Character sketch of Miss Sullivan.
Answers
In her novel 'The Story of My Life', Helen Keller pays
repeated homage to her great teacher, Miss Sullivan. The world is full of
ordinary teachers who just teach shallowly. Miss Sullivan touched the depths of
Helen's soul and brought light to her darkened world.
The day she arrived at Helen's house, Helen called that day the most important
day of her life. Helen compared the arrival of her teacher to the shining of
'light of love' in her darkened life. Miss Sullivan took unprecedented pains to
teach Helen manual alphabet. Since Helen was suffering from hearing as well as
visual disabilities, Miss Sullivan really had to work very hard to teach Helen
the alphabet. In the 7 chapter, Helen praises Miss Sullivan in the following
words: "Thus I learned from life itself. At the beginning I was only a
mass of possibilities. It was my teacher who unfolded and developed them. When
she came, everything about me breathed of love and joy and was full of
meaning." It was Miss Sullivan's genius, her sympathy, her loving tact and
expert teaching skills which made the first years of Helen's education so
beautiful. Miss Sullivan made learning easy and fun-filled for Helen.
Miss Sullivan deserves all the praise she received from Helen. She taught her
with immense patience and love. She endured her initial stubbornness to her
methodology. She devised unique and innovative methods to teach Helen the
secrets of language, reading, speaking, imagination, and other mysteries of
life. She was always there with her in her ups and downs. Even during the
painful incident of Frost King, Miss Sullivan was always with her giving her
comfort, solace, and self confidence. Even while travelling to various places
such as World Fair, Fern Quarry, etc, Miss Sullivan was always with her. No doubt,
Helen considered her teacher as her own inseparable part! She was everything to
Helen.
Miss. Sullivan was Helen keller's teacher. She was a great Teacher or mentor. She was choosen for Helen, to help her in leaning and for understanding. She knew very well how to take care of children like Helen. As, she was herself partially sighted.
On the first day of meeting she gave her a doll. After playing a little she spelled on her hand the word d-o-l-l (doll). At first Helen was unable to understand what she was trying to say her and teaching her. But as the days passed she was able to understand what she was trying to say. She taught her by writing words on her hand. She also gave her beads of different letters. By arranging the beads she learn new words.
Helen likes to study in nature. So she also take She outside so that she learn with interest.
She always ready to help her in her difficult time. Because of her Helen was able to study. She taught her not as an adult, but she taught her like that she was herself a child.
She was like a light house in Helen's dark world who take her from darkness to light. Helen loves everyone in her family. But her special affection towards her teacher Miss. Sullivan.
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