Poem

Elephant in the Room” (author unknown)

There's an elephant in the room.
It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it.
Yet we squeeze by with, "How are you?" and "I'm fine," and a thousand other
forms of trivial chatter. We talk about the weather. We talk about work.
We talk about everything else, except the elephant in the room.

There's an elephant in the room.
We all know it's there. We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together.
It is constantly on our minds. For, you see, it is a very large elephant.
It has hurt us all.

But we don't talk about the elephant.
Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
For if I cannot, then you are leaving me....
alone....
in a room....
with an elephant.


Response: The poem means that the person has a secret that he/she can't let out or tell no one but they want to speak out and tell someone but they can't because they seem to trust no one or are afraid that no one will want to listen to what they have to say and he/she wants someone to hear them out and listen to them and they don't want to suffer the pain alone.

Fourth Marking Period

Literary Terms:

• Crisis: A turning point in the action of a story that has a powerful effect on the protagonist.

Ex.) An example of a crisis is when Melinda finds out that IT(Andy Evans) is with her used to bestfriend Rachel and she wants to warn her.

• Climax: The highest or most intense point in the development or resolution of something

Ex.) An example of climax is when Melinda starts talking to her parents.

• Resolution: The conclusion of a plot's conflicts and complications, resolution also known as the falling action.

Ex.) An example of Resolution is that everyone finds out what Andy really is and they congratulate Melinda and she's happy that Rachel finally isn't with Andy. Melinda in the end wil confess to Mr.Freeman everything.

• Metaphor: a figure of speech that makes a comparison between to unlike things, without using the word like or as.

Ex.)An example of a metaphor is when Melinda says that the cafeteria is a giant sound stage where they film daily segments of teenage humiliation.

• Simile: A common figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison between two things by using words such as like, as, than, appears, and seems.

Ex.) An example of a simile is when melinda says that her feelings are chewing her alive like an infestation of thoughts, shame, mistakes.

Vocabulary Terms:

• Indoctrination: to imbue with learning.

"If I ran a high school, I would include stuff like this in the first-day indoctrination."(P.172)

• Momentum: force or speed of movement.

"The friendly momentum keeps Rachel/Rachelle and Andy walking all the way to the end of the hall."(P.150)

• Symmetrical: well-proportioned.

"This one is not perfectly symmetrical."(P.196)

• Delinquency: wrongful, illegal, or antisocial behavior.

"Cutting-edge adult delinquency."(P.163)

Discussion Questions:

• Mr.Freeman tells Melinda, "Nothing is perfect, flaws are interesting." He's literally talking about drawing a tree but what do you think he really means? He is probably telling Melinda that nothing or no one is perfect in life and have lots of inperfectness that makes them who they are and interesting in there own way.

'Nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting.''(P.153)This quote helps prove my point because nobody is perfect even though they say they are. People make wrong choices and make mistakes and learn what they have brought up upon themselves which makes them interesting.

• David is a true friend to Melinda, but he tells her something she may not want to hear. He says people have to speak up for their rights, referring to the suffragists. What should his words mean to her.His words should mean to her that she has to speak up about problems and about what has happened to her and how she has suffered to forget that pain she hides inside and is keeping it hidin which is only hurting her in the inside causing her pain and only suffering by herself but let it out and speak up for herself.

"You can't speak up for your right to be silent. That's letting the bad guys win...But don't expect to make a difference unless you spek up for yourself."(P.159) This quote helps prove my answer because it shows that the words David is telling Melinda will be taken a different way from Melinda's poitn of view.

• Melinda's father explains to her that the arborists are cutting of disease and damage to make it possible for the tree to grow again. How can the pruning of the tree be compared to Melinda's life? the pruning of the tree can be compared to Melinda because it's like if she is getting rid of her fears and starting to speak up for herself by talking to others more and trying to leave her horrible nightmare behind by gaining confidence again.

"And that tree is sick. See how the branches on the left don't have any buds? I should call someone to take a look at it."(P.167) This quote supports my answer because the tree is like a meaning for Melinda that she is sick and that she can't bloom because it doesn't have any buds which for her is confidence.

Journal Topics:

• Is a school a place where you can really say what you think?

Ex.) An example of a school being a place where you can really say what you think is when Melinda writes on the girls bathroom, guys to stay away from and places IT and lots of people write horrible things about him days later and what he did or is.

