In the life of Helen Keller, Ms. Anne Sullivan acts as an inspiration behind her
extraordinary life. Justify with suitable instances from the text.
Answers
Miss Sullivan as Inspiration
Miss Sullivan inspired Helen through the qualities of her
love, care, and deep knowledge. She was herself the victim of visual
disability. She had overcome it with sheer practice. She was perfect in
teaching children suffering from visual and hearing disabilities. She knew the
manual alphabet and other teaching techniques. She won Helen's confidence
convincingly.
Miss Sullivan was an extraordinary teacher. 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. Initially Helen did not accept all her explanations, techniques and methodology, but after Miss Sullivan won Helen’s confidence, Helen had complete faith in her. Miss Sullivan understood Helen thoroughly. She knew how to make things clear to her. Whether it was teaching her the difference between ‘w-a-t-e-r’ and ‘m-u-g’ or teaching her the word ‘d-o-l-l’ for both the dolls, Miss Sullivan knew the methodology.
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 which made the first years of Helen's education so beautiful. Miss Sullivan made learning easy and fun-filled for Helen.
Miss Sullivan stood by Helen during her challenges and ordeals. When the dark clouds of Frost King incident darkened her already dark world, she stood by her as light; at Cambridge school, she worked very hard to help Helen cope up with the stress of the academics. Even at Radcliffe college she tried to lessen Helen’s hardships.
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 which made the first years of Helen's education so beautiful. Miss Sullivan made learning easy and fun-filled for Helen.