THE STORY OF MY LIFE- HELEN KELLER

THE STORY OF MY LIFE- HELEN KELLER

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS CHAPTER-WISE

Chapter- 01

a)    What account does Helen Keller give of her family?

Helen Keller tells about her family that her father was form the line of Casper Keller who was a native of Switzerland and settled in Maryland. One of her Swiss ancestors was the first teacher of the deaf in Zurich. Her grandfather, Casper Keller’s son was settled in Alabama. Her grandmother Keller was a daughter of Alexander Moore. She was also second cousin to Robert E. Lee. Her father, Arthur H. Keller, was a captain in the confederate Army. Her mother, Kate Adams, was his second wife. Her grandfather, Benjamin Adams, married Susanna E. Goodhue. He lived in Newbury, Massachusetts. Their son, Charles Adams, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He had moved to Helena. He married Lucy Helen Everett, who belonged to the same family of Everett’s as Edward Everett and Dr. Edward Everett Hale.

 

b)   How did Helen get her name? How was she as a child?

Helen was the first baby of the family. Everyone was emphatic about her naming. Her father suggested the name of Mildred Campbell. Her mother- wished that she should be called after her mother whose maiden name was Helen Everett. On the way to Church, her father lost the name. When the minister asked him for it, he just remembered her grandmother and gave her name as Helen Adams. As a child Helen showed many signs of eagerness. She insisted upon imitating everything that other people did. She was a quick learner. At six months she could say ‘How diye’ and one day attracted everyone by saying “tea, tea, tea”, Even after her illness she remembered one of the words she had learnt in the early months. It was the word “water”. She started walking when she was a year old.

Chapter-02

a)    How did Helen learn to know many things? How did she communicate that she wanted food?

Helen was a quick and eager learner. Her hands felt every object and observed every motion. In this way she learned to know many things. She began to make crude signs to communicate with others. She would shake her head to imply “no” and a nod to say “yes” pull meant “come” and a push meant “go”. Helen Keller used sign language to communicate with family. She had learnt some gestures for certain things. She could understand most of the things that were going around her. At five she had learnt how to fold and put away the clean clothes. She could identify her own clothes. Whenever she wanted food she had special gestures to communicate. If she wanted bread then she would imitate the acts of cutting the slices and buttering them. If she wanted ice cream she would shiver and point to the freezer indicating cold.

 

b)   How did Helen Keller feel around Christmas time?

Christmas time was special time for everyone. Though Christmas time was the best time for Helen Keller too but she did not take much interest in it. Getting ready for Christmas was always a delight to her. She enjoyed the pleasant odours that filled the house. She liked the tidbits that were given to Martha and her to keep quiet. They got pleasure in petty activities. Both of them were naughty so they were not allowed to move here and there freely. To keep them engaged, however, they were given some small jobs to do. They were allowed to grind the spices, pick over the raisins and lick the stirring spoons. She hung her stockings because the others did. The ceremony did not interest her. Everyone was eager for the day of gifts. Everyone used to plan to get up early in the morning for the surprises. Helen was not so curious to wake before daylight before the others did.

 

 c)    Why was Helen jealous of her little sister? What did she do with her?

Helen had a younger sister Mildred. She loved her. But gradually she developed jealousy for her. Before her arrival in the family it was Helen who was getting a lot of affection from her mother. Her mother was giving her maximum time to Helen only. But now she felt that her mother’s was paying more attention to Mildred. She felt that Mildred had taken her place as her mother’s only darling. Mildred would sit in her mother’s lap constantly. It seemed to her that she had taken up all her time and care. She regarded her as an intruder. One day Helen overturned the cradle where little Mildred was sleeping peacefully. She would have been killed had her mother not come and caught her as she fell. However, in later years they grew affectionate towards each other. They were content to go hand in hand everywhere. Mildred could not understand her finger language or Helen her childish prattle.

 

 Chapter-03

a)    Why was Helen frustrated? How did she express it? How did she express it?

Helen had realized that she was different from others. She noticed people not using gestures while speaking. It made her conscious. She wanted to express herself. She used signs to express herself. She had learnt some signs. The few signs that she was using were not adequate enough to communicate with others. She wanted to participate in conversation actively but could not cope up with others. Her failures to communicate frustrated her. It led to the outbursts of passion. Her spirit was broken and she would often break down in tears and physical exhaustion. Being unable to communicate, her outbursts became more frequent. She started misbehaving with Martha and on her nurse. She was a sensitive girl and wanted comforts from anyone around her. Whenever she found her mother around she sought comfort in her and crept into her arms. Sometimes her mother too was deeply grieved.

 

b)   Why did Helen’s parents feel helpless? What efforts did they make to solve her problem?

Helen was unable to communicate. She used sign language while communicating. But her sign language did not satisfy as she had learnt only limited signs. She noticed others communicating without using gestures. She understood her limitations. Due to her failure to communicate, Helen’s outbursts became more frequent. She would break down in tears and would be physically exhausted. She used to get comfort from her mother. She crept into her arms. But sometimes her parents were deeply grieved at her condition. They tried to find out some solution. They were helpless as that they lived a long way from any school for the blind or deaf. There was not any possibility of getting a home tutor for her. Their friends and relatives doubted whether she could be taught. Her mother had read and blind but had been educated. Unfortunately the doctor had been dead many years and his methods had probably died with him.

