SELF-DISCOVERY, SELF-

EXPRESSION, AND ART

MELINDA’S OWN SELF-DISCOVERY THROUGH

NATURE AND GEOMETRIC DESIGNS
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson
THEMES IN SPEAK
 ALIENATION
 Alienation is a state of
being isolated or
withdrawn either by
external or internal
forces.
 Melinda is alienated by
her peers, former
friends, and family.
 Melinda also withdraws
from everyone and
physically and
emotionally hides.
IDENTITY
 Melinda has lost the
idea of who she once
was and through being
isolated, art, and a few
people that reach out
to her, she is able to
create a new sense of
self and identity.
However, the process
is full of emptiness,
pain, and acceptance.
 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

VS

 Positive family love and support has been proven to

strengthen or establish self-confidence,
independence, and individuality in a person.
Other Themes: Depression &
Emotional Withdrawal
 Melinda is suffering
from depression due to
a “secret” that is eating
her up from the inside
out. She is showing
physical symptoms of
depression as well as
withdrawing socially
and emotionally
through hiding and
silence.
 ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
 Mr. Freeman gave Melinda the project of
crafting a tree using all mediums of art such
as drawing, painting, linoleum blocks,
sculpting, etc.
 From Melinda’s first drawing to Melinda’s last
masterpiece, her own artwork represents a
symbolic timeline of Melinda’s withdrawal,
emotional pain, being ostracized from her
peers and family, and her difficult path to
finding herself and acceptance.
Transformation & Trees
CUBISM
CUBISM AND TREES
PABLO PICASSO
 Symbols in the Novel
 A symbol is an object or person that
represents something of deeper meaning.
The four seasons show change that represent
Melinda through the course of her freshman year

The Seasons of
Melinda
 The Abandoned Janitor’s Closet

This closet represented

Melinda’s escape from
reality, from her pain, and
from herself in some
ways. This became her
sanctuary, her comfort,
and eventually her
“security blanket” that she
could finally leave behind
and move forward.
The Changing of the Mascots

These represent the

loss of identity and
the search for it
 Symbols that Speak
without Saying a Word

The frog dissection

in the novel
represented
Melinda’s rape. She
was pinned down,
cut open, and
silenced, even
though she wanted
to scream.
The Poster of Maya
Angelou
SPEAK OUT