Can Melinda grow like her Tree?

He says, Welcome to Art. pg10

SOUL he writes on the board. Pg10

Make your object speak to every person who looks at it. Pg 12

Tree? It's too easy. Pg 12

I can't make mine look real. Pg 78

I can't bring it to life. Pg 78

My last tree looked like it had died from some infection. Pg 92

This has meaning. Pain. Pg 65

I should let it out, blurt it out. Pg99

Cool on my hands, but did nothing for my tree. Pg103

You must walk alone to find your soul. Pg118

Skinny rectangles for branches, now you're getting somewhere. Pg119

My tree stinks. Pg122

Hush rustle chitachita shhh… pg167

It isn't perfect. Pg198

And that makes it just perfect. Pg198

Maddie Joyce

Period 2

November 17, 2009

English Contemp.

ABSENT

Why did you choose what you chose and write what wrote?

In the novel, Speak, Melinda's drawing of a tree was a very important motif. The tree symbolizes her journey to find the courage to speak up for herself. Throughout the process, her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, gave Melinda an assignment to draw a tree. Melinda didn't like the topic she received but decided to deal with her assignment. While Melinda was dealing with her sexual attack, she began to focus more on her assignment. I feel as if her art was a main reason why she found her voice because through her art, she began to open up and let others know. Mr. Freeman knew from the beginning that Melinda had a story to tell. As the story progresses, Melinda's tree became more of her, just like she began to open up about what happened that night of the party. In the end, Melinda realized that her tree was hers- it wasn't perfect but it was right.