... understand the books they are reading. Gender roles have been prevalent in our communities for centuries now and they are unfortunately still common; in today's society. The novel Speak , by Laurie Halse Anderson paints a vivid image on gender roles; in today's society. Anderson's work is appreciable at using characters to portray the modern day relationship between men and women. Characters are ... . Anderson uses the theme of mental health to portray the power that men hold over women. Symbols play an important role in the novel as they represent growth and trauma. Laurie Anderson uses...

• Word Count: 1774
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School