David scott is a retired astronaut and was partnered with neil armstrong. He delivers racist rants in class until student david petrakis stands up to him. Ivy used to be a plain jane along with melinda, nicole, and rachel. Ivy wasnt at the party where melinda called cops and doesnt seem to have any reason to be mad at melinda. It stars kristen stewart as melinda sordino, a high school freshman who practically stops talking after a senior student rapes her. Heathers valentines day meanness hit melinda very hard. Character analysis of sordino in the book speak 932. Hes in melindas social studies class and is her lab partner in biology. Speak by laurie halse anderson about the book speak up for yourself we want to know what you have to say. The critically acclaimed, awardwinning, modern classic speak is now a stunning graphic novel. The fact that she was raped by a high school boy who she thought was ok makes her think twice about even the. Listen, the suffragettes were all about speaking up. Why did david petrakis walk out of mr necks class answers. David stands up for his right to voice his opinion and leaves.
What advice does david petrakis give melinda about. He guides her through biology class and through the ins and outs of the suffrage movement. He encourages her to stand up for herself, which later in the book helps her selfesteem. From the first moment of her freshman year at merryweather high, melinda knows that this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. Neck, looked at the flag, then picked up his books and left. Speak study guide answer each question with a complete sentence. How might a tree work symbolically to represent life. Speak essay essay assignment speak minor characters in. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. And i love how she titles the first art class sanctuary because a lot of times that is how art felt to me in high school. From the first moment of her freshman year at merryweather high, melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. Near the end of the book, melindas exbest friend rachel, who has been dating andy, breaks up with him on prom night after melinda tells her what really happened at the party. A lesson worth reading and worth analyzing every little detail, no matter how the writing is and no matter how repetitive it can get. This closet is abandoned it has no purpose, no name.
Keen and melinda are both the subjects of student gossip while david petrakis speaks as little as melinda does, at least at this point. How does davids comment connect with the rest of the novel. David petrakis david is a brainiac and one of the few people who treats melinda decently. The following poem was written by laurie halse anderson. Get everything you need to know about david petrakis in speak. Contrast the characer of david petrakis and melinda in. The character of david petrakis in speak from litcharts the. There are rumors of eggnog in the faculty lounge and everyone is getting away with murder. Printz honor book, a new york times bestseller, and an american library association best book for young adults. David s parents have hired a lawyer over what happened in class a few days ago.
Hes portrayed as a silly man who abuses his authority. David petrakis because hes able to speak his mind, while she is having a hard time doing so. On page 159, david petrakis says to melinda, you cant speak up for your right to be silent. Project muse why wont melinda just talk about what. Dave petrakis, who has successfully managed to avoid affiliating himself with a. Heather leaves melinda a note in her locker, asking her to meet her at her house after school. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Noticing melinda chapter 1, a speak fanfic fanfiction. Heather becomes angry with melinda for being an unsupportive friend, but quickly apologizes. David petrakis a former member of the plain janes, melindas middle school friend group, ivy is never as cruel to melinda as rachel is. Being a reporter for the philadelphia inquirer was a slight improvement, but she eventually quit to write books.
Why is melinda hesitant to go to the party david petrakis is throwing at his house to celebrate the basketball victory. David and his family have lawyers over this, and as part of evidence david is videotaping the class because if something like that does happen again, hell have it on video as evidence and possibly get the teacher fired or prosecuted in some way. What was the name melinda gave andy evans when he approached her table. When melinda doesnt speak, it is because she is isolating herself. He reminded me a lot of my art teachers in high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an endofsummer party by. Meanwhile, melindas parents are upset about her low grades and her apathy. He attempts to rape melinda a second time at the end of the novel, but she successfully fights.
Speak up for yourselfwe want to know what you have to say. Essay assignment, speak minor characters in the novel speak ha thi thu nghiem english 210 mr. In these sections, melinda finds a role model in david petrakis, reveals more of her family problems, and takes a step closer to speaking up about her life through her artwork. This is partly because shes convinced herself the envelope taped to her locker is a real valentine, either from a friend who wants to make up or david petrakis, her lab partner. In the novel, speak the author uses david petrakis. The story follows the experiences of social outcast, melinda sordino, during her freshman year at merryweather high school in syracuse, new york. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. She admires him from the beginning of the novel, when she explains that he is never bullied, even though he seems like the type that would be. He is smart, not afraid to speak his mind, and seems real.