I really think that sometimes school is a place where you can really say what you think because there are things you can't talk to you parents or family member and that youcan to to with a friend that is willing to listen.

• Have you ever felt like there were two "yous" fighting inside of you?

Ex.) An example from the book of two "yous" fighting inside you is when Melinda is walking home and the party Melinda is fighting with the scared or Melinda with fear about that she should/shoudn't have gone with David.

Sometimes I have felt like there were two me's inside me because sometimes i fight with myself about that i should/shouldn't have gone or done something.

Third Marking Period

Literary Terms:

• Static Character: A literary character who remains basically unchanged throughout a work.

Ex.) The static character that remains unchanged is IT(Andy Evans) who doesn't even change at all.

• Developing character: In literature or drama, a character who undergoes a permanent change in outlook or character during the story.

Ex.) An example of a developing character is when Heather changes and decides to go hang out with the marthas after that Melinda was with her when she knew no one.

• Flat Character: An easily recognized character type in fiction who may not be fully delineated but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author.

Ex.) The flat character in the story is David Petrakis who is not really described alot in the story.

• Round Character: A character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully delineated by the author.

Ex.) Heather is a round character because the author fully describes Heather when Melinda berly sees her.

• Symbol: Using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning.

Ex.) An example of a symbol is when Melinda falls backwards to make a snow angel and the scarf falls over her mouth. Then the scarf tightens on her mouth and she can't breathe.

• Symbolism: A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Ex.) An example of symbolism is Melinda's fixes her turkry-bone sculpture and plucks out the barbie head. Then she sets it on top of the bony carcass and tosses the palm tree asside. She puts the knife and fork like legs and places a piece of tape over barbie's mouth."(P.64)

Vocabulary Terms:

• Conundrum: a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words.

"Conundrum-a three-point vocab word."(P.98)

• Asylum: an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.

"It is supposed to bore us into submission or prepare us for insane asylum."(P.117)

• Gargoyle: A grotesquely carved figure of a human

"The moon is asleep and I'm sitting on my porch roof like a frozen gargoyle, wondering if the sun is going to bloww off the world today and sleep in."(P.136)

• Imbecile: dunce; blockhead; dolt.

"It's the blood of imbeciles."(P.103)

• Vulnerable: Capable or suspectible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon.

"First off, I don't go through the line for anything, to avoid that vulnerable moment of coming out into the lunchroom, that moment when every head lifts and evaluates: friend, enemy, or loser."(P.127)

Discussion Questions:

• Was being a child better than being a teenager for Melinda? In your answer, discuss what ways it is better to be older, and why it's hard to be between adulthood and childhood. For Melinda it is better being a teenager because they dn't treat her like a child, what to do, or what to say and that she can do what she wants. It is better to be older because you are bigger and old enough to do what you couldn't do when you were a child and you can make your own choices and not let others make them for you.

"The first hour of blowing off school is great. No one to tell me what to do, what to read, what to say. it's like living in an MTV video-not with the stupid costumes, but wearing that butt-strutting, I-do-what-I-want additood."(P.97-98) This quote supports my answer because it shows that Melinda's teenage time is better than when she was a child.

• Melinda wishes her science teacher would teach them about love and betrayal instead of about the birds and the bees. In your answer, discuss where we learn about things like and whether or not we can learn about love from a book. Love and betrayal is not learned from a book because in a book it is usually something made up or something that doesn't fit what someone is experiencing and it's better to hear it from someones peronal experience.

"Ms.Keen decided it would be cute to review birds and bees in honor of Valentine's Day. Nothing practical, of course, no information about why hormones can make you crazy, or why your face only breaks out at the worst time, or how to tell if somebody really gave you a Valentine's card on your locker. No, she really teaches us about the birds and the bees. Notes of love and betrayal are passed hand over hand as if the lab tables were lanes on Cupid's Highway."(P.109) This quote supports my answer because Melinda wants the advise from another person of what she is experiencing and if there are ways to solve it.

• Mr.Freeman tells his class, "You must walk alone to find your soul." In your answer, discuss what this means, if you think it's true, and what a soul is. What Mr.Freeman means about the phrase, you must walk alone to find your soul is that a person by there own need to fing there way in life and do what they have to do in order to fulfill there own goal. I think it's true, and a soul is what you are and what you make yourself be not what other make you to be.

