The Story of My Life (pages 1-40)

The Story of My Life- Helen Keller

Summary:

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. At the age of two, Helen was affected with a severe illness called Severe Congestion of the Brain and Stomach. This illness caused her to be unable to speak, see or hear, she felt like the world was entirely shut off around her. For five years, Helen was uncontrollable; she grew into a wild child and was constantly throwing tantrums. Since Helen's parents didn't know how to teach her, her mom would give her anything she wanted. She used to cling on to her mother's dress as she did household duties. Her hands would feel every object and observe the motion; this was the way Helen Keller used to learn. Communication began to rise up with others, a shake of the head meant "No," a nod meant "Yes," and a pull meant "Come."As time passed by, Helen became a spoiled child and she couldn't take the answer "No." It was hard finding help for a child who cannot speak, see or hear. Finally, a teacher Annie Sullivan was found and agreed to help Helen. Helen was seven years old when she first met Annie, and from the start, Annie started to teach Helen. Annie would give an object to Helen to study and then, she would take her hand and spell the object out. First, Helen thought it was a game, but she learned that it was a way to teach her. Because of Annie, Helen learned what objects were, manners and a little bit of reading. Annie brought a completely new world to Helen, because she was able to understand her surroundings more and experience the adventure to new places in the country.

Quotation:

"The most important day I remember in all my life is the one on which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me. I am filled with wonder when I consider the immeasurable contrast between the two lives which it connects" (Keller 14).

Reaction:

The author described herself, Helen Keller as a young child who was mad at the world because she had an illness that caused her to be unable to speak see or hear forever. She became aggravated and began throwing tantrums to get what she wants. She was hopeless and her parents didn't know what to do but seek help. The author provided many descriptive examples on how she would act as a child. The words she used also gave imagery in my head to see what was going on. They found an amazing teacher, Annie Sullivan, who herself went through an illness that caused her to be blind. She overcame that illness and started to help children who had a similar illness. This relates to the quote, because Annie became one of Helen's most important people in her life. She was able to teach Helen how to live, and what to know.