David must have mentioned the hairyeyeball treatment to his lawyer that afternoon because the next day there is a videocamera set up in the back of class. The speak quotes below are all either spoken by david petrakis or refer to david petrakis. He successfully manages to make a big impact on melindas life. Her first novel, speak, was a national book award finalist, a michael l. Fourth marking period, gag orderadvice from a smart mouth. Neck tells everyone about how immigration is bad for the country just because his son didnt get a job. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. Speak is a novel written and published by laurie halse anderson in 1999. There is only a week before winter break and all the students are in rebellion mode. Why does david petrakis video his social studies class. I sort of wanted to look at melinda through david s eyes. Oct 22, 1999 speak, to me, is taken more as a lesson than just a book. What advice does david petrakis give melinda about speaking. Neck feels that there is reverse discrimination against white people with so many immigration in the country.
Melindas use of nicknames, her sarcastic tone, and her isolation suggest there are few people in her life she trusts let alone feels she can look up to or confide in. Melinda refers to herself as two things in this section, what are they. Speak summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. David petrakis he is melindas biology lab partner and is one of the few students in the school who will speak to her. In fact, she and melinda begin to become friends after spending a great deal of time together in mr. She slowly befriends her lab partner, david petrakis, who encourages her to speak up for herself. David scott was the first man to drive on the moon and the seventh man to walk on the moon. It was also made into a movie of the same name in 2004. David petrakis tells melinda this after she informs him that she received a d on her extra credit report. He is a little nerdy, but could be cute without his braces.
Get an answer for contrast the characer of david petrakis and melinda in speak. By slowly expressing herself through art, and by trusting in the kind guidance. He has brown hair and would be ashamed of himself because he got a b on a test. Like ivy, david petrakis becomes an ally of melindas, after beginning the year as her biology lab partner. Throughout the story, she comes across new characters in her life that help her to find her voice in various ways. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of speak by laurie halse anderson.
Generally considered a genius, david is also a principled and moral person, qualities that he displays when he protests mr. All that crap you hear on tv about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Neck, he goes the extra yard and threatens hom with a lawsuit. Friends heal each other, and this is demonstrated in the novel speak, by laurie halse anderson. What characterizes david as a true friend to melinda. I thought what you did was cool, but you cant make a difference unless you speak up. David is a brainiac and one of the few people who treats melinda decently. The following poem was written by laurie halse anderson in honor of the 10th anniversary of speak. How to describe the main characters from speak pen and. In biology class, melinda encounters david petrakis, her brilliant lab partner. These include heather, a new student from ohio, david petrakis, melindas lab partner, and mr. Melinda remembers these details after turning down pizza with david petrakis and his parents, because shes afraid hell try to hurt her. Give enough details in your answer to fully explain why he is upset. In the end, he also is one of those that helps her find her way to speaking again.
Speak characters from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. With the exception of the first and last stanzas, all of the words come from letters or emails written to her by readers. He is one of the few characters who sees past melindas reputation early in the novel. Jul 28, 2009 tribute 2 k nd m who are now currently going outi feel bad 4 them with all the rob pattinson rumors nd this is a dedication 2 them 2 keep going nd fight through the hard times. He is brilliant, confident, and assertive, qualities that melinda wishes she had. Study guide for the novel speak by laurie halse anderson. At the end of the novel, he tries to rape melinda a second time, but melinda screams and he is caught. Get an answer for what characterizes david as a true friend to melinda. In some instances, she sees people humiliated, such as rachel who speaks up against symbolism in english class. As melinda continues to doodle and daydream, a debate rages around her. David acts in a friendly way towards melinda, and may even show romantic interest in her, despite her hesitance and mistrust. What does melindas yard work symbolize metaphorically about her inner life.
When the team wins, she claps and cheers with the other kids. It is great to have friends, even if it is only a few. Hi guys, i decided to write this about speak because i really like the story and the characters. The name david is also an allusion to the story of david and goliath.
