The character of melinda sordino in speak from litcharts the. What are some character traits of melinda in speak. I need some help figuring out some more traits, so if you have finished this book, please help. She has not told anyone about the rape, however, and her classmates loathe her for calling the police on the party, while her parents and teachers are disappointed and angered by her sudden depression and apathy. No one, however, knows melindas biggest secret, the reason she dialed 911 over the. Since melinda does not speak, this is the only way that the readers can access her feelings and thoughts.
Rachel used to be melindas best friend until the summer incident. It makes the most sense to have melinda narrate because she is the main character. Ivy used to be a plain jane along with melinda, nicole, and rachel. Jun 24, 2011 what are some characteristics for the character melinda in the book speak. Melinda sordino, the narrator of laurie halse andersons novel speak, is a 14yearold rape survivor who is deeply confused about how to process her trauma and how to protect other women from her. The book is about a girl named melinda sordino also the narrator of the book who was about to have the worst year of her life just because of an endofsummer party. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. A popular and handsome upperclassman, andy evans raped melinda at a party the summer before speak begins. One difference is that in the movie, melinda meets heather on the bus. Her best friend, rachel bruin, has turned against her with all other of melindas fellow students looking away. August before her freshman year, melinda and her closest friends attend a party with seniors and beer. Another example is when she receives crayons and a drawing book from her parents as a christmas gift, she thinks back the time where she returned home, and could not find her parents aftermath of the rape. Speak is a novel written and published by laurie halse anderson in 1999. Speak tells the story of melinda sordino, a ninth grader at merryweather high school in syracuse, new york.
In my opinion, the book was stereotypical, melinda was shy, weak and quite, something happens to her, she changes. The remainder of the student body dislikes her for being a snitch. The suffagettes were all about speaking up speaking for there rights. If you know the answer to this question, please register to. During the book, melinda symbolizes the tree that shes drawing in mr. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino. Melinda doesnt want anyone to have to go through the things she did. How to describe the main characters from speak pen and.
Speak by laurie halse anderson meet your next favorite book. Get everything you need to know about melinda sordino in speak. Apr, 2009 what are some characteristics of melinda sordino in speak. The following poem was written by laurie halse anderson. It was also made into a movie of the same name in 2004. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an endofsummer party by calling the cops, so. What are some characteristics of melinda sordino in speak. Melinda s only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in her schemes to gain popularity. Melinda mel sordino is the main character and narrator of laurie halse anderson s 1999 novel speak. Jun 01, 2011 in the book speak, there are two places of sanctuary for melinda. The protagonist of speak, melinda begins high school and the novel traumatized by a rape that occurred at the hands of upperclassman andy evans at a party the summer before.
Her best friend, rachel bruin, has turned against her with all other of melinda s fellow students looking away. Melinda sordino she is a sophomore in merryweather high school, syracuse, new york. Literary devices in speak by laurie halse anderson bartleby. Melinda is uncertain of the reaction her parents may have if she did tell them, as well as how they may become involved in her personal life. Melinda writes on the bathroom wall, guys to stay away from. From the first moment of her freshman year at merryweather high, melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. Melinda called the police at a summer party because a boy she didnt. She is 15 years old and is beginning her freshman year at merryweather high school.
Melinda is very perceptive and bright, but her vision is sometimes clouded by her suffering. What are some character traits of melinda in the book speak. He assigns her a project on drawing a tree and thats all he tells her. She is very insecure and tries hard to stay as invisible as possible, for the fear of being seen or heard. Over the summer, melinda and her friends went to a senior party, where melinda ended calling the police. But the books overall gritty realism and melindas hardwon metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired. The story follows the experiences of social outcast, melinda sordino, during her freshman year at merryweather high school in syracuse, new york. The character of melindas father in speak from litcharts. Essay about laurie halse andersons speak 1277 words bartleby.
The characters ordeals were based on andersons own experiences. Melinda sordino, the narrator of laurie halse andersons novel speak, is a 14 yearold rape survivor who is deeply confused about how to process her trauma. How to describe the main characters from speak pen and the pad. What is the name of the book melindas mother bought for her. No one, however, knows melinda s biggest secret, the reason she dialed 911 over the. Melinda dreams about the point where she is raped by the senior.
Melinda has a terrible secret that causes her personality to change drastically. Melinda mel sordino is the main character and narrator of laurie halse andersons 1999 novel speak. Well, perhaps we can come up to a conclusion if we follow the personality traits of melinda gates, the most powerful and possibly the most humble woman of the world. I need quotes that are evidence of that physical description and find homework help for. Throughout the story, she seems to be holding on to a secret thats killing her internally. Essay about laurie halse andersons speak 1277 words. Melinda is about to start high school being depressed and quiet struggling with school, friends, and family trying to tell them what actually happened at the summer party. Can it and dark art what name is finally given to it. Janet alsup also claims that books like speak must be taught to young people. He is the main antagonist of the book, and spends much of the narrative harassing melinda in various read full character analysis melinda s mother. But shes not exactly bubbling over with friendly overtures either.
