3. Helen Keller was an author, lecturer, and crusader
for the handicapped. Born physically normal in
Tuscumbia, Alabama, Keller lost her sight and
hearing at the age of nineteen months to an
illness now believed to have been scarlet fever.
Five years later, on the advice of Alexander
Graham Bell, her parents applied to the Perkins
Institute for the Blind in Boston for a teacher, and
from that school hired Anne Mansfield Sullivan.
4. Through Sullivan’s extraordinary instruction, the
little girl learned to understand and communicate
with the world around her. She went on to acquire
an excellent education and to become an
important influence on the treatment of the blind
and deaf.
Keller altered the world’s perception of the
capacities of the handicapped. More than any act
in her long life, her courage, intelligence, and
dedication combined to make her a symbol of the
triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
5.
6. Helen's desire to express herself grew, and so did
the severity of her tantrums. It got to the point
that she raged every day or several times
throughout the day. Most of her family and
friends felt that nothing could be done for her ,
and so did the severity of her tantrums. It got to
the point that she raged every day or several times
throughout the day. Most of her family and
friends felt that nothing could be done for her.
7. When Helen was about six, her father heard of an eminent
oculist in Baltimore . He had been successful in many
hopeless cases. So her parents decided to take her to
Baltimore to see if anything could be done to her eyes.
In Baltimore Dr. Chisholm received them kindly but he
could do nothing. However, he advised her father to consult
Dr. Alexander graham bell of Washington who could give
him information about schools for deaf or blind children .
They went to Dr. bell . He understood her signs but Helen
could not dream that she would pass from darkness into
light , “from isolation to friendship , companionship ,
knowledge , love” .
8. Dr. bell advised Helen's father to write to Mr.
Anagnos , director of the Perkins institution in
Boston . He asked if he had a teacher competent
to begin Helen's education . In a few weeks , there
came a letter from Anagnos informing that a
teacher had been found . This was in the summer
of 1886 . Miss Sullivan did not arrive until the
following march . Helen heard a voice ,
“knowledge is love and light and vision” .
9. As Helen desire to express herself grew , she felt
herself helpless and miserable which also made
her parents confused.
There was no school for the blind or the deaf in
Tuscumbia where they lived .
Her father took her to Baltimore and met Dr.
Chirsholm , a famous eye surgeon but he did no
good to her and advised them to consult Dr.
Alexander graham bell .
10. Dr. bell advised her father to write a letter to Mr.
Anagnos , director of Perkins institute .
Her father wrote and got a positive reply from the
institute that they found suitable teacher .
11. i. Helen wanted to be express herself but she could not
be understood . Describe the situation at that time.
ii. After helen’s desire to express herself grew , the few
signs she used became less and less adequate and
her failures to make herself understood were
followed by outburst of passion. She felt as if
invisible hands were holding her, and made frantic
effort to free herself . she generally broke down in
tears and physical exhaustion. After a while the
need of some means of communication became so
urgent that those outburst of her occurred daily ,
sometimes hourly.
12. ii. Describe the efforts Helen’s parent made for her
education , and the final outcome.
There was no school for the blind or the deaf in
Tuscumbia where they lived . Most of her family
and friends felt that nothing could be done for
her. Her mother’s only ray of hope came from
dicken’s “American notes”. In which she had read
the account of Laura Bridgman , deaf and blind
women . She had been educated despite being so.
13. iii. The narrator thoroughly enjoyed the train
journey to Baltimore . Elucidate.
• The narrator thoroughly enjoyed the train journey
to Baltimore . She made friends with many people
on the train . One lady gave her a box of shells. Her
father made holes in those shells so that she could
string them and for a long time they kept her happy
and contented . The conductor was too kind . Often
he went on his rounds she clung to his coat tails
while he collected and punched the tickets . During
the whole trip she did not have one fit of temper , as
there were so many things that kept her mind and
fingers busy.
14. iv. What did the say about Dr . Alexander graham
bell ? What did Dr . Bell advise the narrator’s
father to do ?
The narrator’s father was advised by Dr.Chrisholm
to consult Dr. Alexander graham bell of
Washington who could give him information
about schools for deaf or blind children. Since she
was a child , she at once felt the tenderness and
sympathy which endeared Dr. Bell to so many
hearts . She said that Dr. Bell held her on his knee
while examined his watch and he made it strike
for her . He understood her signs but Helen could
not dream that she would pass from darkness into
light , “from isolation to friendship , knowledge ,
companionship , love” .
15. Dr. bell advised her father to write to Mr.
Anagnos , director of the Perkins institution in
Boston . He asked if he had a teacher competent
to begin her education .
