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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Rachelle reclaiming?

2. What does Melinda do on Halloween?

3. What does Melinda see as her job in algebra class?

4. How does Melinda get her potatoes and gravy on her blouse?

5. What happens when Melinda tries to talk to her parents or a teacher in "Second Marking Period"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the Marthas and why does Melinda talk about them?

2. How does Melinda find a safe space for herself at school and what is the space like?

3. What is making it more difficult for Melinda to talk, and what does she wish to do about what is keeping her quiet?

4. Who is Melinda's lab partner and how does she feel about her lab partner?

5. After her parents are upset about her grades, what does Melinda do the next day?

6. Who introduces herself to Melinda in "First Marking Period", and why is she friendly when no one else is?

7. What is the topic of discussion at dinner after the interim reports come out, and how does Melinda respond?

8. Describe Melinda's encounter with Rachel in the bathroom in "First Marking Period".

9. What is Melinda's state of mind on the first day of high school, and how do the students on the bus treat her?

10. How does Melinda's former friend Rachel respond to Melinda in "First Marking Period"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Speak and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Speak is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Melinda chooses to make an abandoned closet her safe space because she herself has been abandoned by her friends. What other examples of irony can you find in Speak? Do you think irony enhances the book? Why or why not?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from Speak. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in Speak and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not? Some possible devices: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

Speak could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Melinda Sordina, the narrator. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Speak as a bildungsroman of Melinda Sordino. Give specific examples. What does Melinda learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Why do you think many novels/stories written for teens are "coming of age" stories? Do you think it is good for teens to read this genre? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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