Rabbit symbolism fertility, delight, and surprise since the era of the goddess, rabbit has been a rich and treasured symbol of fertility. What is the symbolism of the tree throughout speak. For the most part, the rabbits symbolize lennie s dream of the good life. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Learn about the different symbols such as rabbits in speak and how they contribute to the plot of the book. Talking animals are a common theme in mythology and folk tales, as well as childrens literature. Previous page table of contents next page downloadable printable version. In short, the novel argues that if you are a victim of a sexual assault, you will need to speak about it in order to heal. I would categorize the students of merryweather high school as the foreign exchange kids, the goths, the cheerleaders, the artists, the marthas, jocks, country clubbers, and those who are clanless. In the jawdropping book speak the main character, melinda, has symbolism smacking her in the face left and right. The flock becomes one mind as it travels the long journeys on the thermal winds. The significance of rabbits in dreams and art sandy koi. This can mean that there will be a new love headed your way, one that will blossom and make you happy for a very long time. Speak tells the story of melinda sordino, a high school student who stops speaking after she is raped by a classmate at a party.
Asked in animated and childrens movies, disney, alices adventures in wonderland book what does the rabbit symbolize. After melindas mother ruins the bird read full symbol analysis melindas closet. The kids cable channel celebrated rabbit rabbit day as a holiday on the last day of each month, reminding viewers to say it the next day. In alice in wonderland, society and its justice system seem to be governed by fools and the result is abuse and oppression. In general, rabbit symbolism reminds us to examine and use the tools we have within ourselves. We are guided to move through fear, living by our own wits, receiving hidden teachings and intuitive messages, quick thinking, strengthening intuition, and paradox. The synchronization of the mind is one of gooses greatest powers. Laurie halse andersons youngadult novel speak is rich with symbolism. Melindas ability to connect with the book shows that she has a. As kevin young already said, its from alice in wonderland. Also, it is the ultimate symbol of abundance, prosperity, and fertility.
The creators of sparknotes speak symbols from litcharts. In flight goose has to synchronize itself with the communal mind of the entire flock to survive. Mother rabbits give birth to a remarkably high number of babies each year. Some of the animal photos have been copied from other web sites, but they have not been altered and most of the. It is used as an architectural ornament, a religious symbol, and in other modern works of art or a logo for adornment including tattoos, jewelry, and a coat of arms on. Melinda is very insecure and scared by the real world. Rabbit medicine is also very positive, showing us how to attract love, abundance, health, and a warm, dry burrow. Throughout the entire story melinda doesnt use mirrors becasue she hates herself and in the entire book that self hatred was a huge conflict within her.
To follow the white rabbit means to try something new, unknown, untested, potentially dangerous. This study guide consists of approximately 53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of speak. Speak study guide third and fourth marking period test. This led to derogatory statements in the christian art of the middle ages, and to an ambiguous interpretation of the rabbit s symbolism. Rabbit power animal symbol of creativity intution paradox. Reviewed in the united states on august 24, 2015 animal speak has been my bible for all things pertaining to the animal world. Anderson uses symbolism to illustrate melindas struggle and her eventual emotional growth as she begins to move. Speak symbols from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Laurie halse andersons speak is a novel that makes a definite argument. Pay heed when an animal spirit or totem enters your life. Alternatively, like the boar, woodpecker symbolism is reminding you that you must march to your rhythms. Melinda describes being bumped in the hallways, and having her books thrown to the floor. The smallest scrap gives rat spirit enough to get buy for a little while longer, living on wit alone. The symbol of lips in speak from litcharts the creators.
In other words, go with your natural flows, and make sure that you keep moving forward without interference from others. If the rabbit has hopped into your life as an animal totem, become very aware of your surroundings and the luck that may be abound. And rabbit running is one thing we can count on in this tragic tale of the american dream gone bad. Allegory and artwork in john marsden and shaun tans the. Rabbits are more than companion animals to many of us in the house rabbit societythey are also living symbols of a life style, a philosophy and a value system. Symbolism in speak by laurie halse anderson by jill.
