Summary Of Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character, Melinda, is in a state of depression following her rape the summer before high school, and undergoes several emotional states. Ironically, her school mascot changes frequently and typically at the same time as her mood. The first connection pertains the name of the old mascot, The Trojans: "Merryweather High—Home of the Trojans" did not send a strong abstinence message, so they have transformed us into the Blue Devils. Better the Devil you know than the Trojan you do not, I guess” (Anderson 4), which ties to the Legend of the Trojan War and her rape. The school decided on the Blue Devil, which is a fish that when it sees it's enemy they will hide or turn completely black until

The Ecology club made posters about how Tigers should not represent them as a mascot. “ TIGERS RIPPED APART! TIGERS SLAUGHTERED ! TIGERS KILLED ! side by side with color photos of Bengal tigers with their skins peeled off. Effective.” (Anderson 49). Melinda’s friend wanted to join a group so they can make friends, and that’s why the author made the connection with the Tigers. A group of tigers is known as an ‘ambush’ or ‘streak’ which represents the act of The Marthas. The Marthas are known as the clan of girls who help around the school and do good things for the community, and if a student wanted to be a Martha she most definitely had to fit the part, dress like them, talk like them, and just act like them in general and to them Melinda Sordino wa not Martha worthy. During the main character’s 9th grade experience, her school mascot changes frequently and relates to what she is going through physically and emotionally in order to provide the reader with more knowledge about the process of overcoming

They hunt together, eat together, and live together whatever they do it is always together. Tigers are the wilds most aggressive animals. The other animals are often cautious because the can be very sneaky when seeking for their prey. Even if their prey is bigger than them that does not stop them. With tigers being on the top of their food change one can say that they are powerful animals. Marthas are the clan of girls that run the school, students either hated them or wanted to be them. In Melinda’s case they thought she was not even “ Martha” worthy. The novel states that “The Marthas. . . It's an expensive clan to run with; outfits must be coordinated, crisp, and seasonally appropriate. They favor plaid for autumn with matching sweaters in colors named after fruit, like apricot and russet apple. Winter calls for Fair Isle sweaters, lined wool pants, and Christmas hair ornaments. They haven't told her what to buy for spring. I predict skirts with geese and white blouses with embroidered ducks on the collar.” (Anderson 42). Martha’s are the prissy girls that no one really liked but wanted to be. Everything they did they did it together. They had the power to do whatever they wanted. The author made it known that Melinda knew that she was not wanted by the Martha’s. She states that, “I don't belong in Mr. Freeman's room any more than I belong in the Martha’s” (Anderson 153). The Martha’s made Melinda feel as if she was not