Page 74
"I glare daggers at the back of my fathers head. Angry, angry, angry....The sharp edges of the flap cuts my tongue. I taste my blood. Its face suddenly pops up in my mind. All the anger whistles out of me like I'm a popped balloon. Dad is really pissed when he sees how many calenders I bled on. He mentions professional help"
This passage is very conflicting because her dad is very mad with her. I still think that he needs to be a little nicer because mentioning to your only daughter that she needs professional help, is a little ridiculous. This passage is significant because it shows how her parents really feel about her and it also shows how she feels about her parents. In the end when she finally speaks up about the summer to her teacher, this shows how she told her teacher first about it because he understood her more then her parents. The authors purpose in this passage is to show conflict and again how Melinda and her parents feel about each other and how much respect they have for each other. I know it is the authors purpose because it is explaining that her dad is being mean and he is mad and it is meant to mean something in the novel as a lot of other passages. This has a lot of effect on me as a reader because as I first read this I though, how could a father be so mean as to mention professional help to his daughter. Instead of doing what your doing, take some time out of your life and help your daughter yourself right? I really felt what Melinda felt at that moment.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Symbolysim
Page 102
"The bell rings. Hair woman blocks the door to give out our assignment. A five-hundred word essay on symbolism, how to find hidden meanings in Hawthorne. The whole class yells at Rachel/Rachelle in the hall. That's what you get for speaking up"
This is symbolism because Melinda is saying that Rachel and everyone else is getting hurt(having to write the essay) because she spoke up about something. This shows that if Melinda speaks up about what happened that night, will she get hurt, or will she be liked more now that people know the real reason she called the cops? This passage is very significant to the book because it takes a turn. Rachel is the popular one who is dating the most popular guy in school but who would have thought that she would be hated on because she spoke up, unlike Melinda. The authors purpose is to show that when someone speaks up about anything, there could be consequences if it is your opinion or if it just something that happened to you. This is the authors purpose because it is supposed to mean something in the book and it actually does. This has a great affect on the reader because it will show them that Rachel can be taken down.
"The bell rings. Hair woman blocks the door to give out our assignment. A five-hundred word essay on symbolism, how to find hidden meanings in Hawthorne. The whole class yells at Rachel/Rachelle in the hall. That's what you get for speaking up"
This is symbolism because Melinda is saying that Rachel and everyone else is getting hurt(having to write the essay) because she spoke up about something. This shows that if Melinda speaks up about what happened that night, will she get hurt, or will she be liked more now that people know the real reason she called the cops? This passage is very significant to the book because it takes a turn. Rachel is the popular one who is dating the most popular guy in school but who would have thought that she would be hated on because she spoke up, unlike Melinda. The authors purpose is to show that when someone speaks up about anything, there could be consequences if it is your opinion or if it just something that happened to you. This is the authors purpose because it is supposed to mean something in the book and it actually does. This has a great affect on the reader because it will show them that Rachel can be taken down.
Dialogue
Page 106 -107
"Heather: When you get through this life sucks phase, I'm sure lots of people will want to be your friend. But you just cant cut class or not show up to school. Whats next - hanging out with the dopers?
Me: Is this the part where you try to be nice to me?
Heather: You have a reputation
Me: For what?
Heather: Look, you can't eat lunch with me anymore. I'm sorry. Oh, and don't eat those potato chips. They'll make you break out"
This section of dialogue has a lot of meaning to it. This is a turning part in the story when Heather finally blows Melinda off knowing she brings her down and notices she is depressed. Heather shows another side to herself. The reader knows her as the social-climbing chirpy girl who is always nice and kind and never mean to anybody. This shows that she has another side to her when she blew of Melinda for the Martha's.
"Heather: When you get through this life sucks phase, I'm sure lots of people will want to be your friend. But you just cant cut class or not show up to school. Whats next - hanging out with the dopers?
Me: Is this the part where you try to be nice to me?
Heather: You have a reputation
Me: For what?
