Motifs In Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak

In the novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson utilizes the motif of the janitor's closet to show the growth and changes Melinda goes through, starting nonfunctional, and then finally finding her voice and learning how to “speak”.
A literary device is a tool that the author uses to transfer a message to the reader. This can help the reader grow appreciation for the work, and better understand the character personality and other traits that are otherwise difficult to convey to the audience. There were several different literary devices that were used throughout the book but I chose to do my paper on a motif.
A motif is a reoccurring symbol or element that generally helps to develop or contribute to the theme or the mood of the text. In Speak it was usually used to alter both the mood and

This is the place she goes to when others push her out or she feels unaccepted by her peers. When Mr. Neck comes chasing after her in an effort to escape she stumbles across this closest and in some way is her safe haven throughout the book. Because, even though the nothing in the room worked, and it stunk in the room it still felt like the most inviting place in the world to have something represent her and be just to herself where no one could judge. Because once she examined the room her words were, “The closet is abandoned- It has no purpose, no name, It is the perfect place for me.” -Anderson Page 26
In the beginning of the book I believe that there are several ways that the janitor’s closet represents Melenda. One example is that nothing works in the closet worked just in the way that Melinda could barely function in the beginning because she was trying to shut her emotions out. Another example of that would be, that the closet could be used again it would just need lots of work to get it back to the way it was, just as Melenda needed a great deal of help to get back to the way she was before she was