Speak Questions And Answers

1. Melinda Sordino is a selectively mute high school freshman. She avoids speech unless absolutely necessary and misbehaves in interesting ways to try to give meaning to her own existence or to avoid the pain she feels so deeply. Melinda becomes silent and secretive; she becomes distrustful of people. Because of Melinda's strong internal voice, it’s clear that she is not weak. To the contrary, she is witty and clever, observing those around her.
Other characters accept the rules, systems and structures put in place, but Melinda often pokes fun at them. Melinda is bright and perceptive, and as a result, she sees things for what they truly are. Unlike other students, Melinda notices the contrast of outward appearances and the reality underneath. For instance, while others worship the cheerleaders, Melinda wonders how they can sleep with the football team, only to be reborn as “virginal goddesses” the next day (29).
2.
Speak is set in Syracuse, New York, in the Merryweather neighborhood and Merryweather High School in the present day. The duration of events is approximately one year.
3. The main theme of Speak is that silence has a place and a purpose, but sometimes speaking loudly, risky as it can be, is necessary. Throughout the novel, she finds several methods of communication, aside from speech. Some are beneficial, like channeling her emotions into art and science, while others, like scratching her wrists and chewing her lips, don't communicate what she wants them to. Speaking is the most challenging but rewarding method of communicating; no matter how effective her coping methods are, they will never give Melinda the kind of relief that speaking
can.
4. Conflict: Individual versus self. Individual versus man.
Initial incident: On the first day of school, and Melinda is shunned by her peers and sits alone on the bus, unsure whether or not her friends will talk to her. Her classmates throw things at her and gossip about her. Her old friends have turned against her. Her ex-friend Rachel Bruin laughs at Melinda, mouthing the words, “I hate you.” One could argue, however, that the true initial incident was when Melinda was raped, though this aspect of the plot is not revealed until later on in the book. Rising Action: Melinda is physically and verbally assaulted at school on a semi-regular basis, prompting her to further keep to herself. She is deeply conflicted about whether to talk about her traumatic experience or not. Her grades have dropped drastically, so much so that her principal and guidance counselor meet with Melinda and her parents. She struggles to get through to Rachel while also trying to save her friendship with Heather, mainly because she has no one else.
Climax: Andy traps Melinda in the closet. He is infuriated that Melinda messed things up for him by telling Rachel that he raped her. As Andy attempts to rape her a second time, she finds the courage to fight back and escapes shortly after.
Falling Action: The secret is out and the police are involved. Her peers no longer see her as an outcast, but as a hero. Rachel has reached out to Melinda and Melinda makes peace with her parents. Resolution: After acing her final art project, Melinda feels the need to finally talk to someone. She tells her story to Mr. Freeman.