of 15
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
1/15
Trees as Symbols in Speakby
Laurie Halse Anderson
Trees as Symbols
In Speakby
Laurie Halse Anderson
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
2/15
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.
http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/servlet/JiveServlet/download/21-2372-3662-1162/audience.gif8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
3/15
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?
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
4/15
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.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpg8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
5/15
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..
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coastal_redwood.jpg8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
6/15
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.jpg8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
7/15
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?
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
8/15
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?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Emirgan_04589.jpg8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
9/15
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?
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
10/15
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
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
11/15
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?
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
12/15
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?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
13/15
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?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animated-gifs/leafy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.strayline.com/graphics/animations/animations.html&h=200&w=200&sz=96&hl=en&start=17&usg=__UGg3axJPhsvorOFZM2UJhEERqv0=&tbnid=xV8lbwiE02Q60M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfalling%2Bleaf%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
14/15
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?
8/3/2019 Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse[1]
15/15
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.