Struggles through High School Padlet by Blake Spangler

Symbolism

spangler1 — 2019-02-13 13:24:22 UTC

“I hang out in my refurbished closet. It is shaping up nicely... I sneak into my closet after school because I can’t face the idea of riding home on a busful of sweaty, smiling teeth sucking up my oxygen” (Anderson 50).

The closet space Melinda is referring to her safe place. It’s her way of getting away from the people she doesn’t like at her school and at home. She stays in the janitors closet at school, because she, as a character, can’t face large groups of people yet. At home, she feels safe from her parents fighting and arguing all the time.

Figurative Language

spangler1 — 2019-02-13 13:36:56 UTC

“There is a beast in my gut, I can hear it scraping away at the inside of my ribs” (Anderson 51).

There is obviously not a monster inside of Melindas stomach. This quote on quote monster inside Melindas stomach, is referring to the guilt that she has againist her. The guilt is being built up because she won’t speak up about how she was raped. She doesn’t feel, as a character, that she’s ready to Speak out.

Simile

spangler1 — 2019-02-13 13:42:23 UTC

“I have been dropped like a hot Pop Tart on a cold kitchen floor” (Anderson 21).

Melinda is comparing her self to a warm pop tart. She is saying that she is being dropped by an old friend, Heather, just as the pop tart is being dropped into the ground. This shows how Melinda feels really sad and depressed, as a character, within Speak.

Hyperbole

spangler1 — 2019-02-13 13:44:33 UTC

“I keep looking in my locker for a book that I already know isn’t there. David checks his watch a hundred times” (Anderson 159).

Melinda is exaggerating by saying that David checked his watch that numerous amount of times. Although it may have seemed that way to Melinda, he probably did not check it that often. This shows that Melinda is an impatient character in Speak.

Irony

spangler1 — 2019-02-14 00:32:24 UTC

"The light flicks on as the door closes. I am trapped with Andy Evans... His mouth is on my face. I twist my head. His lips are wet, his teeth knock against my cheekbone" (Anderson 193-194).

Althpough the closets throughout Speak represent her safe places, it is ironic that Andy Evan finds her safe place and almost rapes her for a second time. She goes to the closet to hide from what huting her, but whats hurting her the most finds her hiding spot.

Metaphor

spangler1 — 2019-02-14 01:27:33 UTC

"My lip bleeds a little. It tastes like metal" (Anderson 46).

When Melinda says this quote she is saying that she knows it is not good to bite your lip but she does it out of anxiety anyway. This is yet another example showing how Melinda has anxiety, as a character inside Speak.

Works Cited

spangler1 — 2019-02-14 02:01:41 UTC

"Bloody Lips." Red Technology Background, Background, Background Panels, Red Background Image for Free Download. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019.

"Janitor's Closet." Sacred Learning Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019.

"Closet Door." Scribblenauts Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019.

"File:Poptart.PNG." Popular Music References - Homestar Runner Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019. .

"Monster Png 2." PNG Image Little Tree Png 4 Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019.

"Men's Wrist Band Watch." PurePNG | Free Transparent CC0 PNG Image Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2019.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York : Square Fish, 2011. Print.