Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
Finding your true passion can brighten your mental health and change your life. Especially if that passion is art, just like Melinda Sordino’s. Trees in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, serve an essential purpose as an object that symbolizes Melinda Sordino's mental health, and the growth that follows. Ever since she has been assigned trees for her art project, her life began to change. When she draws trees, it acts as an important reflection and checks in with her inner mental health and mind about the issues and feelings she is experiencing. In the beginning, Melinda’s tree seemed as if it had been struck by lightning because it was so burnt, hurt, and destroyed. She started to make the tree less and less dead which led her to become more …show more content…
Throughout the story, she finds her passion for art and becomes who she truly was before the incident. You can see the improvement in her mental health each time she draws trees. When she draws art, you can see how it is a self-reflection of herself and how it can be used for improvement. She really needs this improvement because she is not currently in a good state in life. “It is easier not to say anything… Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say” (Page 9). Melinda was silent, unheard, and unwanted throughout the beginning of the book, especially at the start. Soon after, when she draws her first tree, it strongly reflects how she is feeling. She draws “trees that have been struck by lightning” (Page 30). This is not a very good sign for her health because it proves that she is feeling depressed …show more content…
Melinda is now satisfied with her tree for art class. “My tree is definitely breathing; little shallow breaths like it just shot up through the ground this morning”’ (Page 196). Her tree is now perfected but most importantly, she is breathing. In art, your work shows your emotions. This is important because if her tree looks like it is breathing, the person that drew it is breathing too.
As a result, Melinda is not a frozen or lonely person anymore, she is now free and feels alive. “‘Let me tell you about it’” (Page 198). Melinda is ready to share with a trusted adult how she really felt on the inside throughout this school year. Melinda has changed as a person drastically throughout the story partly because of her drawing trees. I think she has now fully recovered from the incident and is ready to grow even more.
The story of Speak and Melinda Sordino shows how art can be a powerful thing. The power of drawing trees can have a large impact on your mental health just like Melinda’s. It can be a self-reflection on yourself to express how you are feeling at the moment. When used well, it can help you heal, grow, and express yourself when you are afraid to speak to someone about your
Pessimistic Views Of Teachers In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
736 Words | 3 PagesFor example, the art piece she made with turkey bones, a Barbie doll head, culinary utensils, and tape had evinced her emotional distress. Mr. Freeman had seen these sensibilities within Melinda's artwork as well by saying that "[it] has meaning. Pain" (65). Melinda has an idea in her head of what she wants her tree to look like, which also symbolizes herself, "a strong old oak tree with a wide scarred trunk and thousands of leaves reaching to the sun" (78). Melinda can create this tree only if she becomes like this tree as a person by surrendering into acceptance of the atrocious offense committed against her and the scars that came with it.
Overcoming Trauma In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
562 Words | 3 PagesAdditionally, Melinda uses negative ways to cope by doing self-harm and isolating herself. Melinda also uses positive mechanisms to cope with her trauma by expressing herself through art and standing up for herself. Melinda states, "For a solid week, ever since the pep rally, I’ve been painting watercolors of trees that have been hit by lightning” (Anderson 30). This demonstrates how Melinda uses the arts to creatively express her emotions. She is also showing Mr. Freeman how she feels, which is a positive gesture.
The Motifs In Melinda's Tree By Laurie Halse-Anderson
729 Words | 3 PagesOne of Laurie Halse-Anderson’s motifs that connect with the theme is Melinda’s tree. For example, Melinda’s introduction with the tree was in the first day of Art class. “I plunge my hand into the bottom of the globe and fish out my paper. ‘Tree.’
How Does Laurie Halse Anderson Use Trees In Speak
280 Words | 2 PagesIn Speak Laurie Halse Anderson uses trees to represent Melinda's emotional growth throughout the novel. At this point of the story she has just been raped and is feeling depressed and alone and it makes her feel “diseased”. “My last tree looks like it died from some fungal infection”(92). At the start of the story she’s in a bad place because she feels that she can't tell anybody about what happened because they might not have a positive output on the things she has been through. When she starts school, everybody hates her for what she did at the party and it makes her feel unwanted.
Consider A Tree In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
786 Words | 4 PagesIn much the same way, what goes on inside of us is like the roots of a tree. " When reading the novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the reader will steadily notice that, as the story goes on, Melinda's artistic abilities will improve. In this essay, I will explain how trees are used to portray Melinda's transformation, by using quotes from the text and support to back it up. In her first Art class, Melinda randomly chooses the "tree" as the object she will try to draw for the rest of her school year.
