The Miracle Worker By William Gibson Helen Keller

The Miracle Worker By: William Gibson

Helen Keller l Blind, deaf and mute, HELEN KELLER is a little girl with limited outlets for communication with the outside world. cute as a button and clever like a fox, she’s got her entire family wrapped around her spoiled little finger.

Kate Keller l Though a concerned and caring mother, KATE KELLER is near the end of her rope in caring for Helen. Often more concerned with appeasing Helen than attempting to teach her, Kate only reinforces a foul temperament in her daughter.

Captain Keller l CAPTAIN ARTHUR KELLER, a savvy military mind and father to both Helen and James Keller, is more sure on the battlefield than in matters of the heart.

Annie Sullivan l While no one can fully identify with Helen’s unique set of limitations, ANNIE SULLIVAN may come the closest having once been blind herself. She has led a difficult life and she knows what could be in store for Helen if she cannot learn to behave and to communicate with those around her.

James Keller l Son to the Captain and stepson to Kate, James just can’t seem to fit in with the Keller household. Ridiculed by his father and often subjugated by the rest of the family, James is on his own quest to find how he can break through and reach his family.

Aunt Ev l. A true Southern matron, AUNT EV seems to have an opinion on just about everything.

Percy & Martha l PERCY and MARTHA are both playmates for Helen and servants for the Keller family.

Anagnos l. A mentor for Annie, ANAGNOS serves as the warm, reassuring voice for her when she feels backed into a corner.

Viney l. A concerned member of the Keller clan, servant VINEY is close to the action as the primary house servant and cook.

Act 1 (pgs 1 -15) 1. Why do you think the playwright opens the play with the scene showing the adults around the crib? 2. How does that scene explain Helen’s problem? 3. What does the scene show you about the social background of Helen’s parents? 4. Who are Martha and Percy? 5. How much time passes between the opening scene and the one where Martha and Percy play with paper dolls? 6. What do Martha and Percy think of Helen? Why? 7. Why does Helen attack Martha? 8. How does Helen’s mother respond? 9. How would you handle the situation? 10. How do you think James would like to have seen the situation handled? 11. Why does Helen give up the scissors finally?

Act 1 (continued) 1. What does this show you about Helen? 2. Why wont Helen’s father write to an eye specialist, as Aunt Ev suggests? 3. What does James mean when he says “Good money after bad …” (p. 11)? Does James have a right to feel this way? 4. What is James’ suggestion about what should be done with Helen? 5. What other options does the Keller family have? Do you think they have considered all of their options? Why or why not? 6. What does kate mean when she says to her husband “It was not our affliction I meant to write about, Captain? ” Describe her tone of voice, as well. 7. Why does Helen Pull off Aunt Ev’s bottoms? 8. Why do you think Helen overturns the cradle? 9. As Helen’s parents talk, Helen’s face “darkens in the same rage as at herself earlier. ” (pg 15) Why do you think she is so angry?

Act 1 (pgs 16 -30) 1. Who is Anagnos? 2. Why do you think he chose Annie Sullivan as Helen’s governess? 3. What do you learn about Anagnos’ background? 4. Why does Anagnos suggest that Annie might want to tell the Keller’s about her own history? 5. How does Annie react to his suggestion? 6. What kind of relationship do Annie and Anagnos seem to have? (and how do you know? ) 7. What presents does Annie receive and who gives them to her? 8. What memory rises to the surface as Annie says good bye to the children? (p 22) And why does Annie have remember this particular incident at this point in the play? 9. When Keller speaks to his son, it is often to criticize him. Find an example in this section to represent Keller’s criticism of James. 10. What do you think is the problem between Keller and James? 11. Explain how Viney, Kate and Captain Keller all use food to bribe Helen.

Act 1 (continued) 1. Why does bribing her seem like a bad idea? 2. Why does James tell Annie “you look like half a governess. ” (pp 27) 3. Why is Kate unsure of Annie when they first meet? 4. How does Kate express her doubt about Annie? 5. Is Annie annoyed with Kate for not having more faith in her? How do you know? 6. Are there any signs that Annie and Kate might just get along well with each other? Explain! 7. Does Annie have a plan for Helen? Explain! 8. Does Annie have faith in herself? Explain! 9. How would you plan to work with a child like Helen?

Act 1 (pgs. 30 -47) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. How can you tell that Annie has a sense of humor? What does she mean when she tells Kate, “Oh, strangers aren’t so strange to me. I’ve known them all my life!”? What is Viney doing when Annie arrives? How does Keller act when he meets Annie? When he asks if she had an agreeable journey, she says, “I had several!” What does she mean? Does he catch her joke? How does Annie interrupt Mr. Keller’s attempts to be gallant? Why? How do Annie and Helen use “body language” when they first meet? How long does it take before a conflict between Annie and Helen arises? Helen’s father seems to feel that Annie has several “strikes against her. ” What are some of these? What does Helen find in Annie’s suitcase? How does Annie use Helen’s curiosity about the trunk to begin Helen’s first lesson in language? How does that lesson go?

