Name: ____________________ Block: ____

Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson

You will use this packet as you read Speak. You are responsible for responding to the questions and completing the activities included in this packet on your own.

 

FIRST MARKING PERIOD Welcome to Merryweather High

1. What is Melinda’s mood as the book begins? As you read the first section of Speak, list reasons why you believe she might be feeling this way.

2. What grade is Melinda in?

3. Melinda says, “I am clanless.” What is a clan? What does she mean by saying that she is clanless?

4. Melinda uses the metaphor of a “wounded zebra” to describe the society of her high school. Based on her use of this metaphor, how does she feel about entering high school?

Spotlight

5. Why do you think Melinda has such difficulty speaking to Mr. Neck when he confronts her during lunch?

6. On page 9, Melinda says, “It is easier not to say anything… All that crap you head on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.” Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

Sanctuary

7. Describe Melinda’s art class. What is the room like? What is her teacher, Mr. Freeman, like?

8. How might Mr. Freeman’s last name work on a symbolic level in Speak?

Home. Work.

9. How might the white couch symbolic of Melinda’s personality?

10. Describe Melinda’s room. What does her bedroom suggest about her character? Burrow

11. How does Melinda use the neglected janitor’s closet? Why does she need this room?

Devils Destroy

12. What new information is revealed about Melinda’s past? Why has Melinda been made an Outcast?

The Opposite of Inspiration is… Expiration?

13. Why is Melinda painting nearly dead trees? How might the trees she creates be symbolic?

Acting

14. Melinda says that she is “getting better at smiling when people expect it” (32). What does this thought say about her inner struggle?

The Marthas 15. Who are the Marthas? What are they known for?

Nightmare

16. Why does Melinda list categories on her report card that are not traditional classes?

SPEAK VOCABULARY—GROUP 1

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks below with the correct vocabulary term from the word bank. You may use any medium you wish to look up the definition of each term.

1. I don’t have time to answer. The lights are dim and the _____________________ of

principles begins.

2. My first class is biology. I can’t find it and get my first _____________________.

3. I scan the cafeteria for a friendly face or an _____________________ and discreet corner.

4. Art, a _____________________ and comfortable place, follows lunch, like dream follows

nightmare.

5. Principal Principal spots another _____________________ student in the hall, a stray in the

hall.

6. Rachel’s smudging mascara under her eyes to look exhausted and __________________.

7. Just a _____________________-friend, disposable friend. Friend as accessory.

8. My stuffed rabbits inhabit my room, and now I have the closet as a

_____________________ to hide in.

9. And they cheer on our boys, _____________________ them to violence and, we hope,

victory.

10. We are all _____________________, trying to find our clumsy way amid the confusion of

the school.

WORD BANK Burrow Demerit Errant Floundering Inciting Inconspicuous Indoctrination Pseudo Sanctuary Wan

SECOND MARKING PERIOD

Closet Space 17. What does Melinda do to the mirror in the closet? What do you think could be the

symbolic meaning behind her actions? All Together Now

18. What might be significant about the words Melinda decided to conjugate for her Spanish homework? Why do you think she chose these particular words?

Job Day

19. Who do you identify with more—Heather or Melinda? Why? Giving Thanks

20. What is Melinda’s home life like? What is her mother like? Her father?

21. Why is cooking Thanksgiving dinner so important to Melinda’s mother? Wishbone

22. How do you think Melinda’s art project symbolically reflects her inner thoughts and emotions? Explain you response.

First Amendment, Second Verse

23. Why does Melinda think of David Petrakis as her hero?

Dead Frogs 24. Describe what happens during the frog dissection.

25. Why do you think Melinda responds this way during the dissection?

Word Work

26. What do you think of Hairwoman’s teaching techniques? Explain your response. Rend Round 3

27. Describe Melinda’s mother’s reaction to her recent behavior—falling grades, sleeping in her closet, cutting her wrists. Do you think this is the best way to handle Melinda’s actions?

Can It

28. Why does Melinda call Andy Evans “IT”? Dark Art

29. Like Melinda, Mr. Freeman uses his art to express his innermost thoughts and emotions. Why do you think he has stopped working on his canvas?

30. How does Melinda’s second quarter report card compare with her first quarter grades?

SPEAK VOCABULARY—GROUP 2

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks below with the correct vocabulary term from the word bank. You may use any medium you wish to look up the definition of each term.

