English 10-2 Comparison of Life As A House and Speak

Mr. Steel

Answer the following questions fully in COMPLETE sentences:

1. What is the symbolic meaning of the title of the movie, Life As A House? Why did Laurie Anderson entitle her book, Speak?

2. What is Melinda's main problem in Speak? What is Sam's problem in Life As A House?

3. How does Melinda feel at the beginning of the book? Why? How does Sam feel at the beginning of the movie? Why?

4. How does Melinda feel at the end of the book? What specific thing(s) happened in Speak that changed her outlook on life? Does Sam feel better about himself by the end of the movie? What specific thing(s) happened that changed his outlook?

Fill in information on this character study chart for Speak and Life As A House:

	POSITIVE POINTS	NEGATIVE POINTS	CHANGES?
George
Sam
Sam's mom (Robin)
Alyssa
Alyssa's mom (Colleen)
Josh
George's House

Melinda

Melinda's parents

Heather

Andy Evans

Rachel

Ivy

Mr. Neck

David Petrakis

Melinda's House

Write a THREE PARAGRAPH reflection on the similarities and differences between the two stories. Your first paragraph should detail any similarities. Your second paragraph should detail any differences. Your third paragraph should tell the reader which story you liked better and why.