CBSE Class 10 Answered

Pls give me the explanation of all incidents chapter wise in the novel helen keller

Asked by rushabhjain.avv | 20 Nov, 2018, 11:41: AM

Expert Answer

The following are some of the important incidents from The Story of my Life.

Helen’s childhood as a happy child before her falling sick

As a toddler, Helen was loved and cared for, and was a bright and a promising child. She started walking when she was just a year old. However, the bright and happy childhood of Helen was darkened in February in 1882 when she had an acute congestion of the stomach and brain. The doctors thought that she wouldn’t survive; however, Helen recovered mysteriously. Sadly, the illness took away her hearing and vision.

Helen’s life before Miss Sullivan arrived

Before Miss Sullivan's advent in her life, Helen was a helpless disabled child out of control. She could not be taught anything as she was too entangled in her darkness and incessant silence. Helen was extremely frustrated with her inability to express her mind in a way that others could understand. She felt like a helpless ship in a dense fog.

Helen almost getting burnt

One day Helen spilled some water on her apron. As she wanted to dry herself quickly, she spread the apron before the fire flickering on the sitting room hearth. She put the apron too close to the fire and the apron fell over the ashes, engulfing her in the fire. On hearing her frightened cry, Nancy the nurse came to her rescue and threw a blanket on her. Although Helen almost suffocated and burnt her hands and hair, it saved her life.

Miss Sullivan’s arrival in Helen’s life

Miss Sullivan came in Helen’s life with a great deal of joy, hope and uncountable blessings. She had a purpose in her life now, of looking forward to each day and learning new things every day. Miss Sullivan brought along hope and promise for better days. She taught Helen the secrets of language. Now Helen found meaning in everything. Miss Sullivan was an expert teacher who was very patient and innovative while teaching Helen. Miss Sullivan would often write the spelling of the object on Helen's hand after allowing her to touch it. Miss Sullivan took Helen out in the living world and awakened her soul to the secret of learning words with.

The Frost King incident

Helen Keller had written a story called “The Frost King” in her youth. She was delighted when it was published in one of the Perkins Institutions report. According to her, she was at the pinnacle of happiness from where she was dashed to earth. A book similar to “The Frost King” was written many years ago, before her birth called “The Frost Fairies”. It was written by Miss Margaret T. Canby. This caused many to accuse Helen of plagiarism since the stories were similar in thought and language. It caused her great pain as she felt extremely bitter about the charges. She thought she had disgraced herself and let down people whom she loved. Miss. Sullivan consoled her and end her fears in every possible way in order to restore the confidence that Helen lost. Helen, then eventually, resumed writing after being urged by Miss. Sullivan.

Answered by Snehal Naik | 30 Nov, 2018, 07:56: PM