"' I can't do everything for you. You must walk alone to find your soul.'"(P.118) This quote supports my answer because it explains that you have to do things on your own and that you have to not rely on others to do things alot for you but you have to do things for youself as well.

• Mr.Freeman also says, "Art is about making mistakes and learning from them." In your answer, discuss what else might be like this. What might be similar to art being about making mistakes and learning from them because if you make mistakes and don't learn from them you will keep making that same mistake and refuse that you made a mistake and it can sometimes be worse not knowing from the mistakes.

"'Don't be so hard on yourself. Art is about making mistakes and learning from them.'"(P.122) This quote supports my answer because there are no perfects in the world and everybody makes mistakes.

Journal Topics:

• What do report cards really say about people?

Ex.) An example is when Melinda and her parents are with the guidance counselor they say that her grades were good at first and then dropped a lot and is wondering if theres something wrong.

What report cards really show about people is that when the report card starts out good and then starts getting worse it shows that the student has problems or there is something going on that is bothering them making there grades slip.

Second Marking Period

Literary Terms:

• Theme: a main idea, or message, of an essay, paragraph, or a book.

Ex.) An example of the word theme is when Melinda's mom tells her that suicide is for cowards.(P.88)

• Tone: how the author feels.

Ex.) An example of the word tone is when Melinda starts saying that her head isn't right and that she wants to leave and transfer to another galaxy and that she wantsw to blurt out everything to someone that can understand but her closet is a perfect place where she can think about her problems.(P.51)

• Exposition: is to provide some background information to inform the readers about the plot, theme etc.

Ex.)An example of exposotion is when Melinda has to choose for five verbs and conjugate. The five verbs were: to flunk, to hide, to escape, to forget and that what she is doing and wants to do.(P.51)

• Conflict: it is defined as the problem in any piece of literature and is often classified according to the nature of the protagonist or antagonist.

Ex.) An example of the word conflict is when she is hanging up posters and IT whispers to her saying freshmeat and out of a lot of female freshmen who only whispers top her. IT finds her and she can't stand him and she knows that he remembers of that day that she wants top forget she wants to stay very far away from him.(P.86)

• Point of View: the perspective from which the story is told.

Ex.)The point of view of the story is when Melinda says "I write a runaway note" and when she says Mom finds me sleeping in my bedroom closet meaning it's first person.(P.87)

Vocabulary Terms:

• Harried: troubled persistently especially with pretty annoyances.

"My normally harried, rushed mother always turns into a strung-out retail junkie just before Turkey Day."(P.57)

• Vermilion: a bright red mercuric sulfiede used as a pigment.

" An unseen hand turned off the radio as he crossed the threshold, and bags of potato chips vanished, leaving the faint scent of salt to mix with vermilion oil paint and wet clay."(P.78)

• Obligation: The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie.

"It's like a holy obligation, part of what makes her aa wife and mother."(P.58)

• Oriented: adjusted or located in relation to surroundings or circumstances.

"So I said I have a friend who is really artistic and community-oriented and could she help with the posters?"(P.80)

• Imperial: a supreme authority.

"The Marthas have not issued an imperial invitation for her to sit with them."(P.69)

• Demented: brainsick; affected with madness or insanity.

"She has a warped sense of humor as well as a demented beautician."(P.84)

Discussion Questions:

• Who is a real American?Discuss Mr.Neck's views of a real American and if you think there are some people who are not really Americans, and how that seems to you? A real american is someone who is hardworking and takes advantage of what they got instead of what they don't have.

"His son wants to be a firefighter, but didn't get the job. Mr.Neck is convinced that this is some kind of reverse discrimination. He says we should close our borders so that real Americans can get the jobs they deserve. The job test said that I would be a good firefighter. I wonder if I could take a job away from Mr.Neck's son...Mr.Neck writes on the board again: 'DEBATE: America should have closed her borders in 1900.' That strikes a nerve. Several nerves. I can see kids counting backward on their fingers, trying to figure when their grandparents or greatgrandparents were born, when they came to America, if they would have made the Neck Cut. When they figure out they would have been stuck in a country that hated them, or a place with no schools, or a place with no future, their hands shoot up."(P.54) This quote supports my answer because it shows that Mr.Neck just wants american's to have it all easy.