1. You are caught up in the meaning, in the _____________________ of the effect of

commercialism on this holiday

2. The knife and fork are obviously middle-class _____________________.

3. This _____________________ spirit is even breaking out in social studies class. David

Petrakis is fighting back about the freedom-to-speak thing.

4. I'm not pretty or smart or athletic. I'm just like them—an ordinary _____________________

dressed in secrets and lies.

5. I hang out in my _____________________ closet. It is shaping up nicely.

6. The Ecology Club is planning a rally to protest the “_____________________ of an

endangered species.”

7. Ms. Connors did not win a lacrosse scholarship by being _____________________ or

hesitant.

8. Mount Dad, long _____________________, now considered armed and dangerous.

Mount Mom, oozing lava, spitting flame.

9. As a citizen, and as a student, I am protesting the tone of this lesson as racist,

intolerant, and _____________________.

10. Mr. Freeman studies my _____________________ project.

WORD BANK Degrading Demure Dormant Drone Refurbished Homely Revolutionary Sensibilities Subjectivity Xenophobic

THIRD MARKING PERIOD

Cold Weather and Buses 31. Why do you think Melinda compares herself to a bunny when

she encounters Andy Evans on the street?

32. Why do you think Melinda responds in this fashion to Andy’s appearance?

33. Melinda reflects on the way she was in her past by asking, “Why didn’t I run like this before when I was a one-piece talking girl?” (97) Based on this thought and her recent behavior, how do you think Melinda sees herself now?

Stunted

34. Why do you think Melinda is finding her tree so hard to create? (Remember what the tree symbolizes!)

Lunch Doom

35. What does Heather tell Melinda at lunch? Why does she do this?

36. Do you think Heather did the right thing? Explain your response.

Our Lady of the Waiting Room 37. Why do you think Melinda is drawn to the hospital?

38. Melinda says, “There is nothing wrong with me.” (113) Do you believe her? Explain your response.

39. How is Melinda’s behavior a cry for help? List a few examples of things Melinda does that are signs she needs someone to help her.

Clash of the Titans

40. Why does Melinda choose to not talk at all during the meeting with Principal Principal? What would you do if you were in her place?

Picasso

41. How does Melinda’s tree art reflect her inner thoughts and emotions? Riding Shotgun

42. On page 122, Mr. Freeman tells Melinda, “When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time.” How has Melinda’s behavior shown the truth of this statement?

A Night to Remember

43. What really happened to Melinda the night of the summer party?

44. How does Melinda’s new report card compare to the two previous ones?

SPEAK VOCABULARY—GROUP 3

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks below with the correct vocabulary term from the word bank.

You may use any medium you wish to look up the definition of each term.

1. Do they choose to be so _____________________? Were they born that way?

2. It is a _____________________, the Hornet haven.

3. Mr. Neck curls his lip and growls at me. I think this is part of his punishment for that

_____________________ crap he pulled in class.

4. David doesn’t bother to analyze my _____________________.

5. A seed can be rooted up by a dog, mashed by a soccer ball, or _____________________

by car exhaust. It’s amazing anything survives.

6. I grew mold on an orange this color when I lived in Boston. It’s the blood of

_____________________. Confusion. Tenure.

7. She looks _____________________. Wistful—one-point vocab word.

8. Guidance Counselor: “I think we need to explore the family _____________________ at

play here.

9. How can I shop with Mom if I don’t want to talk to her? She might love it—no arguing

that way. But then I’d have to wear the clothes she picked out. _____________________--

a three-point vocab word.

10. It is supposed to bore us into _____________________ or prepare us for an insane asylum.

WORD BANK Asphyxiated Bigoted Conundrum Dense Dynamics Imbeciles Reluctance Submission Vespiary Wistful

FOURTH MARKING PERIOD

The Wet Season 45. Why does Melinda call Andy “Andy Beast”?

My Life as a Spy

46. Why is Melinda spying on Rachel? Advice From a Smart Mouth

47. What advice does David give Melinda about speaking up? Do you agree what he says? Why or why not?

Real Spring

48. What does Melinda’s yard work symbolize metaphorically about her inner life? Little Writing on the Wall

49. What does Melinda write on the bathroom wall? Why do you think she does this? Communication 101

50. Describe Rachel’s reaction to the truth Melinda tells her. Is her reaction reasonable? Would you have acted similarly? Explain your response.

