Speak A Coming Of Age Novel

1287 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Coming of age literature essay

Gurneer Gill Ms.DelZotti ENG1D1 May 19, 2015 The Phases of Life When growing up, we go through a lot of different phases in life. There is this one phase in life where one always acts impulsively, another where one just does not know what to do, and a last phase where one looks at life with new eyes and with maturity. Just like everyone else, Melinda Sordino, a ninth grader in Laurie Halse Anderson’s book, Speak, went through this experience after a traumatic assault at an end-of-the summer party. By looking at Melinda’s innocence at the beginning of the novel, struggles in the middle of the novel and the maturity at the end of the novel, it is evident that Speak is a coming of age novel. Speak is a coming of age novel because of Melinda’s innocence and immaturity at the beginning of the …show more content…

Firstly, Melinda demonstrates her innocence at the beginning of the novel when she flees the cafeteria because Mr.Neck tries to track her down for her homework. Melinda is in the cafeteria during lunch, when Mr.Neck tracks her through the crowd demanding her homework. This is when Melinda makes a plan: “I cut through the lunch line, loop around a couple making out by the door and start down the hall” (Halse Anderson 25). Melinda shows immaturity when she decides to run away from her problems. She does not realize that running away from her problems is not going to help her failing grades or help her during a future job. By not facing her problems, Melinda shows her innocence and naivety. Secondly, Melinda displays her immaturity during the first-marking period of the novel, when Melinda does not stand up for herself when her class was making fun of her name. Melinda is in Spanish class when

Show More
Related

  • Sandra Cisneros Eleven

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, focuses around the main character Rachel as an insecure developing girl who lacks the experience to handle everyday encounters. Rachel, an eleven year old girl truly encapsulates the thoughts that are present within an adolescent. The lack of confidence in herself, excessive fear of being judged, and ideas of growing up are ideals that are relevant within each and every one of us. The reader is able to relate to Rachel because her feelings and experiences that are described by the author are similar to what most people have been through and are currently experiencing. The characterization of Rachel is expressed through the author’s usage of point of view, imagery, and repetition.

    Read More

  • Speak

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    In both the film and novel, "Speak" by Lauren Halsen Anderson uses literary devices to demonstrate the experience the protagonist, Melinda Sordino faced as a teenage rape victim, as well as the steps necessary to cope and move on with her life. Both film and book share a great similarity in the conflict that goes on, as well as the flash backs indicated throughout this piece of work. Also, the symbolism shaped by the protagonist makes it more clear to understand the tramautic event. Moreover, the novel and film appears to be both familiar in many ways due to these elements followed by examples.

    Read More

  • Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the book Melinda was very shy and self conscious. Since everyone thought she called the police they didn’t want to be friends with her so she was going into high school with no friends." I have entered high school with the wrong hair , wrong clothes , the wrong attitude . And I don't have anyone to sit with . I am an Outcast.” (4 Anderson) This made her very shy and she just minded her own business. On the first day of school Melinda was getting on the bus and she didn’t know where to sit. She thought if she sat in the back she would get made fun of but if she sat in the front she would look like a little kid. She chose the front because she doesn’t want to walk down the bus aisle past her friends because they were mad at her. She was being shy and didn’t want to make up with her friends. This also happens at lunch because her old friends didn’t want to sit with her so she was going to sit with another new girl Heather but she didn't get the chance to. She thought, “I am Outcast” (Anderson 4). She didn’t want people to judge her on where she sat so she was debating. At lunch she was walking back from buying her lunch and a ...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Korina Cesteni's The Body

    538 Words  | 2 Pages

    Korina Cesteni’s article “King’s Coming of Age Tale”, describes that kids mature through many different ways according to their circumstances. Cesteni’s article focuses on Stephen King’s Different Seasons, The Body. Kids mature and begin to realize they are no longer children when they are put through various situations. They also mature through dealing with experiences including death, pain, injustice, and abuse.” Cesteni explains that Stephen King’s novella “The Body” is a,” bittersweet coming of age story.” In the novella, “The Body”, there are four main characters: Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern. They are twelve year old boys who venture out to find the body of Ray Brower. During this journey, they realize that, “They are no longer children.”

    Read More

  • Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coming-of-age stories commonly record the transitions—sometimes abrupt, or even violent—from youth to maturity, from innocence to experience of its protagonist, whether male or female. Greasy Lake by T.Coraghessan Boyle and Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates are great examples of traditional coming-of-age stories. The roots of the coming-of-age narrative theme are tracked in the male protagonist’s perspective for Boyle’s short story, while the Oates’ story captures the coming-of-age theme from Connie; a female protagonist’s perspective. In both short stories, the authors fulfill the expectations of a coming-of-age genre when they take us through the journey of rebellion and self realization, as the

    Read More

  • Melinda Sordino's Miscommunication

    240 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Melinda Sordino’s freshman year of high school she encounters many conflicts, one of the biggest is that she must communicate with her parents about what is taking place in her life. On Thanksgiving morning, Melinda’s mother struggles preparing her store for Black Friday and the big dinner for that night. When Melinda enters the kitchen her mother sends her to the TV to watch the parades. After a while, she decides to go back to the kitchen for soda, where her mother instead, “pours her orange juice, which [she] can’t drink because it burns [her] scabby lips” (58). Mrs. Sordino’s oblivion towards Melinda makes it harder for her to communicate with her parents.The miscommunication throughout the family is what tears it apart, separating it

