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Trees as Symbols in Speakby

Laurie Halse Anderson

Trees as Symbols

In Speakby

Laurie Halse Anderson

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Directions for this Lesson:

Today you will belearning about thesymbolism Laurie HalseAnderson usessurrounding trees.

Some parts of the lessonare presenting newinformation. Anythingyou find important, youshould take notes on, justas you would off theboard.

Anything in red italicsis aquestion for the group to

discuss.

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WHAT IS A SYMBOL?

A word, phrase, or image that has complex meanings.

In other words, when a certain object, picture or idea is used inliterature to really represent something else, it is a symbol.

If you are reading and a certain idea or object keeps

reappearing, being described in interesting and complicatedways, there is a good chance it is meant to be looked at on adeeper levelperhaps a symbol of something else!

For example: We notice that Laurie Halse Andersoncontinually brings up trees in Speak, so it becomes our jobas the reader to look deeper into why she makes such a bigdeal about trees. What is she really trying to get us to see?

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What is a tree, really?

A tree is a plantthat occurs inmany different forms. Trees

show a variety of formationsincluding different leaf type

and shape, bark

characteristics, andreproductive organs.

Compared with most otherplants, trees are long-lived,

some reaching several thousandyears old and growing to up to

379 ft high.

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Melindas Connection to TreesMelinda first starts thinking about trees when

She draws TREE out of a globe for her year-long artassignment in Mr. Freemans class.

-At first she is annoyed, thinking, Tree? That is too easy!Anyone can draw a tree." But she soon comes to realize thecomplexity and beauty that lies within the subject.

-As the novel continues, we start to see that Melinda has adeeper connection to trees than just an art assignmentits upto us to find the otherMeanings that lie within the text..

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The Roots of a Tree and Melinda:

The roots of a tree areembedded in earth, providingan anchor and a way to absorbwater and nutrients from thesoil.

While ground nutrients are essential

to a tree's growth, the majority of itsgrowth comes from carbon dioxideabsorbed from the atmosphere.

The roots systems of trees areintricate and complicated

WHAT ARE MELINDASROOTS?

What embeds and anchorsher?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/WisconsinScenery.jpg

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What happens when roots become

damaged?

Damaging roots on a treemay cause branches to die.

You cannot have healthy branches ifthe roots are damaged. Eventually

the disease will spread throughoutthe tree, taking over.

How have Melindas rootsbeen damaged?

Once her roots were damaged,what were the consequences

that followed? What branches

withered and died?

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The branch system of a tree

A tree branch is a woodystructural piece connected tobut not part ofthe centraltrunk of a tree.

Large branches are known asboughs and small branchesare known as twigs.

A bough can also be called a limb orarm. What are Melindas

branches?

What people or things doesshe feel connected to but not a

part of?

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Pruning 101

Pruning is when branches are cutback.

If you do not prune branches, thetree will become overgrown.

If you prune too much, the tree will bear

less fruit and leaves, and will not appear

beautiful.

Removal of deadwood ordiseased limbs will usually resultin an ugly plant.

Has Melinda lost so manybranches that she is now ugly?

Who is responsible for breakingdown these branches?

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What happens when treebranches are pruned?

Pruning can be harmful to a

newly planted trees health.

Pruning branches ontrees not yet planted does

not help a tree growbetter or establish abalance between theroots and the branches.

A newly planted tree needs all the

leaves it has to help support the

growth of new roots. Pruning trees

before they are ready hurts the trees

ability to become established. How do you think the events in

Melindas life will shape the wayshe grows and develops in the

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Trees + Symbolism = Melinda?

Clearly Laurie Halse Anderson has a plan when she plants the idea oftrees in this novel.

ThetreegraduallybecomesasymbolinthetextthatrepresentsMelindassufferingandrecovery.

Does this symbol make sense to you? Is it a good choice by theauthor to use a tree to symbolize Melinda?

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What happens when trees becomesick?

When a tree becomes sick, itmust either be cared for, orchopped down.

If it is ignored, itwill continue to rotuntil eventually itdies.

Can we say the same for humans?Once someone is mentally sick like

Melinda, will they eventually die if they

are not cared for?

How will Melinda be healed enough toshed her unhealthy bark and dead

leaves in order to grow anew?

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Interpret a quote

The sun goes behind a cloud and I shiver. I shouldhave worn a sweatshirt. The wind rustles deadleaves still clinging to the oak branches by thestreet. All I can think of is that the rest of theleaves are going to drop and Ill have to keep onrakingI shouldnt have raked anything. Lookwhat I started.

(Melinda, page 167 of Speak) What is Melinda referring to when she talks about raking

up dead leaves? Do you agree with her, should she have never started

raking up leaves if it seems theyll just continue falling?

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Why a tree as a symbol?

Because of their shape acentral trunk with branches likearms and fingers, bark like skin trees lend themselves toidentification with the human

form. We can compare trees and

humans easily in how they look.However, we can also comparethe way trees grow and die to thehuman life as well.

What other things in naturecould we compare human

beings to?

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Your Task:

Laurie Halse Anderson choseto use the tree as a symbol forMelinda in Speak.

Now you will choose asymbol that you feel

represents Melinda. You may draw the symbol if

you wish, or you can justjournal about it. You will usethe remaining time in class tocreate your symbol anddescribe it in as much detail aspossible.