Melinda's Social Life In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
861 Words | 4 PagesBut I can't think of anything else to do, so I keep chipping away at it”(Anderson 78). This response shows that her art project is failing miserably. This also is the same for many aspects of her life at the time. Her social life, family life, and academics are all dying just like her tree. Then, when she tries to restart her tree sculpture, she describes her old tree like old things in her life.
The Transformation Of Melinda In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
478 Words | 2 PagesThis could be because of the lack of character development she has. However Melinda matured the way she thinks, not much physically. From the beginning of the book to the end, you can tell that Melinda does come out of her shell, and begins to interact with the people around her more. At pages 109-110, Melinda begins to communicate with David Petrakis using a notebook. They write stuff down and draw things back and forth until the bell rings.
Speak Tree Symbolism
1050 Words | 5 PagesLiam Arnold Mr. Bramanti English 9 CP 30 May 2023 Speak Essay In Speak, a realistic fiction story written by Laurie Halse Anderson, trees are a recurring symbol and are of great importance to the progression of the book and Melinda. Trees are used and described in the book as complex, difficult, and complicated. There are many similarities between Melinda’s social life just like the tree's complexion. Melinda’s life progresses throughout the story along with the tree progressing through the seasons. Throughout the story a tree is used as a symbol because of its complex nature and relatability to Melinda’s life.
Brief Summary Of Ojibwe's Mistake
413 Words | 2 PagesThe tree was so beautiful, and the view from under it was so tranquil, and the man forgot his sorrow, and eventually he was happy. As he sat under the tree, he saw another man approaching in the distance. He was crying as he walked toward the tree, but he saw the tree’s beauty and stopped under it. The two men sat and talked of their troubles. As they talked, a third approached weeping.
Mr Ezzard Interview
1141 Words | 5 PagesOften times, people use bonsai to meditate or relax. They look at the tree and focus until they feel as if they are in that environment. A calm feeling overwhelms the user. He says that most of his hobbies inspire him to write. For example, he loves to write about places he's travelled to and the nature that surrounds him.
Use Of Depression In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
849 Words | 4 PagesLaurie Halse Anderson uses the tree as a motif to trace Melinda’s growth from someone who is afraid and depressed to someone who is strong and more stable. In the beginning of the story, we can tell that Melinda is very depressed despite her internal sense of humor. Since the party that she called
Examples Of Character Development In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
755 Words | 4 PagesAt the end of the story she finally found her voice and was able to stand up for herself. In the beginning, Melinda didn't talk to anyone, barely even to her parents. She says, “I have tried so hard to forget every second of that stupid party and here I am in the middle of a hostile crowd that hates me for what I had to do. I can't tell them what really happened” (Anderson, 28).
Symbolism In Laurie Halse Anderson's 'Speak'
805 Words | 4 PagesShe at first thinks the task of drawing a tree is easy, but she soon realizes it is harder than it seems. Melinda can easily picture a tree in her mind, but she can not draw it. This relates to Melinda before and after she was raped by Andy Evans. Before the rape, Melinda is represented by the tree when she says, “I can see it in my head: a strong old oak tree with a wide scarred trunk and thousands of leaves reaching to the sun”(78). Melinda was completely fine before the rape occurred, and she was happy with herself and her surroundings.
Essay On Symbolism In The Book Speak
1197 Words | 5 PagesArt is way of expression. People can use actions and art or express themselves in ways other than speaking. In the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, symbolism holds a big significance. The trees mentioned throughout the book symbolize Melinda’s changing “seasons” (her “growing” as a person). People, like trees, go through phases, they freeze in the winter, becoming nothing but lonely limbs without leaves covered with white slush.
Analysis Of Planting A Sequoia By Dana Gioia
1100 Words | 5 PagesDana Gioia’s poem, “Planting a Sequoia” is grievous yet beautiful, sombre story of a man planting a sequoia tree in the commemoration of his perished son. Sequoia trees have always been a symbol of wellness and safety due to their natural ability to withstand decay, the sturdy tree shows its significance to the speaker throughout the poem as a way to encapsulate and continue the short life of his infant. Gioia utilizes the elements of imagery and diction to portray an elegiac tone for the tragic death, yet also a sense of hope for the future of the tree. The poet also uses the theme of life through the unification of man and nature to show the speaker 's emotional state and eventual hopes for the newly planted tree. Lastly, the tree itself becomes a symbol for the deceased son as planting the Sequoia is a way to cope with the loss, showing the juxtaposition between life and death.
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