Chat Room

51. What does Ivy show Melinda in the bathroom?

52. How does this make Melinda feel?

Pruning/Prowling

53. How is Melinda’s mood/behavior changing? Postprom

54. What happened at prom?

55. Melinda says, “Sometimes I think high school is one long hazing activity: if you are tough enough to survive this, they’ll let you become an adult.” (191) Do you agree with this thought? Explain your response.

56. If you could summarize your high school experience thus far in ONE sentence, what would you say?

Prey

57. What happens when Melinda is attacked?

58. How does Melinda react differently this time she is attacked?

Final Cut

59. How does Melinda’s final tree art reflect her own life?

SPEAK VOCABULARY—GROUP 4

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks below with the correct vocabulary term from the word bank.

You may use any medium you wish to look up the definition of each term.

1. Mr. Freeman is a jerk. Instead of leaving my alone to “find my ____________,” he lands

on the stool next to me and starts criticizing.

2. The letter describes the harm we have all suffered from this year’s lack of identity. It

pleads for _____________________, stability.

3. We are _____________________, stinging, clever. We are a hive, a community of

students.

4. During the Dead Period, all my trees looked like they had been through a forest fire or

a _____________________.

5. Ms. Keen writes “Dominant/_____________________” on the board.

6. Sometimes I think high school is one long _____________________ activity: if you are

tough enough to survive this, they’ll let you become an adult.

7. He snapped one picture of me, walking away from the camera wearing my

_____________________ winter coat, my shoulders up around my ears.

8. The last unit of the year in biology is _____________________.

9. Maybe I don’t want to _____________________ myself.

10. She and Kim take mental health days together. Cutting-edge adult _________________.

WORD BANK Hazing Consistency Delinquency Blight Genetics Incriminate Dumpy Muse Recessive Tenacious

Symbolism in Speak DIRECTIONS: Symbolism is when an object stands for more than its literal meaning. (For

example, a four-leaf clover stands for good luck.) Using your knowledge of Speak, figure out what each of the symbols below means in the novel. Take note of what each object represents using the chart below.

Symbol What does this object represent in the novel

EXAMPLE: Melinda’s

turkey bone art project

EXAMPLE: The turkey carcass represents Melinda, who has suffered a great deal of pain recently, much like the turkey felt while her parents were trying to cook it. The turkey bones are now raw an exposed, which is how Melinda feels. The Barbie head has tape over its mouth, symbolizing the fact that Melinda feels as though she cannot speak or communicate her inner thoughts with anyone. The knife and fork represent the threat of danger Melinda feels, as though she is in danger of being torn apart.

Mirrors

Closets

Apple

Tree

Figurative Language in Speak Authors use figurative language to create a picture in readers’ minds. This type of language also allows the author to express the action of the novel in a more powerful way. Some literary devices that are frequently used to create figurative language are: Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using the words like or as Personification: giving human qualities to non-human things PART A: Read the examples of figurative language from Speak listed below. Label each

example with an S for simile, an M for metaphor, or a P for personification.

1. _____ Words climb up my throat.

2. _____ I dive into the stream of fourth-period lunch students and swim down the hall to

the cafeteria.

3. _____ I have been dropped like a hot Pop Tart on a cold kitchen floor.

4. _____ We are all dressed in down jackets and vests, so we collide and roll like bumper

cars at the state fair.

5. _____ There is a beast in my gut, I can hear it scraping away at the inside of my ribs.

6. _____ Her skin is a flat gray color, like underwear washed so many times it’s about to fall

apart.

7. _____ Lights wink on, the fountains jump, music plays behind the giant ferns, and the

mall is open.

8. _____ The card is still there, a white patch of hope with my name on it.

9. _____ I chomp my sandwich and it barfs mustard on my shirt.

10. _____ I am a deer frozen in the headlights of a tractor trailer.

PART B: Use your book to find examples of figurative language. Find one example of simile,

metaphor, and personification in Speak. Write each example on the blanks below. Indicate the page number where you found each quotation!

11. Simile: _____________________________________________________________________________

12. Metaphor: _________________________________________________________________________

13. Personification: ____________________________________________________________________

PART C: Select an example of figurative language you found in Speak and illustrate it using the space below. Attempt to draw what the author is literally saying, making the drawing funny while also showing how figurative language helps the reader understand the event in the novel. Be sure to include the actual quotation at the bottom of your drawing.