Speak Flashcards

  1. Who is the protagonist of "Speak"?

    • Melinda Sordino

  2. What traumatic event happens to Melinda at the summer party?

    • She is raped by Andy Evans.

  3. Why does Melinda call the police at the party?

    • She calls to report her assault, but she can't bring herself to speak, and the party gets broken up by the police.

  4. How does Melinda's social status change when school starts?

    • She becomes an outcast because her classmates blame her for calling the police.

  5. What subject does Mr. Freeman teach?

    • Art

  6. What is the name of Melinda's former best friend?

    • Rachel Bruin

  7. Who is Melinda's lab partner in biology?

    • David Petrakis

  8. What project does Melinda work on in art class?

    • A tree

  9. What is the significance of the janitor's closet for Melinda?

    • It becomes her refuge and a place where she feels safe.

  10. Who are "the Marthas"?

    • A clique of high-achieving girls at Melinda's school.

  11. What does Heather do that upsets Melinda?

    • Heather leaves Melinda to join the Marthas and seeks popularity.

  12. How does Melinda's relationship with her parents affect her?

    • Her parents are distant and preoccupied, contributing to her feelings of isolation.

  13. What role does Mr. Neck play in the story?

    • He is Melinda's social studies teacher and represents authority and conflict.

  14. How does Melinda's relationship with Mr. Freeman evolve?

    • He becomes a supportive figure and encourages her to express herself through art.

  15. Why does Melinda find it difficult to speak about her trauma?

    • She feels shame, fear, and guilt, and struggles with finding the right words.

  16. How does Melinda's interaction with Ivy help her?

    • Ivy's kindness and shared interest in art help Melinda feel less isolated.

  17. What does Melinda discover about Andy Evans' behavior?

    • She learns that he has a history of being predatory towards other girls.

  18. What happens at the prom with Rachel and Andy?

    • Rachel breaks up with Andy after Melinda warns her about him.

  19. How does Melinda start to heal and find her voice?

    • Through her art, support from Mr. Freeman, and confronting her trauma.

  20. What does Melinda do to confront Andy Evans?

    • She finally stands up to him and tells him to leave her alone, finding her strength.

  21. How does Melinda's school performance change throughout the novel?

    • It deteriorates due to her emotional struggle but improves as she begins to heal.

  22. What does Melinda's changing relationship with her art project symbolize?

    • Her growth and healing process.

  23. Why does Melinda compare herself to a wounded animal?

    • She feels vulnerable and hurt, much like an injured animal seeking safety.

  24. How does the changing season reflect Melinda's internal state?

    • As winter turns to spring, it symbolizes Melinda's journey towards renewal and hope.

  25. What does Melinda write on the bathroom wall?

    • She writes about her trauma, which eventually helps her to open up.

  26. How does Melinda's relationship with her parents improve?

    • They begin to understand her struggles and provide more support.

  27. What does Melinda's final art piece represent?

    • Her strength, growth, and ability to overcome her trauma.

  28. How does Melinda use humor as a coping mechanism?

    • She uses sarcasm and humor to mask her pain and deal with difficult situations.

  29. What does Melinda's reclaimed voice at the end of the novel signify?

    • Her empowerment and readiness to face her past and future with courage.

  30. What is the significance of the title "Speak"?

    • It represents Melinda's journey to find her voice and speak out about her trauma.

  31. How does Melinda's art project evolve throughout the novel?

    • It starts as a vague and struggling effort but grows into a powerful expression of her emotions.

  32. Why does Melinda refuse to help Heather with the Marthas' project later in the novel?

    • Because Heather had abandoned her and she realizes her own worth.

  33. What role does the tree in Melinda's yard play in the story?

    • It symbolizes Melinda's growth and the need for pruning the dead parts to allow new growth.

  34. How does Melinda's relationship with her parents change by the end of the novel?

    • They become more aware of her struggles and start to reconnect with her.

  35. What prompts Melinda to finally speak out about her trauma?

    • Her growing strength, support from others, and the need to stop Andy from hurting others.

  36. What does Melinda's creation of the tree art project symbolize?

    • Her journey of healing and reclaiming her identity.

  37. How does the school environment contribute to Melinda's feelings of isolation?

    • The social dynamics and lack of support from peers and teachers contribute to her sense of loneliness.

  38. What role does Melinda's notebook play in the story?

    • It serves as a place for her to express her thoughts and feelings privately.

  39. How does Melinda's view of herself change throughout the novel?

    • She goes from feeling worthless and ashamed to recognizing her strength and worth.

  40. What does Melinda's decision to confront Andy Evans at the end of the novel signify?

    • Her reclaiming of her voice and power, and her determination to move forward.

  1. Identify the speaker and significance: “I am outcast.”

    • Melinda Sordino; It highlights her feeling of isolation and rejection at school.

  2. Identify the speaker and significance: “He is the wolf. I am the rabbit.”

    • Melinda Sordino; It signifies her sense of vulnerability and being preyed upon by Andy Evans.

  3. Identify the speaker and significance: “I don’t have to pick out clothes, buy shoes, go to the mall. Nothing. I work with clay and get lost.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This shows how art becomes her escape and therapy.

  4. Identify the speaker and significance: “The more I play with it, the more it comes into focus. This tree needs something.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This reflects her journey to understand and heal herself through her art project.

  5. Identify the speaker and significance: “IT sees me. IT smiles and winks. Good thing my lips are stitched together or I’d throw up.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This shows her fear and disgust towards Andy Evans.

  6. Identify the speaker and significance: “I have never heard a more eloquent silence.”

    • Mr. Freeman; This acknowledges Melinda's struggle to speak out and his understanding of her pain.

  7. Identify the speaker and significance: “You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.”

    • David Petrakis; This encourages Melinda to find her own voice and beliefs.

  8. Identify the speaker and significance: “When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This underscores the importance of speaking out and the damaging effects of silence.

  9. Identify the speaker and significance: “IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This is her acknowledgment of her trauma and the need to confront it.

  10. Identify the speaker and significance: “I will make myself speak. I will say what happened. Stop the lies. The snowball in my throat melts a little.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This signifies her determination to reclaim her voice and tell the truth.

  11. Identify the speaker and significance: “A voice in my head says 'Behold the chunks of my lung as they burn'."

    • Melinda Sordino; This reflects her internal struggle and the physical manifestation of her stress.

  12. Identify the speaker and significance: “This is where you can find your soul, if you dare.”

    • Mr. Freeman; He encourages Melinda to use art to discover and express her inner self.

  13. Identify the speaker and significance: “Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag.”

    • Mr. Freeman; He emphasizes the importance of emotion in artistic expression.

  14. Identify the speaker and significance: “I close my eyes. Breathe in. It’s not happening.”

    • Melinda Sordino; This shows her attempt to cope with and deny the trauma she experienced.