Heather: Look, you can't eat lunch with me anymore. I'm sorry. Oh, and don't eat those potato chips. They'll make you break out"
This section of dialogue has a lot of meaning to it. This is a turning part in the story when Heather finally blows Melinda off knowing she brings her down and notices she is depressed. Heather shows another side to herself. The reader knows her as the social-climbing chirpy girl who is always nice and kind and never mean to anybody. This shows that she has another side to her when she blew of Melinda for the Martha's.
Figurative Language 2
Page 80-
"Our biology class has graduated from fruit to frogs"
This means that her biology class is moving up in what they are learning, but instead of using the words moving up, she is saying that they graduated.Melinda was suffering in this class because she didn't understand what was going on. She was distracted very quickly. Little things that meant nothing bothered her. When The class was moving up in biology Melinda was not happy because she didn't understand what she was doing in the first place, so she thought that she would be lost throughout the rest of the year.
"Our biology class has graduated from fruit to frogs"
This means that her biology class is moving up in what they are learning, but instead of using the words moving up, she is saying that they graduated.Melinda was suffering in this class because she didn't understand what was going on. She was distracted very quickly. Little things that meant nothing bothered her. When The class was moving up in biology Melinda was not happy because she didn't understand what she was doing in the first place, so she thought that she would be lost throughout the rest of the year.
Figurative Language
Page 77
"Our art room is blooming like a museum full of O'Keeffe's, Van Goghs, and that French guy who painted flowers with tiny dots."
The sentence is a simile when Melinda says that the art room is like a museum filled with those painters, but they are all deceased. She is talking about all of the students painting works of arts. The only class that Melinda was good at, and enjoyed was art class. She liked to draw, and she thought that the teacher was very nice. Art class was one of the only classes that she actually passed in the beginning. Melinda liked looking at the pictures, and paintings that other students drew.
"Our art room is blooming like a museum full of O'Keeffe's, Van Goghs, and that French guy who painted flowers with tiny dots."
The sentence is a simile when Melinda says that the art room is like a museum filled with those painters, but they are all deceased. She is talking about all of the students painting works of arts. The only class that Melinda was good at, and enjoyed was art class. She liked to draw, and she thought that the teacher was very nice. Art class was one of the only classes that she actually passed in the beginning. Melinda liked looking at the pictures, and paintings that other students drew.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tone
"Melinda Two: 'The world is a dangerous place. You don't know what would have happened. What if he was just saying his parents were going to be there.? He could have been lying. You can never tell when people are lying. Assume the worst. Plan for disaster. Now hurry up and get us home. I don't like it out here. Its too dark."this shows how Melinda feels about the world and about people lying. She explains her emotions on these topics. When she says "Assume the worst. Plan for disaster," she is kind of warning people to not trust people because they can be lying to you. She means that if you plan for disasters and assume the worst in people, that when you get hit with something it won't be as bad as if you trusted everyone and were nice and chirpy to everybody. For Example: Heather who befriended Melinda. She was nice to her and trusted her from the moment she met her.1. This passage is significant because it showes what Melinda is thinking. It shows that she is aware, and that she is being careful. It makes the reader think that Melinda thinks before she acts on things. This passage is showing the reader the type of person that Melinda is.2.The authors purpose in this passage is to show that Melinda is being cautious about the actions that are being done to her, and around her.3.I know that this is the authors purpose because of the way the author used diction. The use of words such as disaster, worst, assume, never, lying, etc. shows that the person is thinking a lot.4.The effect that this passage had on me the reader was sort of shocking becasue of how aware she was about her surroundings. It sounded more like somethiing a mother would say. It made me think that anything is possible, when ever,where ever.
