Helen Keller
8 key ideas, each explained in our own words.
The Story of My Life
- IDEA 1
Illness left Helen deaf and blind
Helen Keller describes how an illness at nineteen months took away her sight and hearing. As a young child she lived in a silent, dark world, unable to communicate and often frustrated and angry.
- IDEA 2
A teacher changed her life
When Helen was nearly seven, Anne Sullivan arrived to teach her. Sullivan spelled words into Helen's hand, patiently trying to connect words with things. Keller presents this patient teaching as the beginning of everything that followed in her life.
- IDEA 3
Water opened the door to language
Keller describes the moment at a water pump when Sullivan spelled water into one hand while cool water flowed over the other. Helen suddenly understood that everything had a name.
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