character sketch of mr.keith in story of my life
Answers
Merton S. Keith was the math and classics tutor who helped Helen Keller as she studied and prepared to enter Radcliffe. While Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, lived in Wrentham, outside Boston, Mr. Keith (who lived in Cambridge) came out twice a week to tutor Keller in Latin, Greek, algebra, and geometry. Later, when Keller lived in Boston, Mr. Keith taught Helen Keller five days a week.
Mr. Keith was extremely patient with Keller, who had many obstacles in solving math problems, as she could not see the problems. She often had to construct geometrical figures on a cushion with curved wires, and she had to remember the lettering of the figure and other aspects of a geometric proof in her head. Mr. Keith also made the mathematical work interesting to Keller and taught her how to reason her way through the problems. It was difficult for Keller to pass her Radcliffe examinations in math, as she did not understand the Braille corresponding to the mathematical symbols, but she applied herself to doing so and passed her exams. Mr. Keith then tutored her for another year before she entered college, and he was an encouraging and patient teacher.