Question

The charge of plagiarism has shaken the confidence of helen and demoralised her. How did she regain her congidence in life?

Answer 1

Helen’s story The Frost King was claimed to be a plagiarized version of a story called The Frost Fairies written by Ms Margaret T Canby. She had sent the story to Mr Anagnos who headed the Perkins Institution for the Blind. He had supported her initially but later turned against her. This gave her a nervous breakdown and she never wrote fiction again.

Ms Sullivan had to spend a lot of time and effort consoling Helen and putting her fears to rest. She had to work out many ways to achieve this. It was her constant urging that made Helen resume writing after a long time.

Answer 2

The controversy concerning 'The Frost King' was an agonizing experience in Helen's life. Helen was charged with plagiarism. It was said that Helen had copied the theme of her story from 'Frost Fairies', by Miss Margaret T. Cabby. Even Mr. Anagnos, the director of Perkins Institute doubted Helen. After the incident Helen started doubting her thoughts. She lost confidence in her thought process and shuddered to write anything. She began believing every thought she thought could be any writer’s thought who she might have read in the past. However, Miss Sullivan stood by her and helped her reclaim her lost confidence. She encouraged her to write for the Youth's Companion a brief account of my life. Gradually, Helen came out the shadows of the sad experience of the Frost King episode.