Speak – Literary Analysis Journal Name: ____________________________
Marking Period 3 Period: ______
English 9 – Mrs. Mace
Analysis/Questions Plot Summary
“Death to the Wombats” “Death to the Wombats”
· What change occurs AGAIN at
MerryWeather High School?
What does this represent/symbolize?
· Find an ALLUSION on page 97.
On the first day of school Melinda
refers to herself in a similar way.
What does each of these representations
say about Melinda’s perception of herself?
“Escape” “Escape”
· What does Melinda feel she should do, just to
get it over with?
“Breaking the Code” “Breaking the Code”
· Why does the symbolism discussion make Melinda
even more reluctant to SPEAK?
· What other references to SPEAKING (or not) do you
find in pages 95-102? In the rest of this section?
“Stunted” “Stunted”
· Why does Melinda say that Mr,. Freeman is the
“sanest person she knows”?
“Lunch Doom” “Lunch Doom”
· What devastating event occurs?
· How do you think this makes Melinda feel about
herself?
“Conjugate” “Conjugate”
· Why do you think Melinda skips Spanish?
“Cutting Out Hearts” “Cutting Out Hearts”
· How is this title both literal and symbolic?
· Who does Melinda like?
· From whom does she receive a card on Valentine’s
Day? What is ironic about the card? What else is in the card?
· How does this impact Melinda’s view of herself?
“Lady of the Waiting Room” “Lady of the Waiting Room”
· Why does Melinda like to be in the waiting rooms?
· What do they offer her that is unavailable at school?
· How does it make her feel to be around physically sick people?
“MISS” “MISS”
· Who else shows up at detention? What is her
reaction to this?
“Picasso” “Picasso”
· What does Mr. Freeman mean when he says
“You must walk alone to find your soul”?
· Why does cubism appeal to Melinda?
“Riding Shotgun” “Riding Shotgun”
· What are some of the specific things Mr. Freeman
says that would resonate with Melinda?
Why would these things have an effect on her?
“Hall of Mirrors” “Hall of Mirrors”
· How is Melinda similar to the victims she mentions?
· Where do you see evidence that she recognizes she is
not normal and needs to change?
Speak – Literary Analysis Journal Name: ____________________________
Marking Period 3 Period: ______
English 9 – Mrs. Mace
Analysis/Questions Plot Summary
“Germination” “Germination”
· In what way is the discussion of seeds symbolic?
· Whom does it represent? What process is described?
“Bologna Exile” “Bologna Exile”
· Find an example of personification
· What is symbolic about the fact that Melinda turns
her shirt around to hide the stain?
· What clans are mentioned in this section?
“Stupid Stupid” “Stupid Stupid”
· Why are there TWO Melindas? OR are there three?
· What does each represent?
· What is the issue that concerns her in this section?
“Night to Remember” “Night to Remember”
· This section contains an extended _________.
· What do we finally learn – in detail?
· What is your opinion about the way this event is described?
· Why does this revelation occur at this point in the story?
· What is revealed about the character by including this information
here?