Question

How did Helen overcome the trauma of the'the frost king" episode?

Answer 1

Helen became excessively scrupulous about everything she wrote. The thought that what she wrote might not be absolutely her own tormented her to no end and no one was cognisant of her fears except her teacher. She felt unsure of her compositions during the act of writing, an impish fear clutched her hand so that she could not write anymore on those days. The sense of unease and disquietude plagued her for a long time. Helen had lost her confidence to write following the Frost Fairy episode. It was Miss Sullivan who consoled her and helped her in every way she could think of because that terrible experience had left a lasting impression on her mind. It was with the hope of restoring Helen's self-confidence that she persuaded Helen to write for the Youth's Companion. This brief account was prophetic in its intent because if Helen had not written this, she would have succumbed to her fears. Helen wrote timidly and fearfully but she persevered as her teacher continued to egg her on. It helped Helen to find her bearings again and opened her up to a life of trial that came with a truer knowledge of life. In her words,she had been living an unconscious life, acted upon by circumstances but from then onward, she began to take charge with no small measure of help from her teacher.