Reading 1 (Page 91)
2. Answer the following questions.
a. What was the ‘unusual activity’ that Helen could sense?
What were her reasons for sensing it?
The unusual activity that Helen could sense was about the
arrival of a new teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan. Everybody was busy in making preparations
and going here and there. Her mother signs her. These are the reasons for Helen
sensing the unusual activity.
b. How does Helen describe her life before the arrival of
her teacher?
Helen describes her life as a ship in the sea. The ship is
surrounded by fog. It is difficult to find directions to the shore. Helen is
groping for a direction like the ship.
c. Which incident ignited the desire in Helen to learn more
about the things around her?
Anne Sullivan tried to teach Helen the relationship between
the word ‘water’ and the water flowing from the water sprout by placing one of
Helen’s hands in the flow and wrote the letters w-a-t-e-r on the palm of Helen’s
other hand. Then Helen realized that ‘water’ means the cool thing that is
flowing over her hand. She also realizes that everything has a name. This
incident ignited the desire in Helen to learn more about the things around her.
d. Mention an incident in the text which proves that Helen’s
parents were overindulgent towards her?
Once Helen was not willing to use a napkin at the table. Her
teacher tried to put the napkin around her neck many times. But Helen kept
tearing it away. At last, she began to kick the table. Helen’s teacher took her
plate and wanted to take her out of the room as a punishment. Helen’s father
didn’t allow her teacher to take her out of the room. He said that the child
should not be without food. This incident in the text proves that Helen’s
parents were overindulgent towards her.
e. What was the first lesson that Helen’s teacher wanted to
teach her?
‘Obedience’ was the first lesson that Helen’s teacher wanted
to teach her. Her teacher clearly understood that it was difficult to teach
Helen anything unless Helen obeyed her. Anne, her teacher was sure that
obedience and love make a gateway through which knowledge entered in a child’s
mind.
Reading 2
1. According to Anne Sullivan, Helen would never give in
without dispute. In your opinion, what could be the reason behind Helen’s
stubborn and aggressive attitude?
In my opinion, the overindulgence of Helen’s parents
towards Helen could be the reason for this. Helen’s family allowed her to do things
in her own way. They pampered her. So, Helen became a stubborn child.
2. Anne Sullivan accomplished a great deal, especially as
the outstanding teacher of Helen Keller. She is often overlooked as people only
remember the student and not the amazing teacher who opened the door of
knowledge and language for Keller. Anne Sullivan’s part was just as difficult,
if not more, than Keller’s job as a learner. Do you agree or disagree? Give
reasons.
I agree that Anne Sullivan’s job was just as difficult. She
had to deal with a spoilt and stubborn child. Moreover, she had to convince
Helen’s overindulgent parents. Anne had to be strict with Helen and enforce
discipline. It was difficult to make Helen’s parents the importance of obedience.
3. It is through language that Helen Keller first
experiences regret and sorrow. Like Helen, the hearing and visually impaired use
sign language to express themselves. Language is essential for us to understand
our relation with the world. Do you agree? Justify your answer.
Yes. I agree that language is essential for communication.
If you know more words, you can tell what you want more clearly. It is
impossible to live without the power of expression. We need to express
ourselves and communicate with others to share our feelings. We need language
to understand another person’s feelings and ideas. Even people like Helen, who
are unable to speak or hear, use sign language.
