What can we learn from the novel speak?

Life Lessons from Speak: By: Laurie Halse Anderson
Life Lessons.Life Lesson 1: Do not bottle up your emotions inside.Life Lesson 3: You must learn to face your problems, no matter how harsh they may be.Life Lesson 2: No matter what, do not abandon your friends.

What does it symbolize in speak?

Melinda frequently hides in the supply closet at her school. This symbolizes her need to hide from the world so she doesn’t have to speak to anyone. It also represents her isolation, not just how she isolates herself but also that she feels her friends have isolated her.

What are some themes in the book speak?

Speak Themes
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.