Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Trees as Symbols in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Trees as Symbols In Speak by Laurie
Halse Anderson
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Directions for this Lesson

• Today you will be learning about the symbolism
  Laurie Halse Anderson uses surrounding trees.
• Some parts of the lesson are presenting new
  information. Anything you find important, you
  should take notes on, just as you would off the
  board.
• Anything in red italics is a question 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 in literature 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 complicated ways, there is a good chance it
  is meant to be looked at on a deeper
  levelperhaps a symbol of something else!
• For example We notice that Laurie Halse
  Anderson continually brings up trees in Speak, so
  it becomes our job as the reader to look deeper
  into why she makes such a big deal 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 plant that occurs in many different
  forms. Trees show a variety of formationsincludin
  g different leaf type and shape, bark
  characteristics, and reproductive organs.
• Compared with most other plants, trees are
  long-lived, some reaching several thousand years
  old and growing to up to 379 ft high.

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Melindas Connection to Trees
-Melinda first starts thinking about trees when
She draws TREE out of a globe for her
year-long art assignment 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 the
complexity and beauty that lies within the
subject. -As the novel continues, we start to
see that Melinda has a deeper connection to trees
than just an art assignmentits up to us to find
the other Meanings that lie within the
text..
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The Roots of a Tree and Melinda

• The roots of a tree are embedded in earth,
  providing an anchor and a way to absorb water and
  nutrients from the soil.
• While ground nutrients are essential to a tree's
  growth, the majority of its growth comes from
  carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere.
• The roots systems of trees are intricate and
  complicated
• WHAT ARE MELINDAS ROOTS?
• What embeds and anchors her?

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What happens when roots become damaged?

• Damaging roots on a tree may cause branches to
  die.
• You cannot have healthy branches if the roots are
  damaged. Eventually the disease will spread
  throughout the tree, taking over.
• How have Melindas roots been 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 woody structural piece
  connected to but not part of the central trunk of
  a tree.
• Large branches are known as boughs and small
  branches are known as twigs.
• A bough can also be called a limb or arm.
• What are Melindas branches?
• What people or things does she feel connected to
  but not a part of?

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Pruning 101

• Pruning is when branches are cut back.
• If you do not prune branches, the tree will
  become overgrown.
• If you prune too much, the tree will bear less
  fruit and leaves, and will not appear
  beautiful.
• Removal of deadwood or diseased limbs will
  usually result in an ugly plant.
• Has Melinda lost so many branches that she is
  now ugly?
• Who is responsible for breaking down these
  branches?

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What happens when tree branches are pruned?

• Pruning can be harmful to a newly planted trees
  health.
• Pruning branches on trees not yet planted does
  not help a tree grow better or establish a
  balance between the roots 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 way she grows and develops in the
  future?

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Trees Symbolism Melinda?

• Clearly Laurie Halse Anderson has a plan when she
  plants the idea of trees in this novel.
• The tree gradually becomes a symbol in the text
  that represents Melindas suffering and recovery.
• Does this symbol make sense to you? Is it a good
  choice by the author to use a tree to symbolize
  Melinda?

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What happens when trees become sick?

• When a tree becomes sick, it must either be cared
  for, or chopped down.
• If it is ignored, it will continue to rot until
  eventually it dies.
• 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 to shed 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
  should have worn a sweatshirt. The wind rustles
  dead leaves still clinging to the oak branches by
  the street. All I can think of is that the rest
  of the leaves are going to drop and Ill have to
  keep on rakingI shouldnt have raked anything.
  Look what 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 a central trunk with
  branches like arms and fingers, bark like skin
  trees lend themselves to identification with the
  human form.
• We can compare trees and humans easily in how
  they look. However, we can also compare the way
  trees grow and die to the human life as well.
• What other things in nature could we compare
  human beings to?

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Your Task

• Laurie Halse Anderson chose to use the tree as a
  symbol for Melinda in Speak.
• Now you will choose a symbol that you feel
  represents Melinda.
• You may draw the symbol if you wish, or you can
  just journal about it. You will use the
  remaining time in class to create your symbol and
  describe it in as much detail as possible.