 

c)    Why did the doll without eyes trouble Helen? What does it show about Helen?

Helen’s aunt made her a big doll out of towels. It was the most comical shapeless thing. It had no eyes, no nose, no mouth and no ears. Helen did not like the idea of its being blind. When Helen felt it she became upset. She herself was blind. The idea of a blind doll hurt her emotions. She felt offended. She wanted the doll with eyes. She was so angry that she plucked beads off her aunt’s cape and asked her to sew them as eyes of the doll. Helen expressed her own sadness because she too was blind. It shows that Helen was very sensitive. She could understand the pain of being a blind. She could not have her doll to be blind and helpless like her. So her aunt’s making her a big doll out of towels without eyes troubled her.

 

d)   What impressions did Helen have of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell? How did Dr. Bell advise Helen’s father?

Helen met Dr. Alexander Graham Bell at Washington. She was impressed by his tenderness and sympathy. She was touched by his behavior. He showered his love on her. He held her on his knees and even understood her signs. Helen was happy when she found someone who could understand her sign language. She was very comfortable with him. Dr. Bell won the heart of Helen. Helen was happy in his company but did not expect that it would be a door thought which she will pass from darkness to light or from isolation to friendship. Dr. Bell advised her father to write to Mr. Anagnos, Director of the Perkins Institute in Boston. He further advised him to ask Mr. Anagnos if he had a teacher competent to begin her education. Helen’s father followed his advice and contacted Anagnos who responded within a week. He gave them a comfortable assurance and arranged a teacher also.

 

Chapter-04

a)    Describe the ‘most important day of my life’ as Helen calls it in her autobiography.

Helen wrote that the third of March 1887 was the most important day of her life. It was the day her teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan came to her Dr. Bell advised her father to contact Mr. Anagnos, Director of the Perkins Institute in Boston. He further advised him to ask Mr. Anagnos if he had a teacher to begin her education. Helen’s father followed his advice and contacted Mr. Anagnos who responded within a week. He sent Ms. Sullivan for her. Helen had a lot of expectations from this development in her life. She desperately needed someone to help her. She waited at the door. She guessed from her mother’s frantic movements that something unusual was about to happen. She had mixed feelings and emotions. She did not know what the future held for her. She was full of hope and expectations on that day. It was really the most important day in her life.

 

b)   What happened when Ms. Sullivan tried to teach her that the big rag doll she put into her lap spelled d-o-l-l applied to both the doll and the spelling d-o-l-l?

It was not an easy task for Ms. Sullivan to keep Helen calm and quiet. She was in the habit of getting irritated on trivial matters. Earlier that day they had had a tussle over the words “m-u-g” and “w-a-t-e-r”. Sullivan wanted to make her understand that ‘water’ is ‘water’ and ‘mug’ is ‘mug’. Both had separate identities. But Helen persisted in compounding the two. Ms. Sullivan dropped the subject for the time being. She wanted to renew it as soon as she got the first opportunity. Helen becomes impatient at her repeated attempts. She seized the doll and threw it up upon the floor. It was broken into pieces. Helen had no regret for it. She was rather satisfied that the cause of her discomfort was removed. Her teacher quietly swept the fragments to one side of the heath. She brought Helen her hat and took her out in the warm sunshine.

 

c)    Why does Helen destroy the new doll? Why does Helen say that she felt neither sorrow nor regret for breaking the doll?

It was not an easy task for Ms. Sullivan to keep Helen calm and quiet. She was in the habit of getting irritated at trivial matters. She was trying to teach her that m-u-g is mug and w-a-t-e-r is water but Helen persisted in confounding the two. In despair Ms. Sullivan dropped the subject for the time. She thought that she would take up the subject later on. This irritated Helen. She seized the new doll and dashed it upon the floor. The doll was sent by the little blind children at the Perkins Institution. Laura Bridgeman had dressed it. In the beginning Helen liked the doll. But now she did not love it as it was a cause of discomfort to her. Her teacher had tried to spell d-o-l-l by putting the big rag doll on her lap and tired to make her understand that d-o-l-l applied to both. She felt neither sorrow nor regret for breaking the doll as she did not love it any more.

Chapter-05

a)    How was the summer of 1887 special for Helen? How did Helen learn the joy of nature?

It was the time when Helen felt her soul sudden awakening. She explored with her lands and learnt the name of every object that she touched. It opened up a wonderful world for her. The more she explored the happier and confident she grew with rest of the world. Ms. Sullivan gave her first lessons in nature at the banks of the Tennessee River. She learned how the sun and the rain grow out of the ground. She experienced the two aspects of the nature. She could understand the joy of nature. She came very close to nature and had nice thoughts and sweet dreams under the tree of paradise. Ms. Sullivan unfolded the beauty of nature for Helen with the passage of time. She took her to the banks of the Tennessee River. There she had her first lessons in the beneficence of nature. How every tree is pleasant to the sight and good for food, how birds build their nests? She could now appreciate how the squirrel, the deer, the lion and every other creature finds food and shelter. Ms. Sullivan helped her in understanding the mystery of nature.

Chapter-06

a)    How did Helen finally understand the meaning of the word ‘love’?

