Speak

Study Guide Questions

1) Describe Melinda’s first day of school. (2-3 events)**• No one would sit with her on the bus• She got hit with mashed potatoes & gravy in

the middle of the lunch room• She received 2 demerits by lunch timeMelinda was dreading her first day of high

school. She knew no one would talk to her and even her best friend told her she hated her. It was a horrible first day and Melinda feels like an outcast and alone.

1) Describe Melinda’s first day of school. (2-3 events)**Melinda’s first day of school was horrible. No

one would talk to her and even her best friend told her that she hates her. Mr. Neck, her social studies teacher, already has his eye on her. After earning her 2nd demerit during lunch, Melinda is dreading high school.

Page 10

• Mr. Freeman turns off the wheel and grabs a piece of chalk without washing his hands. “SOUL” he writes on the board. The clay streaks the word (SOUL) like dried blood.”

• Simile: clay streaks like dried blood• Imagery: the word soul dripping in blood (you

bleed when you are hurt)• Symbolism: Melinda is sharing with us that

her soul is hurt=she is hurting emotionally

Page 15-Symbolism• White Couch• “The couch has two

personalities: 1) “Melinda inhaling

pepperoni and mushroom”

2) “No one ever eats in the family room, no ma’am”

• 2 personalities represent the two personalities of Melinda

1) Melinda’s real side “messy” = her internal struggle

2) Melinda’s side she shows everyone/the side everyone wants to see “pretty side” “everything looks the way he wants to see it”

Heathering pages 22-24

• Foil Characters: 2 characters with opposite traits that are placed next to each other in a story. Used to emphasize the character’s traits.

• Heather: talkative, peppy, motivated, wants to be popular & her parents are involved

• Melinda: doesn’t talk, withdrawn, wants to be alone, and her parents are more concerned with work.

Page 30• Cheerleaders: • Judges them:

– Pride of the “Trojans”– Throw wild parties– Get group-rate abortions

• Describes them:– So cute– “Girls that have it all”– Never stutter or screw up

• Why do you think Melinda is making fun of the cheerleaders? Why does she want to form a clan of Anti-Cheerleaders?

• Symbolism:• “They all have beautiful lips,

carefully outlined in red and polished to shine.”

• Their lips represent them-they have it together and they are perfect.

• Melinda’s lips are scabby, bleeding, and chapped. Her lips represent her-a mess.