If you enjoy speaking in public—actually
look forward to standing in front of a packed auditorium and reciting one of
Hamlet’s soliloquies or sharing your views on life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness—good for you, but you’re in the minority. Most people dread
it, just like the narrator of our next book, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
A Rose by Any Other Name
Melinda Sordino. She's the protagonist of Speak, and despite Juliet’s views on roses,
Melinda's name matters. Sordino is a musical term instructing a performer to “mute”
an instrument, therefore:
Sordino = Mute
So . . . what’s a girl with the
last name “mute” doing in a book called Speak?
Good question. The answer? Lot of things, one of which happens to be attempting
to survive her Freshman year at Merryweather High School.
Motifs and Symbols and Metaphors, Oh My!
But back to Melinda's last name: it's just one of the many clever literary shenanigans L.H. Anderson engages in during Speak. Some others to contemplate are what Anderson has done with:
- trees
- the weather
- The Scarlet Letter
- Melinda's mouth
- rabbits
- closets
- mirrors
- silence
- Maya Angelou
- Melinda's hornet allergy
This book is full of symbolism, including extended metaphors and motifs (we'll discuss the subtle differences between these terms), and it also tackles three universal themes:
- Individual v. Individual
- Individual v. Self
- Individual v. Society
So, yeah. We'll have a lot to discuss when we get together on Monday the 6th.
Bring along your questions and comments ...
... as well as any thoughts you have on the symbolism you notice in the book or the way those three universal themes manifest themselves.
Happy reading!
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