Act 1 (continued) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. How can you tell that Annie is annoyed with James (p. 37)? Why? With whom do you feel more sympathy? How does Annie end up with a bloody lip, locked in her room? Why do you think at this point she has a memory flash of her brother? How do you think that memory affects her? How does Annie get out of her room? Is Mr. Keller apologetic? Should he be? How does James seem to feel about the whole key incident? What happens to the key in the end? Prediction: Annie has begun spelling words into Helen’s hand. What do the think the next step in Helen’s “education” might be? What goals do you think Annie will set for Helen? You are Annie Sullivan. Write a diary entry after your first couple of days with the Kellers. Include the high points and low points.

Act 2 (pgs. 48 -62) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Why does it take Annie so much effort to write? To whom do you think she is writing? What does Annie mean when she says to Helen, “You keep out of the ink and perhaps I can keep out of—the soup. ” (p. 49)? What is a sewing card? Why does Annie give one to Helen? What is the result? Why do you think Helen breaks the pitcher? How does Annie react? Why does Annie mention the way Kate talks to the baby? How does Kate offer to help teach Helen about words? Why do you suppose Helen’s father doesn’t offer to learn sign language, too? Would most fathers? Why do you think Annie “throttles” Helen’s doll (p. 52)? Why does Annie lock herself in the dining room with Helen? Does Keller approve? Do you think the problem with Helen could have been better handled? How? Does Annie have the right to talk to Keller as she does? Why or why not? There are over five pages of stage directions describing the wordless confrontation between Helen and Annie in the dining room (pp. 59 -64). What images stand out most clearly in your mind as you think about that scene? What is Annie trying to teach Helen? Do you think she is going about it the right way? Is she being too harsh? Prediction: Annie has been working on Helen’s table manners. How long do you think it will take for Helen to eat politely at the table?

Act 2 (pgs. 63 -77) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. What is Aunt Ev like? Why does she talk about Robert E. Lee and the Sullivans from Boston (p. 65)? What mixed feelings does Kate seem to have when Annie emerges from the breakfast room and announces that Helen ate from her own plate and folded her napkin? Annie has another memory about her past in the home with her brother (pages 6869). Does this change your impression of Annie? Why do you think this memory comes up now? Keller wants Kate to give Annie notice. Why? Why doesn’t Kate do as Keller tells her to? Why doesn’t Keller fire Annie on the spot, as he wanted Kate to do? What does Annie tell the Kellers she thinks Helen’s worst handicap is? What does she mean? How does Annie feel about the Kellers’ considering an asylum for Helen What plan does Annie propose to the Kellers for Helen? Why does she want “complete charge” of Helen? Annie had earlier decided that she would not tell the Kellers about her past. Why does she decide to do so now? What was it like in the asylum where Annie grew up? Is Annie bitter about her past, do you think? Prediction: Do you think Keller will agree to Annie’s request that she have complete charge of Helen?

Act 2 (pgs. 78 -91) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Why do you think Keller agrees to let Annie have Helen, when he was just about to fire her? What agreement do Annie and the Kellers reach? Is that what Annie wanted? Why do the Kellers drive Helen around for two hours before bringing her to Annie? Look at the stage directions on the top of page 84. Why does Annie wake up Percy? (p. 87) What is she hoping to accomplish? Is she successful? Prediction: What will happen at the end of the two weeks when Helen “goes home’?

Act 3 (pgs. 92 -107) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Why does James say that it has been a “short” two weeks while Kate says that it has been “interminable”? How does Helen change in physical appearance during the two weeks? Why do you think James asks Kate to be his friend? Is this in character? Why does Annie use a dictionary so often? What has Annie taught Helen so far? Why isn’t Annie more pleased with her own success? Is she too hard on herself? What do Annie and Kate say during their first conversation in sign? Why does Annie insist on using sign? What does Keller mean when he admits to Annie that he has missed Helen and says, “that’s a different debt I owe you” (p. 100)? Whydoes Helen put Belle’s paw in the water? How do you think Annie feels when she sees this? Prediction: How long will it be before Helen finally makes the connection between a word and what it represents?

Act 3 (pgs. 108 -122) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. What does Annie mean, “. . . obedience without understanding is a blindness too” (p. 108)? Annie says that she will keep on trying to teach Helen language, keeping faith that inside Helen is waiting. To what does Annie compare that inner force? How can you tell by Keller’s gestures and words (pages 108 -1 09) that he is changing in his attitude toward Annie? Why do you think he is changing? Why do you think Helen gives the keys to her mother? How can you tell by James’s gestures and words (p. 110) that he is changing in his attitude toward Annie? Is she surprised? What is the significance of the verse James chooses for grace? Why do you think Helen keeps dropping her napkin? Annie claims that Helen is testing the Kellers, and James adds that Helen is testing Annie. Who do you think is right? How does this incident lead to disruption of the welcome-home meal? Do you think that Annie is making a mountain out of a molehill? How does James finally stand up to his father? What is his father’s response? ( Why does Annie want Helen to fill the pitcher? What “miracle” happens at the pump? What is Helen’s first act of communication with her mother? Why is it “a moment in which she simultaneously finds and loses a child” (p. 121)? You are Annie. Write a telegram of 20 words or less to your friends at your former school, informing them of your success with Helen.