Helen was keen to know the meaning of the word ‘love’. Her teacher tried to kiss her but Helen did not like anyone except her mother to kiss her. Miss Sullivan put her arm around her and spelled into her hand “I love Helen”. Still Helen could not understand anything unless she touched it. She asked her teacher whether love was the sweetness of flowers or the warmth of the sun but was greatly disappointed that her teacher could not show her love. Finally her teacher taught her the process of thinking and explained that just as one cannot touch the clouds, one cannot touch love either but one feel sweetness it pours into everything-without love one would not be happy or want to play.

 

b)   How did Miss Sullivan teach Helen to take part in a conversation?

A normal child learns a language by constant repetition and imitation. The child catches the words from lips easily. It is difficult for a deaf child to do so. He cannot catch the words from the lips. Helen lacked this kind of opportunity. So it was difficult for her to learn the language. Miss Sullivan realized this. She was determined to supply the kind of stimulus she lacked. She repeated to her as far as possible verbatim what she heard. She showed her how she could take part in the conversation. Helen took a lot of time to take an initiative. Miss Sullivan worked hard and repeated the conversation. Ultimately with her strong determination Miss Sullivan made it possible for her to take part in a conversation.

Chapter-07

a)    How did Miss Sullivan help Helen in learning to read? What did Helen say about Miss Sullivan, her teacher?

Miss Sullivan worked very hard with Helen. She gave her slips of cardboard having printed words in raised letters. She learned that each printed word stood for and object, an act, or a quality. She had a frame in which she could arrange the words in little sentences. Before she put sentences in the frame she used to make them in objects. She found the slips of paper which represented words like “doll” “is” “on” “bed”. She placed these slips to make a sentence. In this way she learnt to make sentences. Same way she learnt “girl is in wardrobe” and played this game for hours which delighted her. She took the book “Reader for Beginners” and hunted for the words she knew. She enjoyed it as the game of hide-and seeks. Thus she began to read. Miss Sullivan was a very important person in Helen’s life. It was she who brought light in the life of a blind girl. Helen appreciates her teacher Miss Sullivan wholeheartedly. She says that it was her teacher’s genius, her loving tact which made the first years of her education so beautiful.

 

b)   What was Keller’s Landing? How did Keller Learn Geography there?

Miss Sullivan was now a great support for Helen. She was helping her in broadening her faculty of learning. She started teaching Helen geography. For this she chose Keller’s Landing. Keller’s Landing was an old tumble-down lumber-wharf on the Tennessee River. It was used during the civil war to land soldiers. Helen and her teacher spent many happy hours there. She used this place to learn geography. She built dams of pebbles. She made islands and lakes and dug river beds all for fun. Helen never dreamed that she was learning a lesson. She made raised maps in clay so that she could feel the mountain ridges and valleys and follow the course of the rivers with her fingers. Miss Sullivan made a good use of this place to teach geography to Helen.

 

c)    How did Helen learn arithmetic?

Helen was now good in learning. Helen was good in learning languages and geography, but had one subject which dreaded her. It was a challenge for Miss Sullivan to develop her interest in this subject. She was not comfortable with learning Arithmetic. She did not like to study it. Miss Sullivan was a good teacher. Sullivan was an innovative teacher and developed her own method to teaching the subject. She tried to teach her to count by stringing beads in groups. Helen learnt to add and subtract by arranging kindergarten straws. It needed a lot of patience but Helen found it difficult. Most of the time, she was impatient. She did not arrange more than five six groups at a time. Once she arranged that much of the work she went out to play. Miss Sullivan did not lose patience and ultimately succeeded in developing her interest in the subject.

 

Chapter-08

a)    How did Helen experience the first Christmas after Miss Sullivan came to Tuscumbia?

It was a wonderful experience for Helen. She celebrated it as a great event. Everyone in the family had some surprises for her. Helen was pleased that Miss Sullivan and she had prepared surprises for everybody else. The mystery surrounding the gifts was her greatest delight and amusement. Her friends dropped hints and half spelled sentences and aroused her curiosity even more. She and her teacher kept up a guessing game and Helen grew more and more exciting as Christmas approached. She was waiting eagerly for the when she would meet the Santa Clause. The company of Miss Sullivan made it a special day for her.

 

b)   What did Helen do on the Christmas Eve? How did she spend her Christmas night?

Helen celebrated the Christmas with great excitement. It was a great event for her. On Christmas Eve, the Tuscumbia school children had their tree and invited Helen. Helen danced and capered around the tree in ecstasy. There was a gift for each child and this delighted Helen. She was permitted to hand the presents to the children. She did not look at her that she would get nicer gifts. She had to content herself with the gifts from the tree and leave the others until morning. She was waiting for the special gift from her teacher. She was more excited over the gifts to be given by Santa Claus. That night Helen hung her stocking and lay awake a long time pretending to be asleep and keeping alert to see what Santa Claus would do when he came. At last she fell asleep with new doll and a white bear in her arms.

 

c)    What were the surprise gifts Helen got on the Christmas morning? What did she get from her teacher? What happened to that gift?