Characterization
Melinda is the main character of the book. She was a nice and friendly girl with a lot of friends. She used to be happy, and smart. Melinda as a smart student who passed all of her classes. Once she attended a party over the summer, things automatically changed. She became withdrawn, frightened, and depressed. She was basically a nobody. She felt that she was not important, and no body liked her. She had no friends at all. After the summer, her grades began dropping. She failed all of her classes, other then art. On page 5, it says "I hate you." The conflict led to the changesthethat Melinda faced. The vibe that everyone around her had caused her grades to drop. She had no one to talk to, and no one to help her with what she needed. The view that other students had towards her caused a dramatic change. The quote above was said by Rachel, Melinda's ex-best friend.
1. The significance of this passage is that it shows that little things can cause a change in someones personality. Some things can cause people to act differnt towards other people. 2. The authors purpose to this passage was to show that people react different to different situations. Some people take things more personal then others do. Melinda happen to be one of those people. 3. It is the authors purpose becasue she wanted to show that it is normal to have mixed feelings. Melinda changed dramatically before the summer, to the beginning of the next school year.4. The effects that it had on me as the reader is that I noticed that at times, I go through the same thing. One day I would feel confident, and the next I would feel lost, and confused.
1. The significance of this passage is that it shows that little things can cause a change in someones personality. Some things can cause people to act differnt towards other people. 2. The authors purpose to this passage was to show that people react different to different situations. Some people take things more personal then others do. Melinda happen to be one of those people. 3. It is the authors purpose becasue she wanted to show that it is normal to have mixed feelings. Melinda changed dramatically before the summer, to the beginning of the next school year.4. The effects that it had on me as the reader is that I noticed that at times, I go through the same thing. One day I would feel confident, and the next I would feel lost, and confused.
Point Of View
The book Speak is written in Melinda's view, which is first persons point of view. She speaks for herself, and tells about what she went through. The word "I", and "my" is used throughout the book. On page 5 she wrote in first persons point of view a couple of times. The author explains what Melinda is doing by saying "I stand in the center of the auditorium..." She also said "I grab a seat." On page 57, the author says " I go to bed the night before Thanksgiving at 10 p.m." When the author uses the first persons point of view, she is basically telling the reader what Melinda is doing, or what Melinda is attempting to do. She also used first point of view to show how Melinda feels. On page 3, it says " It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a shirt I hate, and a stomachache." Melinda had mixed feelings about going into school. She didn't feel like she was ready, and she thought negative the whole time.1. The significance of this passage is that Melinda is because when the book is written in a certain persons point of view, it has a different meaning. If the book wasnt written in Melinda's point of view, the book would be different. 2.The authors purpose to this passage is to show what the things that the character does. When Melinda does something, acts on something, or attemptes to do something, She uses the word I. 3. I think that this is the authors purpose because the author wanted to be well detailed, and drag the readers attention. Also she wanted to make the reader understand how Melinda was feelign as she was going through everything. It showed the reader all of Melindas actions.4.This is a passage that had many different effects on me. At one point I felt happy, and at another point I felt upset. I thought I was Melinda becasue of how detailed it was. I thought of times that I went through situations like her.
Mood
While reading this book, I had mix feelings. At times i felt sad for Melinda, and at other times I felt happy for her. On page 187, It said "Liar!, I cant believe you. You're jealous. You're a twisted little freak and you're jealous that I'm popular and I'm going to the prom and so you lie to me like this. And you sent me that note, didn't you? You are so sick." When Rachel said this, I felt bad for Melinda. Melinda was trying to tell Rachel, her ex-bestfriend what really happened at the party. Rachel was going to the prom with Andy Evans, the boy who raped her, so she thought that Melinda was jealous and she was making things up. The sad part to this is that Melinda was telling the truth, but Rachel didnt believe her. A happy feeling I got while reading is when Melinda went back to school on the first day, and made a new friend, probably the only friend that would talk to her. " I'm Heather from Ohio. I'm new here. Are you?" This was said by Heather on page 5. It made me feel happy for Melinda because she made a new friend that she liked. No one else in the school liked her, or spoke to her. Melinda was happy that she made a friend to talk to.
1.The significance of this passage is that the mood that the reader has, is the mood that Melinda feels. Melinda was happy at times, and sad at other times. She had mixed feelings about different things.