After Reading … l l l l Post-Reading Questions and Activities Discussion Questions (These may also be used for writing. ) 1. Which parts of this play were most vivid and interesting to you? Which parts made you laugh? Did any parts make you cry? 2. Did you identify with any of the characters in the story? Could you empathize with James and his relationship with his father? Could you feel for Kate? Have you ever been in Annie’s shoes? or in Helen’s? 3. Why do you think the playwright threaded Annie’s memories of her brother throughout the story? 4. How has Annie changed Helen’s life? Has Annie changed or grown? 5. How accurate do you suppose this play is? Where do you suspect the playwright may have been taking “poetic license”? 6. What is the significance of the title? Why do you suppose the title focuses on Annie— and not on Helen? 7. How would Helen’s life have been different if she had been born in the past ten years? How would the story have remained unchanged in a contemporary setting? 8. Did you find this story inspiring? Why has Helen Keller been cited so often for her courage and determination? 9. How could you tell early on that Helen was capable of learning? Do you think Annie’s methods would have worked with most children who can neither see nor hear? 10. Why do you think Annie was so determined to succeed in teaching Helen? Which aspects of her background and personality were assets? Which personality traits-—if any— interfered with what she was trying to do? 11. How did Helen’s family communicate with Helen before Annie arrived? Do you think any of these techniques remained after Helen acquired language? 12. What do you think Helen’s life would have been like if she had never acquired language? Can a person have free will without the ability to use language? 13. Literary Analysis: The plot of many plays can be divided into four elements: the problem, the rising action, the turning point, the resolution. Where do you find each element in The Miracle Worker? (Problem: Helen is uncontrollable, deaf and blind; Rising Action: Act I Annie tries to solve the problem; Turning point—Act Three— Helen learns the meaning of language; Resolution—end of Act Three—The problem is solved and Annie, the Kellers, and Helen react. )

WRITING EX CREDIT l l l l 1. Pretend you are Annie Sulivan. Write a letter to Anagnos about your first day with the Kellers. 2. Pretend you are Annie Sullivan. Several years have passed and you have been asked to speak before a group of special education teachers about how you taught language to Helen Keller. Write the speech. 3. Pretend you are Mr. or Mrs. Keller. Several years have passed and you have been asked to speak before a group of parents of disabled children. Write a speech on what you learned about how a parent can help a disabled child reach his or her potential. 4. As an adult, Helen Keller visited many institutions for the blind. Imagine that she stops to chat with a group of children who have lost their sight. What questions might they have for her? How might she answer them? Write the conversation. 5. Find a chart of braille symbols (There may be one in your dictionary). Write a short message to a friend in cursive. Then “translate” your message into braille. 6. Kate wanted to believe in Annie’s ability to help Helen, but she was doubtful at first. She had many questions. Some of these were questions she asked Annie and wanted answers for. Others were “rhetorical questions”—ones she didn’t expect to be answered. Still others must have remained unexpressed. Write a Question/Answer poem. (You may choose to have Annie answer the questions or you may choose to have a silent listener. ) 7. Read other material about Helen Keller—including her own writing. Compare and contrast the attitudes and facts you find in these materials with those in The Miracle Worker. 8. Write three different types of articles related to the story that might have appeared in a newspaper or magazine during Helen Keller’s life (e. g. , an interview with Annie Sullivan, a letter by Kate to an advice columnist, a special interest “success” story about Helen).

LISTENING/SPEAKING EX CREDIT l 1. Interview: Stage an “interview” with Helen Keller or Annie Sullivan. l 2. Debate: There is an ongoing debate about whether deaf children should be taught to sign or to speak aloud. Find out more about the pros and cons of each side; hold a classroom debate.

DRAMA EX CREDIT 1. This play was written to be seen and heard. Practice and stage a performance of the play for another class or your parents. You may choose to use the script as is. Alternatively, you might identify key scenes and discuss how you will depict them, then act out each one. l 2. Perform the play on audiotape as a radio play, complete with sound effects. l 3. In small group, prepare a Reader’s Theatre performance of one act of the story. Discuss beforehand the tone of voice readers should use at various points in the story. l 4. Stage a tableau from the story. (Using simple props or costumes to identify themselves, students assume the pose of the characters in a particular scene—and freeze. ) See if other students can figure out what scene is being depicted. ) l