Speak

1. Speak Timeline of Events and Literary Devices

2. Friends • Old friends from middle school hate her and don’t talk to her. • Heather is a pseudo friend. • David talks to her and is her lab partner.

3. Communication • She doesn’t speak • Family communicates through sticky notes & fighting • She starts to confide in Mr. Freeman

4. Places of Sanctuary • Janitor’s closet • Her bedroom/closet • Mr. Freeman’s art class

5. Embarrassing Moments • Mashed potatoes thrown at her in the lunch room • Pep Rally she is interrogated and then picked on and pushed down the bleachers

6. First Day of School • Learn about her, out of style, out of the loop, no friends… • Rules • Intro to teachers

7. Classes • She is not doing well in any of her classes except for Art.

8. Holidays • Thanksgiving sucked • There was not a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. • Was able to make an art project out of it. • Christmas • Realizes her parents do pay a little bit of attention to her and the things she likes. • Easter • Upset because they didn’t go to church and she thinks her grandparents would be mad. • Spring Break • Doesn’t really do anything

9. Cliques • Goths • Shredders • Human Waste • Thespians • Eurotrash • Artists • Cheerleaders • Jocks • The Marthas • Country Clubbers

10. School Mascots • Trojans • Changed because of sexual connotations • Blue Devils • Changed because of evil connotations and the colors didn’t match • Wombats • Changed because no one knew what that was • Tigers • Changed because of endangered species • Hornets • Wanted to change because of the horny hornet cheer

11. People she makes fun of… • Cheerleaders • Teachers • Basketball Players • Parents • The Marthas • Rachel • Heather

12. Drama/ Conflict Internal Conflict External Conflict • Melinda vs. Melinda • Melinda vs. Old Friends • Heather vs. Melinda • It (Andy Evans) vs. Melinda • David vs. Mr. Neck • Heather vs. The Marthas • Rachel vs. Andy Evans • Melinda vs. Mr. Neck • Melinda vs. Her Parents • Mr. Freeman vs. School Board • David vs. Mr. Neck • Melinda vs. Rachel

13. Declining Symptoms • Relationships • Lips • Speaks less • Grades • Family Situation • Body Image • Health

14. Similes • A comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as” • “I have dropped like a hot Pop Tart on a cold kitchen floor” (21) • Can you find others? • 67, 66, 134, 117, 108, 136, 125, 122, 98, 97, 89, 84, 83, 73, 71, 17, 10, 135, 146, 185, 193

15. Metaphors • A comparison of two unlike things. • I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special. • The cafeteria is a giant sound stage where they film daily segments of Teenage Humiliation rituals. • Can you find others? • 120, 117, 104, 104, 62, 142, 161

16. Idioms • A language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people. • I got my eye on you • Shut you trap, button you lip, can it. • A kick in the bucket • Hang one’s head

17. SymbolsA concrete image that represents something abstract • The White Couch 14-17 • She flips the cushions of the couch at home when she eats and then flips them back to be “pretty & clean” • Like a façade she puts on • The Turkey Bone Memorial 61-64 • The Apple 65-67 • The Frog 80-81 • Trees • Mirror • Bedroom(17), Closet, 3-way mirror in Effert’s • Lips • How words get out • She bites her lips and keeps words in • Mascots • Identity Confusion • Janitor’s Closet • Escaping/ Hiding Place (25-26) • Maya Angelou Poster • Taken down b/c her book was banned • Covers the mirror • Symbol of what is forbidden • Melinda’s Room • Confusion with identity (15-16)

18. Stereotypes • To characterize or regard as something they may not be • The actor has been stereotyped as a villain. • Jocks • Goths • Big Hair Chix • Suffering Artists

19. Irony • When an outcome is opposite of what is expected to happen • Our teachers are the best • We are no longer the Tigers because the name shows “shocking disrespect” for an endangered species. I know I am shocked • Give me 2 more examples

20. Hyperbole • An extreme exaggeration • My English teacher has no face. • “I shed layers- jacket, hat, mittens, sweater. I lose seven pounds in half a minute.” (99) • Now can you find other hints of a hyperbole? • 99, 97, 90, 68, 32, 176

21. Allusions • A reference to another literary work, art work, or historical event. • “It’s Nathaniel Hawthorne Month in English…”(100-101) • Could I put a face in my tree, like a dryad from Greek mythology. • Dryad- a dryad is a tree nymph. A nymph is a minor nature goddess • Now can you find any? • 17, 97, 144, 72, 118-119, 164-165, 165, 165

22. Imagery • The “word pictures” created in literature. How the author creates a mental picture in the readers head. • “Tears oozed down my face, over my bruised lips, pooling on the handset” (136) • Pgs to look: 129, 109, 91, 87, 59, 37, 134, 136, 136, 198

23. Personification • Giving human like qualities to animals or inanimate objects • “I’m saved by a Centro bus. It coughs and rumbles and spits out two old women in front of the grocery store” (98) • Can you find any? • 98, 33, 15, 130, 133, 136, 142, 142, 161, 166

24. Flashback • A remembering of past events • To the apple orchard (66) • Pgs to look at: 133-136, 40, 71, 143

25. Direct Characterization • When the author directly states the characters traits. • Find a passage in the book where the author uses direct characterization

26. Indirect Characterization • Using your own judgment to tell what a character is like based on evidence given by the writer such as looks, actions, speech, and reactions of others. • Find a passage in the book that indirectly characterizes a character.

27. Foil Characters • A character who provides a strong contrast to another character. A foil may emphasize another character’s distinctive traits or make a character look better by comparison. • Mr. Freeman/ Mr. Neck • Find 3 more foil characters

28. Dynamic Characters • A dynamic character changes as the result of a story’s events. • Give examples of Dynamic Characters

29. Static Characters • A static character is character who does not change much in the story. • Give examples of static characters

30. Diction • Author’s choice of words. The author’s diction is based on the audience. Who would be the audience for this novel? • Description of clans (4) • “I’m the only one sitting alone, under the glowing neon sign which reads…”(128) • “When you get out of this Life Sucks phase, I’m sure lots of people will want to be your friend” (106) • “Fayette’s makes wicked good jelly doughnuts…”(96) • “Just in case we forget that weareheretogetagood… Disney World” (67) • “It was like falling up the storybook, yummy and red and leafy and the branch not shaking a bit” (66)