Generally considered a genius, david is also a principled and moral person, qualities that he read full character analysis. Is there a relationship between speaking and listening. She sobs out the story that the marthas have warned her that she is not meeting their standards. David petrakis like ivy, david petrakis becomes an ally of melinda s, after beginning the year as her biology lab partner. David seems to really, really like melinda as a friendor more. These instances reaffirm melindas belief that speaking only hurts you, never helps you. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the conversation. Chapter 31 first amendment, second verse thebestnotes. What advice does david petrakis give melinda about speaking up.
He is threatening to sue the school district and mr. As melinda watches, david turns on a tape recorder every time mr full context. The suffragettes were all about speaking up, screaming for their rights. Melinda sordino is a character from the book speak, who has so many things to say but can not figure out a way to do so by herself. Neck forbids the students from communicating their views, however, david petrakis steps in. How might a tree work symbolically to represent melindas life specifically. Character profile for david petrakis from speak page 1.
Neck brings an interesting debate to speak when he claims that immigrants kept his son from getting a job. Written in the form of diary entries telling the tale of a high. Neck as he begin losing both his tempter and the debate. This is melinda remembering how she felt as she was raped. I thought what you did was cool but you cant make a difference unless you speak up. Suffering in silence throughout the majority of the book, melinda eventually grows out of her seclusion end page 173 with the help of some friends who have not abandoned her and a brave fellow student named david petrakis, who stands up to a demoralizing teacher. What are some examples of when david was a good friend to melinda. Its more prominent in the book, with a few cute moments on valentines day and a mention that david watches her when he thinks she doesnt notice. In contrast to the silent and defensive melinda, david is determined to stand up for what he believes. He is the main antagonist of the book, and spends much of the narrative harassing melinda in various read full character analysis. Study 18 terms english mt speak flashcards quizlet.
As the story moves forward, david petrakis challenges mr. Everything has changed except graves mzi mahola 19 terms. The character of melindas mother in speak from litcharts. Contrast the characer of david petrakis and melinda in speak. Summary and analysis fourth marking period, gag orderadvice from a smart mouth summary david petrakis lawyer meets with mr. This infuriated david, which caused him to speak up. He offers an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on if melinda ever needs him. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino. Dec 12, 2012 i did really like her art teacher, mr. Get an answer for using the word speak, explain the significance of melinda admiring david. However, in other cases, such as david petrakis stance against mr. Friends give each other support and affection when they need it the most.
He is best known for depicting the life of greekamerican immigrants in the greektown neighborhood of chicago, illinois. His students, especially david petrakis, are quick to argue. His main action in the novel speak is when he supports melinda and tries to boost her selfesteem. First marking period welcome to merryweather high 1. Speak is a 2004 american independent comingofage teen drama film based on the awardwinning 1999 novel of the same name by laurie halse anderson. Its a short novel where the life of an individual is so much more, and worth so much more, but.
She identifies with that, but secretly seems to want him to speak to her. Complete list of characters in laurie halse andersons speak. Speak, to me, is taken more as a lesson than just a book. David now video tapes class to catch future incidents on tape. Friends are the people that help each other out of tough situations. Davids parents have hired a big, nasty, expensive lawyer. He argues that the us should have stopped all immigration in 1900. Why is david petrakis melindas hero in the book speak. David petrakis unquestionably helped melinda find her voice. The speak quotes below are all either spoken by melindas mother or refer to melindas mother.
Why does david s invitation push melinda to remember. David is melindas hero because he not only talks her into calling out mr. David petrakis is also fighting back about the freedom to speak. Aug 19, 2009 i need help answering some questions regarding the book speak by laurie halse anderson. Melinda reflects that speaking up always results in punishment. He is smart, not afraid to speak his mind, and seems real cool down to earth. Its not clear how much david suspects about melindas problems, but it seems likely hes aware things arent right with her. One way the book speak by laurie halse anderson shows empowerment is through. Who argues with hairwoman about symbols in the books. David is melindas academiccentered biology lab partner. Like ivy, david petrakis becomes an ally of melinda s, after beginning the year as her biology lab partner. He doesnt acknowledge melinda any more than he does anyone else around him.
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