Helen found surprises not only in the stocking but in other places too. She found them on the table, the chairs, at the door and on the windowsill. She got a special gift from her teacher. She presented her with a canary. She taught her to take care of her new pet. She had a routine for her pet. Every morning after breakfast she prepared his bath, cleaned his cage, filled his cups with fresh seed and water from the well-house and hung a spray of chicken weed in his swing. One day Helen had left the cage on the window-seat when she went to fetch water. When she came back and put her hand in the cage Tim’s pretty wings did not meet her touch. His small pointed claws did not take hold of her finger. She understood that she would never see her sweet little singer again. The canary was eaten up by the cat.

Chapter-09

a)    Helen was no longer a restless, excitable little creature on her journey to Boston. Why?

Another important event in Helen’s life was her journey to Boston. This journey was different from the journey to Baltimore. She was accompanied by her teacher, her mother and her doll Nancy. She remembered the journey she had made to Baltimore two years before. That time she required everybody’s attention to keep her amused. She was restless and excited. But now she was content to sit quietly beside Miss Sullivan who told her about all the sights that she saw out of the car-window. This time she had a good companion with her. On the seat opposite Helen sat Nancy, her big rat doll. She was content in playing with her. She made herself believe that she was asleep. Helen was now a mature girl. In two years she had learnt a lot about the world around her. She was no more restless and excited.

 

b)   Why was Helen delighted and amazed at the Perkins Institution for the Blind?

Helen was delighted and amazed at the Perkins Institution. She made friends with the little blind children. She was delighted that they knew the manual alphabet and found it joy to talk with other children in her own language. She felt like she was in her own country in the school where Laura Bridgman taught. It took her time to appreciate the fact that her new friends were blind. She was aware of her blindness but found it impossible that all the children around her were also blind. She remembers the surprise and the pain she felt as they placed their hands over hers. She was happy when she talked to them. She was surprised to know that they could read books with their fingers. She realized that all the children were deprived of sight and sound. But she found all of them happy and contented. Helen lost all the pain in the pleasure of their companionship. She was happy there.

 

c)    What does Helen recount about Mr. William Endicott and his daughter?

Mr. William Endicott and his daughter were among the many friends that Helen made in Boston. They were very kind to Helen. Helen could not forget their generosity and kindness. She recounted their kindness and her visit to their beautiful home in Beverly Farms. There were many things that gave her an immense pleasure. The rose garden, dogs and horse provided her unforgettable pleasure. She remembers with delight how she went through their rose-garden. She recalled how their dogs, big Leo and little curly-haired fritz came to meet her. She remembered how Nimrod the swiftest of horses poked his nose into her hands. She also remembered the beach where she played in the sand of the first time. Mr. Endicott told her about the great ship that sailing by from Boston. He was always a good friend to her. Whenever she remembered Boston she always recalled her time spent with Mr. William Endicott.

 

Chapter-10

a)    How was Helen fascinated with the ocean?

Helen had read about the ocean in books only. She had never experienced the touch of the sea. Helen had lived inland and had never been around the ocean. She had read in a book called “Our World” a description of the ocean. It filled her with wonder and an intense longing to touch the mighty sea. Her little heart leaped high with excitement. Her long cherished wish was going to be fulfilled. She wanted to feel it roar. She always longed for an opportunity to touch the ocean. When she came to know about the arrangement she was happy. It was a dream came true for her. That is why she was delighted when it was arranged that her teacher and she would spend their vacation at Brewster on Cape Cod. She had heard about the sea and of the wonderful sea stories.

b)   What did Helen feel when she plunged into the cool water? After her experience in the seawater how did Helen enjoy?

When Helen plunged into the cool water the buoyant motion of the water filled her with a joy. She felt as if the waves were playing games with her. It was an exotic moment for her. But suddenly her ecstasy gave place to terror as her foot struck against a rock. There was a rush of water over her head. Helen tried to grasp some support but all in vain. The waves tossed her around and she was very frightened. She was saved by her teacher. She had a scary experience at sea. After Helen had recovered from this experience she thought it great fun to sit on a big rock in her bathing-suit and feel waves. She felt the pebbles. Now she was enjoying her experience with the rocks and the beach. She was not scared of the water or the rocks.

c)    Describe Helen’s experience with her pet crab.

Miss Sullivan attracted her attention to a strange object. She had captured it basking in the chilly water. It was a horseshoe crab. Helen had seen it for the first time. She found it strange that he should carry his house on his back. She thought that it would be a delightful pet. She seized him by the tail with both hands and carried him home. His body was very heavy. It was not easy to carry it home. Helen had to use all of her strength to drag him half a mile. She asked Miss. Sullivan to put the crab near the well where he would secure. But next day she found the crab had disappeared. Helen realized that it was not kind to keep the poor dumb creature out of his natural habitat. She was sure that it had gone back to the sea. This thought made her happy. It shows her sensitivity and care for others. She had feelings for all the creatures. She understood the importance of a natural habitat for the animals.

Chapter-11

a)    How did Helen feel when she returned in the autumn to her southern home?