2.The authors purpose on the passage that is on page 5 is to show that Melinda was happy to meet someone new. The passage on page 187 shows that Melinda was being called names while telling the truth. If this happened to anyone else, they would feel sad as well. The authors point to these passages is to drag the reader into the book, so they can feel how Melinda felt.
3.I know that this is the authors purpose because of the way it was written with details afterward. The author was trying to grab the readers attention, and make it seem as if I was Melinda's best friend, and I was witnessing everything in front of my own eyes.
4.This passage had many effects on me, the reader. It made me feel like I was Melinda. It also reminded me of times when I had been in the same situation as her. At times I felt happy, and at other times I felt sad.
1.The significance of this passage is that the mood that the reader has, is the mood that Melinda feels. Melinda was happy at times, and sad at other times. She had mixed feelings about different things.
2.The authors purpose on the passage that is on page 5 is to show that Melinda was happy to meet someone new. The passage on page 187 shows that Melinda was being called names while telling the truth. If this happened to anyone else, they would feel sad as well. The authors point to these passages is to drag the reader into the book, so they can feel how Melinda felt.
3.I know that this is the authors purpose because of the way it was written with details afterward. The author was trying to grab the readers attention, and make it seem as if I was Melinda's best friend, and I was witnessing everything in front of my own eyes.
4.This passage had many effects on me, the reader. It made me feel like I was Melinda. It also reminded me of times when I had been in the same situation as her. At times I felt happy, and at other times I felt sad.
Conflict
Page 3
"If I sit in the front, it will make me look like a kid, but I figure it's the best chance I have to make eye contact with one of my friends,if any of them have decided to talk to me yet." This is what Melinda, the main character said when she was getting on the bus for the first day of school. Over the summer, she and all her friends were at a party, and all the kids were drunk. One of the boys, Andy Evans raped her. She didn't know what to do, so she called the cops right away. All the kids ran away, and thought that she was a "party popper." No body knew the real reason to why she called the cops, so everyone decided not to talk to her. She went into a new year in high school, having no friends. Everyone would gossip about her, and start rumors. She was looked at negatively while walking through the hallways.
1. The significance of this passage is that it tells the reader what kind of person Melinda is. She is basically thinking about something that could affect her High School life. It relates to the book as a whole because this passage is in the beginning of the book and by the end, I think this shows how she changed by the way she thinks and speaks.
2. The authors purpose in this passage is that she is trying to show how Melinda thinks and how she thinks her actions out before she does them.
3. It is the authors purpose because throughout the book it shows how she changed and when you look back, you see that the author was trying to convey a smart yet quiet girl.
4. The effects that it had on me as the reader is that as I read the book, it showed how Melinda though about her friends and how to get them to talk to her or make eye contact with her.
"If I sit in the front, it will make me look like a kid, but I figure it's the best chance I have to make eye contact with one of my friends,if any of them have decided to talk to me yet." This is what Melinda, the main character said when she was getting on the bus for the first day of school. Over the summer, she and all her friends were at a party, and all the kids were drunk. One of the boys, Andy Evans raped her. She didn't know what to do, so she called the cops right away. All the kids ran away, and thought that she was a "party popper." No body knew the real reason to why she called the cops, so everyone decided not to talk to her. She went into a new year in high school, having no friends. Everyone would gossip about her, and start rumors. She was looked at negatively while walking through the hallways.
1. The significance of this passage is that it tells the reader what kind of person Melinda is. She is basically thinking about something that could affect her High School life. It relates to the book as a whole because this passage is in the beginning of the book and by the end, I think this shows how she changed by the way she thinks and speaks.
2. The authors purpose in this passage is that she is trying to show how Melinda thinks and how she thinks her actions out before she does them.
3. It is the authors purpose because throughout the book it shows how she changed and when you look back, you see that the author was trying to convey a smart yet quiet girl.
4. The effects that it had on me as the reader is that as I read the book, it showed how Melinda though about her friends and how to get them to talk to her or make eye contact with her.
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