EXPLORING THE NOVEL s p e a k by Laurie Halse Anderson

So who gave us this story?

Laurie Halse (rhymes with “waltz”) Anderson SOME FACTS ABOUT HER: Favorite book: dictionary (she is a terrible speller) Attended Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York, then transferred to Georgetown University where she earned a bachelors degree in languages and linguistics Jobs before writing: cleaning banks, milking cows, working as a stockbroker, and working as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer First book: Fever 1793 (1993), a historical novel Inspiration for Speak: a nightmare Anderson had one night; awoke to the sound of a girl crying, then realized it was her dream rather than one of her children; she then got up and went to the computer to write, and Melinda’s (main character) story began to flow; at that time, she had been reading Reviving Ophelia (a psychological study of preteen girls)… Other books: several picture books, and Speak (which was a National Book Award Finalist, an ALA Michael L. Printz Honor book, and an ALA “Best Book for Young Adults) Reviving Ophelia, is a book about Lives: just outside of Philadelphia, PA with her husband and two daughters

s p e a k…

“…(is) the tough, tender, and darkly funny story of a teenage outcast What does it mean to be an ‘outcast’? Any personal stories/experiences?

But wait, before we read…

What do you notice about the girl in the picture? Look at the front cover. What do you notice about the girl in the picture? What else do you see on the front cover? absence of mouth (silence); eyes look scared? Lonely? Place of tree in story?

Open up the novel. How is this book like other books? Is there a table of contents? How is the book organized? Consider why Anderson may have done this… Notice absence of ‘t of c’, and chapters (proper) Instead note ‘headings’ and division into ‘marking periods’ More natural division? From the mind of a teenager (so not thinking in ‘chapters’

From what point of view will this story be told? THE STORYTELLER It is always important to figure out who is telling the story you are reading. “”It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache.” (p. 3, first line of Speak) First person point of view; Melinda is the narrator/main character and tells the story From what point of view will this story be told?

Consider this…

outcast n : a person who is rejected (from society or home) [syn: castaway, pariah]

And remember that s p e a k…

“…(is) the tough, tender, and darkly funny story of a teenage outcast What does it mean to be an ‘outcast’? Any personal stories/experiences?

at some point in his/her life? Who of us hasn’t felt rejected’, like an outcast, at some point in his/her life?

Now it’s your turn…

YOUR FIRST TASK Find a song, poem, movie or picture (photo, painting, ad, etc.) that in some way illustrates or represents the feeling of being ‘rejected’, left out, or an outcast. 2. Share your piece with the class, and prove how it illustrates the feelings of ‘rejection’.

IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU MUST BE ABLE TO: Describe the form of media you have chosen to represent ‘rejection’ (poem, lyric, painting, movie, video, etc.) Share specific information and details about the form (author, artist, title, year, interesting facts…). 3. Give sufficient proof or examples that the form illustrates the feelings of ‘rejection’ or of being an outcast.

FOR EXAMPLE…

Describe the form of media you have chosen to represent ‘rejection’ (poem, lyric, painting, movie, video, etc.) “I have chosen a painting by an American artist to illustrate the idea of feeling like an outcast.”

2. Share specific information and details about the form (author, artist, title, year, interesting facts…). “This painting is called Christina’s World, and was done by Andrew Wyeth. It was painted in 1948, and portrays a neighbour named Christina Olsen, who was paralysed since birth. It shows her looking on towards her farmhouse in Maine.”

a) “I chose this particular painting because I think that it really shows the feeling of loneliness and of feeling like an outcast. b) For example, the girl is the only person in the painting, she is all alone. c) The artist has left a great deal of open space between the girl and the farmhouse, and this gives the viewer the impression that she is far away from others. Give sufficient proof or examples that the form illustrates the feelings of ‘rejection’ or of being an outcast. d) Lastly, because she is paralysed, we know that she is probably considered different and is therefore on the outside. Note that there are 4-5 details given to prove that the e) When I look at this painting, I sense a feeling of loneliness and sadness at being left behind. It appears that the girl wants to be included, judging by her longing gaze at the house.”

As you are searching for your example to share with the class… CONSIDER…

All the different ways that LONLINESS, and REJECTION can be communicated to others.