Helen returned to her southern home in the autumn. She had a heart full of joyous memories. She was filled with wonderful experiences of her visit to the North. She enjoyed information she had from there. She lived herself into all things and was never still a moment. Her life was full of motion. She had met many people. All the people talked to her by spelling into her hand. It made her feel important. It gave her a lot of pleasure. Now she was enjoying herself there. She felt as if her barren mind was blooming. She had developed a bond with others. Now Helen was not an ordinary stubborn girl. She had matured a lot. Her visit to different places had developed her faculties of understanding the environment and people around her. She had developed affection with nature. Her interaction with people in North gave her a lot of joy.

b)   How does Helen describe Fern Quarry? Why does Helen call their cottage a sort of rough camp? How did the men spend their time in the evening at Fern Quarry

Helen spent the autumn moths with her family at their summer cottage on a mountain. It was about fourteen miles from Tuscumbia. It was called Fern Quarry, because near it there was a limestone quarry. Three little streams ran through it from springs in the rocks above. The opening was filled with ferns. It completely covered the beds of limestone. It also had the streams. The rest of the mountain was thickly wooded. There were great oaks. The trees were always full of butterflies and buzzing insects. Helen was delighted to lose herself in the green hollows of that tangled wood. It was a place of wonders for Helen. Helen calls their cottage a sort of rough camp because their cottage was situated on the top of the mountain among oaks and pines. The small rooms were arranged on each side of a long open hall. Round the house was a wide piazza where the mountain winds blew. Sweet with all wood scents. In the evening the men played cards and spent time in talk and sport. They told sorties of their wonderful feats with animals they had shot.

c)    What did Helen do with Black Beauty? What happened at the railroad one day? How did Helen and others save themselves?

Black Beauty was Helen’s pony. He had a glossy black coat and white star on his forehead. Helen had read the book and he resembled his namesake in every way. She spent many of her happiest hours on his back. Sometimes when it was quite sage her teacher would allow her to ride it alone. They pony followed her instructions. It gave Helen a lot of satisfaction and happiness. She also gained confidence. One day Mildred, Miss Sullivan and she were lost in the woods and wandered for hours. They could not find the path. Helen had to feel for the rails with her toe. She was not afraid and got on very well. Suddenly there came a faint “puff, puff” from the distance. Helen could not see it. Mildred saw the train. It would have been upon them had they not climbed down upon the cross braces while it rushed over their heads. They escaped death.

 

Chapter-12

a)    How did the snow in New England surprise Helen? Describe the snowstorm that Helen witnessed. Which little poem did Helen think of when she saw all that snow?

She remembers how surprised she was on discovering the snow. She felt that a mysterious hand had stripped the trees and bushes. There were left only the wrinkled leaf. The birds had flown with snow. Winter was on hill and field. The earth seemed benumbed by his icy touch. The trees had withdrawn to their roots. The withered grass and the bushes were transformed into a forest of icicles. It was a new experience for Helen. When a snowstorm came they rushed outdoors to feel the snow. The flakes dropped silently. The country became more and more level. A snowy night closed upon the world. It snowed heavily. In the morning one could not recognize the landscape. All the roads were hidden. All the landmarks were invisible. She thought of the following poem:

Shrunk and cold

As if veins were sapless and old

And she rose up decrepitly

For a last dim look at earth and sea

 

Chapter-13

a)    How did Helen hear about RagnhildKaata? What did she resolve to do thereafter? How did Miss Fuller help Helen?

In 1890 Mrs. Lamson was one of Laura Bridgman’s teachers. She had just returned from a visit to Norway and Sweden. She came to see her and told her of RagnhildKaata, a deaf and blind girl in Norway who had actually been taught to speak. When Helen heard about her success story she was on fire with eagerness to meet Miss Fuller. She would not rest satisfied until her teacher took her for advice and assistance to Miss Sarah Fuller, principal of the Horace Mann School. Miss fuller offered to reach her herself and they began on the twenty-sixth of March, 1890. Miss Fuller passed her hand lightly over Helen’s face and let her feel the position of her tongue and lips when she made a sound. Helen was eager to imitate every motion and in an hour had learned six elements of speech “M, P, A, S, T, I”. Miss Fuller gave her eleven lessons in all and Helen was delighted when she uttered her first connected sentence “It is Warm”.

Chapter-14

a)    What was the Frost King Controversy? What happened when Mr. Anagnos received “The Frost King”?

Helen wrote the story when she was at home, the autumn after she had learned to speak. They had stayed up at Fern Quarry later than usual. While they were there, Miss Sullivan described to her the beauties of the late foliage, and it seemed that her descriptions revived the memory of a story, which she must have unconsciously retained. She thought then that she was “making up a story” as children say and she eagerly sat down to write it before the ideas slipped from her. Words and images came tripping to her finger ends and as she thought out sentence after sentence, she wrote them on her Braille state. Mr. Anagnos was delighted with “The Frost King” and published it in one of the Perkins Institution reports. Helen was ecstatic but was soon dashed to earth. She had been in Boston only a short time when it was discovered that a story similar to “The frost King” called ‘The Frost Fairies’ by Miss Margaret T. Canby had appeared before she was born in a book called “Bridle and His Friends”. The two stories were so much alike in thought and language that it was evident Miss Canby’s story had been read to her and that hers was a plagiarism.

Chapter-15

a) What was the incident of The Frost King? What was the controversy?