• Why is it that sometimes people like us more when they can get something out of us? Discuss why you think The Marthas may or may not be good friends to Heather. People sometimes like us more when they can get something out of us because they think of us as being useful and as their provider for things they need. They use us when they want to and when they just don't have a need for us they abandon you as if they throw you away and when they need something again they just know to go to you and only like using you when needed.

" The rest of the Marthas sigh on cue. Apparantly, beets are Not Good Enough. Real Marthas only collect food that they like to eat, like cranberry sauce, dolphin-safe tuna, or baby peas. I can see Heather dig her nails into her palms under the table. The peanut butter molds to the roof of my mouth like a retainer....Emily slides her tray across to Heather. Heather gets up without a word and clears it away. Traitor. She isn't going to stick up for my posters. The peanut butter in my mouth hardens."(P.89) This quote supports my answer because The Marthas are basically using Heather because they want someone to boss around and yell at. They also want to treat them like trash and make them feel wrong.

• What should we value in other people? Discuss what qualities are important in a person and what you usually first notice about someone.

"David Petrakis My Lab Partner has stood up.David Petrakis is never, ever in trouble. He is the kid who wins perfect attendance records, who helps the staff chase down bugs in the computer files of report cards. I chew a hangnail on my pinkie. What is he thinking? Has he flipped, finally cracked under the pressure of being smarter than everyone?...David stares at Mr.Neck, looks at the flag for a minute, then picks up his books and walks out of the room. He says a million things without saying a word. I make a note to study David Petrakis. I have never heard a more eloquent silence."(P.56-57)

Journal Topics:

• Humiliations and embarrassing moments:

Ex.) An example of one of Melinda's humiliations and embarrassing moments is when she gets hit with a lump of potatoes and gravy. All conversations stop and the people explode in laughter.

Everybody has gone through humiliating and embarrassing moments and I admit that I have gone through some humiliating and embarrassing moments. I would give an example of one of my embarrassing moments but its to embbarrassing to talk about and something I want to forget.

• Being cool: when is being cool really un-cool?

Ex.) An example of when being cool really is un-cool from the book is when The Marthas see talk about IT(Andy Evans) and about the rumors about IT being bad but they don't really believe the rumor and think its just spread by jealous people, but he really is uncool when he keeps on bothering Melinda making her remember of that day and him being his nightmare.

Being cool is really uncool when someone tries to act like there better than other people and really aren't. They try to act cool in the outside and who some people might look up to but they might be hiding there other side and people might not really know there real side and think that there not bad people but in reality might be.

First Marking Period

Literary Terms:

• Plot: All events in a story particularly rendered toward the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect or general theme.

Ex.) an example of plot is when Melinda explains that she is an outcast and starts explaining that theres no point looking for her ex-friends and that she is dying to tell her ex-best friend but Rachel mouths the words I hate you.(P. 4-5)

• Character: A person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature.

Ex.) An example of character is when Melinda starts her first high school mornign with seven new notebooks, a skirt she hates and a stomachache.(P.3)

• Setting: The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a situation occurs.

Ex.) An example of setting is when they throw a lump of potatoes and gravy at her and all conversation at the lunch area stops and everyone starts looking at her and laugh then she leaves.(P.8)

• Irony: A literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem.

Ex.) An example of irony is when Melinda starts thinking in her mind that no janitor has chilled in that closet for a very long time and all girls avoid it and the closet is abandoned and it has no purpose no name And that it's a perfect place for her.(P.26)

• Motif: a recurring object, concept or structure in work of literature.

Ex.) An example of it motif is when Melinda when she sees IT she repeats it over with an act of fear in her and she repeats when she sees IT throughout the book..(P.45-46)

Vocabulary Terms:

• Inconspicuous: not conspicuous, noticeable, or prominent. The stain on the shirt was inconspicuous.

" And it gives me time to scan the cafateria for a friendly face or an inconspicuous corner."(P.7)

• Pseudo: not actually but having the appearance of; pretended; false or spurious. She has a pseudo smile.

"Just a pseudo-friend, disposable freind. Firend as accesory. Just so I don't feel and look stupid."(P.22)

• Mayhem: random or deliberate violence or damage. Superheros in movies usually protect the city from the acts of mayhem.

" We will wander underneath them and commit mild acts of mayhem."(P.30)

• Degrading: that degrades, currupting. The company is degrading.