The character of melinda sordino in speak from litcharts. The following poem was written by laurie halse anderson in honor of the 10th anniversary of speak. Freeman is also a supporter of melinda and they talk about melindas problems sometimes. Due to her trauma and inability to tell anyone about what happened, melinda spirals into a dark depression.
Speak notes fourth marking period flashcards quizlet. She is very insecure and tries hard to stay as invisible as possible, for the fear of being seen or. Physical characteristics of melinda sordino in the book speak. 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. She is terribly unhappy, because she is the victim of a vicious rape, and so spends her entire ninthgrade year trying to come to. Melinda sordino begins freshman year at merryweather high school, being a complete different person. Melinda views david as a hero because he speaks his mind and is willing to fight for the freedom to speak his mind all of which she cannot do throughout most of the book. She does this because although she doesnt want to speak out to anyone, she does want people to know that andy is a bad person. He is brilliant, confident, and assertive, qualities that melinda wishes she had.
Overworked and distracted, melindas mother is aware that her daughter has suddenly. After melinda calls the police at a party in august, her former friend group ditches her and disintegrates. Another difference is in the movie, rachel is the person that slaps melinda when she catches her on the phone. Get an answer for what is a physical description of the character melinda in speak. Both the janitors closet and the schools art room provide her with the things her mind needs to help cope with her posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd. They genuinely appreciate each other and have similar interests and outlooks. Ivy and melinda s friendships seem clear and unambiguous. Speak characters from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.
Speak, is a novel written by laurie halse anderson, about a girl entering high school, for the first time, with a heavy secret weighting on her. At the end of the book, the character speaks up for herself, which is the highlight of the book, but i still think she went through so much sensitive content that teenagers shouldnt be thinking about it. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and. Ivy wasnt at the party where melinda called cops and doesnt seem to have any reason to be mad at melinda. Melinda looks at a book of landscapes brimming with trees and plants. The progression of melinda sordino melinda sordino, the main character in laurie halse andersons award winning novel, speak, is a 9th grade student attending merryweather high. Another symptom is the recollection of distressing dreams of the event. Speak was a 1999 national book award finalist for young peoples literature.
Speak is set in syracuse, new york, in the specific neighborhood and schoolmerryweather high schoolof melinda sordino in the present day. What are some characteristics for the character melinda in. Between the book and movie speak, there are many differences between the two. As with nicole, its not clear whether ivy is avoiding melinda because shes. Melinda never flat out confides in ivy, but she hints strongly that something happened. Oct 22, 1999 the first ten lies they tell you in high school. Speak up for yourselfwe want to know what you have to say. In the book speak, by laurie halse anderson, melinda sordino is forced into the worst year of her life. In laurie halse andersons powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. Melindas only friend is heather, a new student, who tries to get melinda involved in. Speak book santa clara county library bibliocommons. With the exception of the first and last stanzas, all of the words come from letters or emails written to her by readers. The sculpture shows a girl, picked clean to the bone, who is unable to speak, and i feel this is a great representation of melinda at this point in the book. In this book speak, what are some characteristics of melinda.
Also, i think she finds comfort in the art room because it contains one of the few people in the book that i think she really had a genuine friendship with, even if it didnt play that. She learns that the only way to counter evil is to speak out against it. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her. She stood in front of the class holing a sign instead of speaking. I need quotes that are evidence of that physical description and find homework help for other speak questions. Although sometimes main characters can provide biased. Physical characteristics of melinda sordino in the book. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself. Overworked and distracted, melinda s mother is aware that her daughter has suddenly. He is the main antagonist of the book, and spends much of the narrative harassing melinda in various read full character analysis melindas mother. Her last name, sordino, is an italian word that can be translated as deaf. Give an example of one sentence from this chapter that offers characterization of her mother. What is a physical description of the character melinda in.
As you read the first section of speak list reasons why you believe she might be feeling this way. In a flashback it is discovered by the reader that melinda, mel for short, was raped by an upper classman during a party in the summer between 8th and 9th grade. Since shes also the narrator, everything we learn about the other characters is filtered through her. She also does poorly in school, and doesnt socialize very easily with other students. At the party, melinda feels uncomfortable and out of place. She changes her name to rachelle and wears heavy makeup to fit in with the more european. In the novel speak by laurie halse anderson, melinda sordino is entering her first year of high school.
Melinda sordino is the main character of the book speak. Part of the report is to give characteristics about the main character in the book. The summer before starting high school, she was raped by a senior student, andy evans. In laurie halse andersons book speak, the main character, melinda, struggles with her own dysfunctional family issues and the influence it has on her decision to speak out about her rape. This friendship stands in stark contrast to the friendship between melinda and heather. David defends mr neck for giving melinda a d on the oral report. I would categorize the students of merryweather high school as the foreign exchange kids, the goths, the cheerleaders, the artists, the marthas, jocks, country clubbers, and those who are clanless. She gulps down a couple beers before walking outside for some fresh air.