Helen faced her first public controversy at the age of eleven. She wrote a story which she thought that it was her own. She titled it, “The Frost King”. It was published in one magazine. She was embarrassed to know that it was plagiarized. The original story was by Margaret T. Canby and called the Frost Fairies. An anonymous council of eight adults and Mr. Agnagnos questioned Helen at the Perkins Institute, to find out if she had plagiarized this story on purpose. She did not remember hearing of Canby’s story before, but now believes that she must have heard it when she was younger and forgotten about it. The whole incident was traumatic for her and she lost the friendship of one of her dearest friends Mr. Agnagnos.

b) What was Helen’s experience on Santa Maria?

Santa Maria was the name of the shop in which Columbus had sailed to America. She observed an hour-glass which was laid on the desk in the cabin of Columbus. This hour-glass set her mind thinking and she began to think of Columbus as how he must have felt when he saw sand dropping grain by grain while all his crew was plotting against him.

Chapter-16

a) Which subjects had Helen studied by her in 1893?

Helen did not have any scheduled time table for her studies. She was also not particular about any subject. Her study pattern was not selective. She studied different subject on hit and miss basis. Helen had read the histories of Greece, Rome and the United States. She had some knowledge about French. She had a French grammar in raised print and as she already knew some French, she often amused herself by composing in her head short exercises, using the new words as she came across them and ignored rules and other technicalities as much as possible. After her visit to the world fair she become serious about her studies and followed a schedule to learn Latin and to acquire knowledge about various subjects. Miss Sullivan helped her in her efforts.

b) What do you know about Mr. Irons?

Miss Sullivan and Helen had been to Hulton where Mr. William hosted them. Mr. Irons was the neighbor of Mr. William Wade. He was a Latin Scholar and often helped Helen in learning Latin Grammar. He helped her in Arithmetic also and read Lord Tennyson’s poem ‘In Memoriam’ with Helen.

Chapter-17

a) Which school was chosen for Helen? What was the disappointment face by Helen there?

The Wright-Humason School for the Deaf was chosen for Helen. It was in the city of New York. This was a special school. It was especially for the purpose of obtaining the highest advantages in vocal culture and training in lip-reading. It was chosen for Helen as she needed training in lip reading. She had an aim to speak like others. She and her teacher both had high expectations about her progress in that field. Despite the painstaking efforts of the teachers and Helen herself, the progress was not encouraging. Another cause of disappointment was arithmetic were Helen was not doing any progress as per their expectations.

b) How did Helen react to Mr. John P. Spaulding’s death?

Mr. John Spaulding was very kind and tender towards Miss Sullivan and Helen. He was her great supporter and beneficiary. It was a bolt from the blue when he died in February, 1896. She felt that his going away had left emptiness in their lives which they would never be able to fill.

Chapter-18

a) What did Helen announce as a little girl when she visited Wellesley? Why did she prefer Harvard to Wellesley?

Helen was a little girl when she surprised her friends by the announcement that someday she would go to college. She preferred joining Harvard to Wellesley. When she was asked why she would not go to Wellesley she replied that there were only girls. The thought of going to college took root in her heart. It was her earnest desire. It impelled her to enter into competition for a degree. It was opposed by her true and wise friends. When she left New York the idea had become a fixed purpose and it was decided that she should go to Cambridge. That was the nearest approach she could get to Harvard and to the fulfillment of her childish declaration.

b) What do you know about Dr. Samuel Johnson?

Dr. Samuel Johnson belonged to the latter half of the eighteenth century. He was such a great literary figure that the period dominated by him, is also called the Age of Johnson. He is also known as a bull dog of classism. He was a great critic, poet, novelist and prose writer. As a satirist he ranks next only to top among the verse satirist of the 18th century.

Chapter-19

a) What difficulties did Helen face in the first few weeks of her second year at the Gilman School?

Helen faced various difficulties in the first weeks of her second year at the Gilman School. She did not have important apparatus for some of the studies. Many of the books she needed had not been embossed in time. She could not begin her class in time. The classes she was in were very large and it was impossible for the teachers to give her special instruction. Miss Sullivan had to read all the books to her and interpret for the instructors for the first time in eleven years it seemed as if her dear hand would not be equal to the task. It was necessary for her to write algebra and geometry in class and solve problems in physics. It was a difficult task without the help of a Braille writer. She could not follow with her eyes the geometrical figures drawn on the blackboard; her only means of getting a clear idea of them was to make them on a cushion with straight and curved wires.

b) How did Mr. Keith help Helen?

Mr. Keith was Helen’s private tutor who taught her algebra, geometry, Latin and Greek. His instructions were interpreted by Miss Anne Sullivan. Mr. Keith had a habit of explaining everything in a repeated manner till Helen understood it. Mathematics was one subject which Helen did not like but he made it interesting for her.

Chapter-20

a) How was Helen’s first day at Radcliffe?

Helen had a dream right form her childhood. She had a strong desire to go to college. She struggled a lot for this dream. Her struggle for admission to college was ended. She qualified to be eligible for admission in the college. She could now enter Radcliffe whenever she pleased. It was decided that she should study another year under Mr. Keith. Therefore, she entered the college in the fall of 1900. She had looked towards it for years. Her first day was full of interest. She was determined to compete with those who could see and hear. She had a wonderful feeling on that day. b) What were Helen’s views about examination? How did she feat it? Helen was against examinations. They frightened her the most though she had passed several examinations and yet the fear was still there in her mind. At the thought of examination, she felt her courage oozing out at her finger’s end. She spent the days before the examinations in cramming her mind with mystic formulas and indigestible dates. And yet it so happened that the right answer did not strike her mind at the right moment. In her opinion examinations hang upon students like a sword of Damocles.