" The Ecology Club is planning a rally to protest the 'degrading of an endangered species.'"(P.41)

• Voila: used to call attention, to express satisfaction or approval, or to suggest an appearance as if by magic. The judges voila the food.

"And voila-an idea!"(P.11)

• Vaguely: slightly, rather, sort of. Her lips are vaguely scabbed.

" I vaguely recognize a couple; the rest must have gone to the other middle school."(p.27)

• Blathers: to talk nonsensically. The teacher blathers on and on about why math is needed.

" Heather paints her nails on her desk blotter and blathers."(P.33)

• Irony: the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. Irony is a literary term.

" She doesn't think the Clan Leaders, Meg 'n' Emily 'n' Siobhan, understand irony."(p.43)

• Simultaneously: at the same time. They simultaneously talk nonstop.

" It is as if they operate in two realities simultaneously."(P.30)

• Interim: a temporary pause in a line of succession or event. My interim report card came last week.

"The interim reports came today."(P.35)

• Battered: to hit heavily and repeatedly with violent blows. The battered chairs fell to the floor.

"Metal folding chairs surround a battered table."(P.43)

• Wan: of an unnatural or sickly pallor. The hospital patient appeared very wan.

" She's smudging mascara under her eyes to look exhausted and wan."(P.20)

Discussion Questions:

• Family communication: How does communication breakdown in Melinda's family? Her parents argue a lot and don't ask her if she has any problems. They don't really pay attention to Melinda and ask her if she wants to talk about something. They merely don't know whats happening to her and she really needs someone to talk to. Her family also communicates with notes on the kitchen counter.

"Deprived of the victim, Mom and Dad holler at each other. I turn up my music to drown out the noise." (P.36) This quote supports my answer because when parents fight a lot they don't pay much attention to there child, and if there child has problems and wants to talk to there parents they can't because of there constant fighting and decided to rely on someone else or if they don't have someone they keep it to themselves and suffer alot when keeping there mouth shut about it.

• How does a room express who you are? A room really expresses a lot especially the color of the walls and how everything in the room is stored by messy to neat and clean. If someone is neat you can really tell that they are very organized.

" All her clothes wait patiently on hangers, organized by type-skirts together, pants hanging by their cuffs, her sweaters stacked in plastic bags on shelves. The room screams 'Heather!'-that would be too creepy. But a little whisper of 'Melinda' would be nice."(P.33) This quote supports my answer because Heathers room is very neat and clean you can tell just by looking at her room that she is very organized.

• Are we sometimes different people on the outside than on the inside? Yes we are sometimes very different on the inside than we are on the outside. There may be people that in the outside they are very happy looking but in the inside they are really hiding things from there past that they want to forget but they just can't so they suffer in the inside. There are people who are not usually happy but serious and sad in the oustside and and that they want to protect themselves from there suffering and there fear that they have in the inside.

" It is easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say."(P.9) This quote supports my answer because Melinda has learned that in reality people don't want to know whats wrong and that it is just better to keep everything hidden inside and locked away from other people not to know.

Journal Topics:

• First day of school

Ex.) An example of the topic first day of school from the book is when Melinda starts out her first day of high school with seven new notebooks, a skirts she hates, and a stomachache(P.3)

My personal experience of my first day of high school was not knowing anyone and not liking the school my parents decided to send me to. I decided that my first few days of school would be me alone but in the first day I met someone I knew from my elementary school so in the first day I wasn't that much of a loner.

• High school "clans"

Ex.) An example of the topic High school "Clans" is when Melinda starts explaining that everyone in school has fallen into clans except her who is clanless."(P.4)

There really are many clans that exist in highschool. In New tech there really weren't any clans I think. I am not in any clan. I just hang out with my my friends.

• Lies they tell you

Ex.) An example of the topic the lies they tell you is when she makes a list of the lies they tell you in igh school like we are here to help you and etc.(P.5-6)

My personal experience in the lies they tell in Highschool are a little bit similar to Melinda's.

1. that hs years will be the years to look back on fondly.
2. the counselors are always available to listen.
3. You will feel like at home.
4. Schoolwork is easy.
5. Your complaints are taken seriously.
6. There is no bullying.
7. Education is fun.
8. School food is good and nutricious.
9. And etc.(Can't remember others)