    Read More

  • Creative Discovery In Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Laurie Halse Anderson’s short novel Speak, a teenage girl named Melinda Sordino makes an attempt to face the trauma of being assaulted, while, at the same time, facing the rough transition into high school. Melinda’s friend Ivy is an artistic and unconventional fellow freshman who helped our protagonist most to find her voice.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'On The Sidewalk Bleeding'

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conclusion: The author Evan Hunter, of the story, “On The Sidewalk Bleeding” successfully demonstrates the theme of Coming of Age as he shifted his main character from an adolescent, idealistic view of the world to a more mature and realistic view. The character matured from making ignorant and selfish decisions to a more knowledgeable and selfless decisions. Andy came of age from a boy to a man, as he lay on the street bleeding to death. All in all these newly developed characteristics all prove the genre of coming of

    Read More

  • The Innocence of Childhood in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Growing up and becoming mature can be an intimidating experience; it is difficult to let go of one’s childhood and embrace the adult world. For some people, this transition from youthfulness to maturity can be much more difficult than for others. These people often try to hold on to their childhood as long as they can. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. One cannot spend their entire life running from the responsibilities and hardships of adulthood because they will eventually have to accept the fact that they have a role in society that they must fulfill as a responsible, mature individual. The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger follows the endeavours of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who faces a point in his life where he must make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In an attempt to retain his own childhood, he begins hoping to stop other young children from growing up and losing their innocence as well. As indicated by the title, “The Catcher in the Rye” is a book that explores a theme involving the preservation of innocence, especially of children. It is a story about a boy who is far too hesitant to grow up, and feels the need to ensure that no one else around him has to grow up either. His own fear of maturity and growing up is what leads to Holden’s desire to become a “catcher in the rye” so he can save innocent children from becoming part of the “phoniness” of the adult world.

    Read More

  • Speak Book Vs Movie Essay

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel Speak, written by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a girl, who gets raped in the summer before the start of her freshman year in high school and the book follows her as she tries to cope with the depression that comes that kind of violation. This book was turned into a movie; and released early in the early 2000’s and when adapting books to film, a lot of information and details are lost in the process. When comparing Speak the novel and Speak the movie, the noticeable differences are; the character relationships, Melinda’s character, and Andy Evans and Melinda’s dynamic.

    Read More

  • Twisted And Speak Analysis

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adolescence; a time of growing up, but also a time where one must face the many obstacles before adulthood. In her young adult novels, Twisted and Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson describes the challenges adolescents face from both a male and female perspective. She builds the theme of overcoming challenges by telling the stories of two high school students who must get through obstacles by facing them head on.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Melinda In Speak By Laurie Hales Anderson

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the breathtaking book, Speak, by Laurie Hales Anderson, she gives insight into the ups and downs of high school in the eyes of her main character, Melinda. More specifically, Anderson focuses on one down fall, which happens primarily through Melinda “[Going] to [an] end-of the summer party, with beer, seniors, and music” and getting raped (Anderson, 133). While rape victims should tell their story, Anderson rejects the significance of having Melinda talk of her case as a way of showing the consequence of holding your tongue. Efficiently, as a result of her not speaking of her assault at the party, it causes her to go through an important change from the beginning of the novel, to the ending of the novel. According

    Read More

  • Vault Of Dreamers

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coming of age is a difficult stage of life that everyone experiences at one time or another, a large part of this is finding a new sense of self-identity. People define themselves by their relationships, their morals and beliefs, and mental state. The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien is about a teen girl named Rosie being accepted into her dream arts school. This school is also a reality show that broadcasts and ranks students based on popularity. During the night the students are obligated to take sleeping pills but one night Rosie stays up and discovers that she and her fellow students are at danger while asleep. The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien proves that one develops a new personal identity when there are at their weakest

    Read More

  • Thirteen: The Age of Adolescence

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adolescence is the stage in life when you are no longer a child, but not yet an adult. There are many things that still need to be explored, learned and conquered. In the film Thirteen, the main character, Tracy Freeland, is just entering adolescence. While trying to conquer Erikson’s theory of Identity vs. Role confusion, Tracy is affected by many influences, including family and friends that hinder her development. Many concepts from what we have learned in class can be applied to this character from identity development, to depression, to adolescent sexuality and more. In this film Tracy is a prime example of an adolescent and much of what I have learned this year can be applied to her character.

    Read More

  • Exploring Acceptance and Boundaries in Teenagers: A Study of 'The Adoration of Jenna Fox'

    340 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the novel “The Adoration of Jenna Fox” written by Mary E Pearson, two important ideas that are shown throughout the novel is Acceptance and Boundaries. Acceptance is important to a teenager because they are going through that time in there life where most things about them change and they just have to accept that. Boundaries is shown in the way that Jenna’s parents hold her back

    Read More

More about Speak A Coming Of Age Novel

Open Document