Chapter-21

a) Which books did Helen possess at first? When did she begin to read in good earnest?

Helen was fond of reading books. She was more comfortable in reading the books which were in raised prints. In the beginning Helen did not have sufficient books in raised prints. Whatever books she had were a collection of stories for children and a book about the earth called ‘Our World’. It was during her first visit to Boston that she really began to read in good earnest. She was permitted to spend a part of each day in the institution library. She got a chance to wander from book case to bookcase and take down whatever book her fingers lighted upon. Helen read whether she understood one word in ten or two words on a page.

b) Describe Helen’s Fascination for ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’? How did she come to read it?

One day Helen’s teacher found her in the library turning the pages of “The Scarlet Letter”. The teacher told her that it had a beautiful story about a little which she was sure she would like most. The name of the story was ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’. She was greatly fascinated by the story and read it again and again until she almost knew it by heart and all through by childhood ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ was her sweat and gentle companion.

Chapter-22

a) How does Helen take her friends out rowing when they visit her at Wrentham, Massachusetts?

In spite of being deaf and dumb, Helen was very adventures right from her childhood. She loved all the outdoor games and never let her handicap come in her ways. She loved all the water games like rowing and canoeing. She could not guide the boat very well. She used to sit in the stern and manage the rudder while she rowed. Sometimes she would go rowing without the rudder. She used oars with leather bands which kept them in position in the oarlocks. She knew by the resistance of the water when the oars were evenly poised. In the same manner she could also tell when she was pulling against the current.

b) Write a brief note on Helen’s feeling of isolation?

In spite of keeping herself busy and participating in various pleasure giving activities. Helen was sometimes overtaken by gloom and despair she felt utter isolation. She felt that fate had done a great injustice to her by depriving her of her sense and that she might not enter the world of light and music she became silent then she checked herself from uttering any biller world realizing that she could not change her destiny. She tried to see the world from the light in other’s eyes and consoled herself saying, “There’ joy in self-forgetfulness.”

Chapter-23

a) Whom does Helen refer to as stupid and curious and why?

 Helen always appreciated people around her. She had a lot of good people around her. But she never liked the people from press. The people from newspaper always irritated her. Helen never had kind words for the newspaper reporters. Her only unkind words are for newspaper reporters whom she includes in the category of “the stupid and curious and for people who are condescending to her”. She disliked people who tried to talk down to her understanding. According to her they are like people who when walking with you try to shorten their steps to suit yours, the hypocrisy in both cases is equally exasperating.

A BRIEF SKETCH OF CHARACTERS

HELEN KELLER:

Helen Keller is the author of the Novel. When she was an infant she fell seriously ill. She was left blind and deaf. She is a role model for many. She was a fast learner. She had a strong determination to fight against all the odds of life. She realized that she was different from the others around her, but she did her best to make herself understood. She had a loving relationship with her family, teachers and friends. In the formative years she tried to understand why she so different from others. Soon she became restless and had an urge to be like others. She became extremely willful and sometimes hostile. Keller was a motivated and intelligent student. She worked hard with her teacher, Mrs. Sullivan and ultimately learned to communicate. She learned to read Braille and found the world open up further for her. Next she learned to speak. She went on to attend Radcliffe College for her graduation. Keller worked for the people like her. She became a vocal advocate for the physically challenged. She educated the public about the needs of the blind, deaf, and mute. She was a tireless social reformer.

 

ARTHUR H. KELLER:

Arthur Keller is one of the main characters in the novel. He is the father of Helen Keller. He had been a captain in the Confederate army. Keller describes him as “loving and indulgent, devoted to his home, seldom leaving us, except in the hunting season”. Helen says that her father was one of the most loving and indulgent fathers. He was very devoted to his home. He would seldom leave them. He was a good hunter and a celebrated shot. Next to his family he loved his dogs and gun. He was very hospitable. He was proud of his garden where he raised the finest watermelons and strawberries in the country. He was a good story teller and would amuse her with his clever anecdotes.

 

KATE KELLER:

Kate Keller is Helen’s mother. She is the first person in the life of Keller. She was an early source of comfort to Helen Keller. As a mother she could feel the pangs of a troubled child. She was always with Helen. She understood the needs of the troubled child and cooperated wherever it was required. She was a great support for Helen. She always accompanied her to her schools or other places. She went with her on all the travels. She bore all the frustrations of Helen without any complaint. She provided her solace wherever she needed it. She was always with Mrs. Sullivan. Kate Keller learned the manual alphabet from her so that she could communicate effectively with her daughter. As a mother she sometimes felt threatened by Miss Sullivan. She found that Helen was very close to her teacher. However, soon she understood that for the sake of her daughter that deep bonded student teacher relationship was necessary. She is a wonderful character in the novel.