The speak quotes below all refer to the symbol of lips. I mean, did he leave another book called symbolism in my books. The symbolism of birds in speak the factors that helped melinda recover. Need help on symbols in laurie halse andersons speak. I remember hazel, fiver, blackberry, silver, and dandelion, and my heart opens wide with the. The usage of talking animals enable storytellers to combine the basic characteristics of the animal with human behavior, to apply metaphor, and to entertain children. Rabbit symbolism describes the sexual and procreative abilities of these furry creatures. Even though our instincts are inherent, they also need nurturing and development. Many people who live with a house bunny have chosen a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, for example. This chapter describes gym class, a class that, in melindas mind should be illegal, because it is so humiliating. Throw in some peter rabbit and a little bunny foofoo, and we are ready torun. People with the woodpecker totem have the power of rhythm in their blood. Although rabbits were a nonkosher animal in the bible, positive symbolic. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one.
Rabbit symbolism also resonates with faithfulness, love, and commitment. There is one connected web of symbolism that really inspired me, and that is the iconic deserted and dusty janitors closet that she fixes up into an intermediate janitors closet. Study guide for the novel speak by laurie halse anderson. This is where all those hours of discovery channel pay off, and where we can let our inner bugs bunny shine. Asked in animated and childrens movies, disney, alices adventures in wonderland book what does the rabbit. Hopefully, reporting the attacker will make it less likely he or she will hurt you, or. Furthermore, rabbit meaning deals primarily with abundance, comfort, and vulnerability. Freemans last name work on a symbolic level in speak. The rabbit symbolism brings luck and positivity when it comes to romantic and lovemaking affairs, just like the cat symbolism. It is easy to forget ourselves and our purpose when we ignore the many messages, meanings, and symbols that surround us in our daily lives. Rabbit represents humility, being quiet and soft and not self. Animal totems offer us a powerful link to our inner selves and the spirit world. Anderson uses the metaphor of the baby rabbit to illustrate melindas fear and.
Our football team will win the championship this year. Woodpecker symbolism, dreams, and messages spirit animal. The hare also embraces gifts of fertility, sentiment, desire, and procreation. Third marking period, death of the wombatescape table of contents. What does the rabbit symbolize in the novel speak answers. Alice in wonderland philosophy what does it all mean. So when she used something that caused her so much self hate againt the person that caused all this pain. Fictional talking animals often are anthropomorphic, possessing humanlike qualities but appearing as a creature. Its the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated. What is the white rabbit as a symbol meant to represent. In nature we commune with the spirit world, and our intuition awakens. As you read the first section of speak list reasons why you believe she might be feeling this way. Animal speak by ted andrews this is not the complete book written by ted andrews, but it does contain a good part of the animal dictionary, as well as the symbolisms of colors, flowers, numbers, birds and trees. In the book speak, seeds represent new growth, survival, and new beginings.
The three hares or three rabbits is a circular motif or meme appearing in sacred sites from the middle and far east to the churches of devon, england as the tinners rabbits, and historical synagogues in europe. In judaism, the rabbit is considered an unclean animal, because though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof. When considering the entire novel, anderson uses the theme of predator and prey. Summary and analysis third marking period, death of the wombatescape. Goose spirit animal carries the magical totem powers of synchronicity. While the observations made might not be true at every single moment about rabbits, they will help to. The title gives us a pretty big hint as to what this might be. What animal does melinda compare herself to when running away.
In many myths and legends rabbits act as guides between heaven, earth and the underworld. Hare see rabbit a symbol of longevity, vigilance, easily frightened, cowardice, selfsacrifice, a trickster figure,passionate sexuality and lust, though the white hare seen at the virgin marys feet is a symbol of the triumph over the flesh. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of speak by laurie halse anderson. The white couch, the tree, mirrors, and melindas lips. Birds appear multiple times in the text of speak the most memorable of these appearances, of course, being the doomed turkey that melindas mother attempts to cook on christmas. Rat can be an interesting partner for protecting ones health because it has strong immunity to disease and toxins in the environment and food. The rabbit spirit animal a complete guide to meaning and. The symbol that best represents our main character, melinda, is trees. As such theyre a potent emblem of shamanic journeys and may even be called upon to monitor those rituals. Rabbit symbolism, rabbit meaning, rabbit totem, rabbit. In order to effectively answer this, we have to capitulate to a stereotypical view of rabbits.
For example, rabbits are said to represent abundance, nervousness, creativity, timidity, and graciousness. Why do you think melinda compares herself to a bunny rabbit when she encounters. It is a place of refuge for melinda, a place where no one can hear her, and she does not have to deal with anyone else. Lennie yearns for nothing more than to live on a farm with george and tend rabbits.