Main Point: Overcoming obstacles with creativity and determination.
Helen Keller's Triumph: Despite being blind and deaf, Keller succeeded through determination and creativity.
Quick Write
Think about someone who overcame limitations in life, books, or movies.
Write a paragraph on their efforts to conquer difficulties.
Literary Analysis
Autobiography vs. Biography: Autobiography is written by the person themselves in the first-person point of view; biography is written by someone else.
Includes personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
Reading Strategy: Monitor
Clarify confusing passages by paraphrasing.
Example: "Anger and bitterness had preyed upon me" means she felt constant anger and bitterness.
Vocabulary in Context
Consciousness: awareness
Sensation: feeling
Uncomprehending: not understanding
Repentance: regret
Tangible: touchable
Overcoming All Obstacles
Early Life: Blind and deaf from a young age.
Anne Sullivan's Role: Taught Keller sign language, Braille, and eventually how to speak.
Lifetime of Learning
Taught by Anne Sullivan.
Learned multiple languages (English, French, German).
Graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904.
Teaching Others
Became a spokesperson for people with disabilities.
Worked to prevent diseases causing blindness.
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964.
Important Events
Anne Sullivan's Arrival: Marked a turning point in Keller’s life.
First Word: Learned to spell 'doll' with her fingers.
Understanding Language
Realization that everything has a name greatly impacted her world view.
Example with 'water': Understanding language gave her a sense of freedom.
Reaction to Learning
Emotional response to breaking a doll showed the beginning of understanding emotions like sorrow and repentance.
Visual Analysis
Photographs show the relationship between Keller and Sullivan.
Additional Content
Letter from F.D. Roosevelt: Acknowledgement of Keller's impact and Sullivan's role as a teacher-liberator.
After Reading
Comprehension
Keller knew something was happening due to unusual activity in the house.
First word taught by Sullivan: "doll."
World changed by understanding the connection between language and meaning.
Literary Analysis
Use sensory details to understand Keller's descriptions.
Impact of Anne Sullivan as a liberator in Keller's life.
Extension and Challenge
Research modern technological advances aiding people with disabilities.
Vocabulary Practice
Sentences: Use words like sensation, tangible, and consciousness in context.
Reading-Writing Connection
Writing Prompts: Write a letter or poem from Keller to Sullivan or evaluate the autobiography’s accuracy.
Capitalization: Understand the rules of capitalizing proper nouns and family names.