 

MILDRED KELLER:

Mildred Keller is the younger sister of Helen Keller. She is a sweet child who always accompanied Helen. Helen used to feel jealous towards Mildred who she felt had taken her place as her mother’s only darling. Mildred would sit in her mother’s lap constantly and seemed to take up all her time and care. One day Helen overturned the cradle where little Mildred was sleeping peacefully. She would have been killed had it not been for their mother who caught her as she fell. In later years they grew affectionate towards each other and were content to go hand in hand everywhere although she could not understand her finger language or Helen her childish prattle. Mildred was always with her in her joy and sorrows. She played the role of a good companion and a sister. She herself was a mature and kind human being. She always helped Helen whenever she needed it.

 

ANNE MANSFIELD SULLIVAN:

Anne Mansfield Sullivan is the most important person in the life of Helen Keller. Without her support Helen could never do what she achieved in her life. She was a dedicated teacher who brought light in the life of a troubled child. It was her constant motivation and well planned strategy that enlightened the life of Helen. When Anne Sullivan went to teach Keller, she was only twenty years old and a recent graduate of the Perkins Institution for the Blind. She herself had impaired vision and could understand the need of such a child as Helen. She was a disciplined teacher. She knew the importance of discipline in learning. That is why she became an effective and successful teacher. She was a patient teacher for Helen. She was an effective teacher because she opted for structured and spontaneous lessons. She understood the interest and environment of her student and taught her accordingly. Miss Sullivan dedicated her life to support Helen Keller.

 

 MR. ANAGNOS:

Anagnos is one of the main characters in the novel ‘The Story of My Life’. He was the director of the Perkins Institution. He played a very important role in the life Helen Keller. Dr. Bell advised Mr. Keller to contact him for Helen. He was very kind and full of compassion for Helen. It was Mr. Anagnos who sent Anne Sullivan to the Keller’s’ home. He and Keller became friends. Helen found him the most affectionate person in her life. He had her sit on his knee when she visited the Institution. An incident ruined their friendship forever. When Keller wrote “the Frost King,” she sent it to him on his birthday. Mr. Anagnos was happy to see it. But soon he was convinced beyond doubt that it was not an original work. He thought that Helen had intentionally plagiarized it. Their friendship was forever ruined.

 

DR. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL:

Helen Keller held Dr. Alexander Graham Bell in high esteem. Keller sensed Bell’s tender disposition. As a child Helen felt the tenderness and sympathy for Dr. Dell. He was a wonderful person with wonderful achievements. He has been admired by all. The Story of My Life is dedicated to him. Keller met him first when she was six years old. She was brought to him by parents for advice on how to reach her. Dr. Bell guided them to contact the Perkins Institution for the Blind. They followed his advice. There was a good bond of friendship between Br. Bell and Helen Keller. He remained a friend to Anne Sullivan also. He accompanied them on a trip to on a trip to the World’s Fair. Dr. Bell made Helen understand how it was possible to send a message on wires that mock space and outrun time. Besides being a great inventor, Dr. Bell had a humorous and poetic side too. His dominating passion was his love for children. He was never quite as happy as when he had a little deaf child in his arms.

 

BISHOP BROOKS:

Bishop Brooks was one of the “many men of genius” Keller knew. He knew Keller from her childhood. He spoke beautifully to her about religion, God, and spiritual matters, He was just like a spiritual teacher, In other words he was Keller’s spiritual guru. As a child she loved to sit on his knee and clasp his great hand with one of hers. Once when she was puzzled to know why there were so many religions he explained that here was one universal religion, the religion of love. “ Love your heavenly father with your whole heart and soul, love every child of God as much as ever you can and remember that the possibilities of good are greater than the possibilities of evil, and you have the key to Heaven”. Bishop Brooks taught her no special creed on dogma. He was a person who respected all the creeds. He impressed upon her two great ideas-the fatherhood of God and he brother hood of man. He believed that these are the universal truths.

 

MR. IRONS:

Helen Keller did not give much information about Mr. Irons. But he played a big role in her life. He was a friend of a family. Miss Anne Sullivan and Keller visited him. Mr. Irons was a Latin Scholar. He taught Keller as a student. Keller describes him as “a man of rare, sweet nature and of wide experience’. He taught Keller about literature. It was Mr. Irons who taught Helen ‘to know an author, to recognize his style as I recognize the clasp of a friends’ hand”.

 

MR. KEITH:

Mr. Keith was Keller’s mathematics instructor at the Cambridge School for young Ladies. He was the best Mathematics instructor at the Cambridge School for Young Ladies. He made Keller to understand the subject. She truly understood the subject. Keller withdrew from the Cambridge school for young Ladies but Keith continued to teach her mathematics as private teacher, Keller describes him as “always gentle and forbearing, no matter how dull I might be, and believe me, my stupidity would often have exhausted the patience of Job”. Mr. Keith succeeded in whittling problems small enough to go through her brain. He kept her mind alert and eager. He trained her to reason clearly. Keller could conclude logically with his help. He was always gentle and forbearing.

 

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

Oliver Wendell was one of the “many men of genius” Keller knew. He once called upon Miss Sullivan and Keller to visit him. Keller smelled leather and ink in the room. She understood that his was surrounded by books. When Holmes shed a tear over a poem, Keller was touched. He was a great source of inspiration for Helen. When Helen recited a poem for him she could feel that he was weeping. He made her sit in his armchair. He brought interesting things for her to examine and at his request she recited “The chambered nautilus”.