Miracle Worker – Flashcards
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In real life, the discovery that Helen was deaf occurred several weeks after the discovery that she was blind. How did William Gibson change this in the play? Why do you think he changed it?
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-Kate discovers her blindness and deafness at the same time -He wanted to get the point across and make it more dramatic
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What does Helen's father do for a living?
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Newspaper editor
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Describe Helen at age six and a half.
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She was: -Unkempt -Noticeable blind -One eye larger and protruding -Gestures are abrupt -Lacking in human restraint -Never smiles
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How does Kate Keller change after scene one?
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-"girlish playfulness is gone" -Steeled in grief
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What is James' solution to the problem of Helen? How does the rest of the family react to his suggestion?
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-To put her in an asylum -They react in confusion and wonder -Kate was the 1st to respond with, "What?"
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Captain Keller initially said that he would not write to Dr. Chisholm, a famous oculist in Baltimore. Why does he change his mind?
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Because Helen pulls off buttons from Aunt Evs dress to show that she wants eyes and to see -He saw her intelligence
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How do the various members if the Keller family household spoil Helen?
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-Kate gives her a peppermint -Viney gives her cake -Captain Keller gives her a stick of candy
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What clue do We get to the reason for the conflict between James and his father?
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Because James isn't a fan of Kate and he calls her Mrs. Keller instead of mom or mother
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What do we learn about Annie Sullivan's life?
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-That she was blind -She's smart -She's 20 years old -She's haunted from past institution -9 operations -From Perkins Institution
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What presents do the blind children give to Annie?
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Smoked glasses and a doll for Helen
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Why does Kate initially have some reservations about Annie?
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Because she was initially blind her self and she is only 20 years old
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What three reasons does Annie give for having confidence in her ability to work with Helen?
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1. She worked with Dr. Howe 2. She was blind before 3. She has energy of a young person
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Why does Captain Keller disapprove of Annie at their meeting?
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-She wouldn't has over her suitcase -Too young -Blind
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When Annie gets Helen to "spell" doll, what is James's reaction?
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-She's not spelling; she's "imitating" like a money
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What does Helen do to Annie?
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-Lock her in her room -Hits Annie with the doll and knocks her tooth out
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After Annie is rescued, she watches Helen. What does she see Helen do with the key? What does Annie think of Helen at the end of Act I?
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-She sees Helen spit the key out of her mouth and she likes Helen -Places key down the well -Annie states "you devil" (she respects the cleverness and accepts the teaching challenge)
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How do Kate and Annie differ in working with Helen?
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-Kate gives sweets or positive reinforcement to distract from negative behavior -Annie does not reward bad behavior
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What are James and Captain Keller arguing about?
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-The war -Why the South loses the war -James states that the North outsmarted South: this gets Keller mad
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During breakfast, what does Helen do?
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-Throws a tantrum -Roams and eats from all plates
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What correlation does James draw between what's going on at the breakfast table between Helen and Annie and the Battle of Vicksburg?
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-(p.54) Annie will not cave in to Helen
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What does Annie think of Helen's behavior?
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she hates it and thinks that Helen is spoiled
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In Act II, Scene 3 (end of breakfast), there is no dialogue. Summarize what happens in this action-packed scene.
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Annie tries to teach Helen how to eat her food with a spoon and how not to go around just eating everyones food
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what three things has Annie managed to get Helen to do?
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-eat with a spoon -sit in her chair -fold her napkin
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when Annie tells Kate that Helen folded her napkin, how does Kate react? what does her reaction show?
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-surprised -impressed -tears of exhaustion, joy, and hope -holds Helen and sobs
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what happened to Annie's brother Jimmie?
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he died of tuberculosis
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Why does Captain Keller think that Annie should be fired?
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-because Helen wants nothing to do with her -he dislikes her independence
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what defense does Kate offer?
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that she is not "ineffectual". Helen folded her napkin and learned something
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what new information does Annie give the Keller's about her past?
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about her being in an asylum with rats, diseases, and abuse
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what does Annie propose should be done?
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-live with Helen by herself in a different house -make Helen depend on Annie
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How does Helen act to being left in the garden house?
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upset that Annie's the one staying with her and cries for her mother
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what do we learn about the stained relationship between Captain Keller and his son?
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-James feels a loss of his mother -we assume that his old mother died
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How does Annie get Helen to touch her again?
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makes Helen jealous by paying more attention to Percy
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Act III takes place on the last day of the promised two weeks. How do the members of the Keller family feel about Helen's two week absence?
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misses Helen and thinks she's learned enough
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Kate and James establish a truce. WHat advice does Kate give to James about improving his relationship with his father?
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"stand up to the world Jimmie." (p.93)
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what common problem does Annie have using the dictionary?
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How to look up a word if you don't know how to spell it
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Annie says to Kate, "I go to bed with--writer's cramp from talking so much." To what is she referring?
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spelling using hands (repetitive physical movement)
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Kate and Captain Keller are really pleased with the changes in Helen. How has Helen changed during her two weeks in the garden house?
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positive reaction- Helen is obedient and clean, can dress herself and feed herself.
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Why does Captain Keller say, "Miss Sullivan, you are a tyrant"?
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-tyrant: oppressive ruler (2 week period straight and on the last day ends at 6pm sharp)
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Willaim Gibson wrote that Annie was "like a defeated general on the deserted battle field." What battle has Annie lost?
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she had to leave the war of teaching Helen language
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Why is James choice of grace an interesting one?
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-he reads a prayer of Jacob wrestling with an angel -Helen is his angel
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how does Helen act at her 'welcome home' dinner?
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she acts out against Annie and starts to eat with her hands again
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how do the other people at the table react to Helen's behavior?
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they want to excuse her behavior because its her homecoming
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James finally stands up to his father. what does he tell him?
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that he's wrong and Annie's right also that he's not right all the time
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what "miracle" takes place at the pump?
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Helen says, "Wah wah" and associates spelling with the word
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why is Kate Keller "torn both ways" by what has happened at the pump?
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a mother's receiving a child and.... a mother's letting go of a child to the teacher
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How has the relationship between Helen and Annie changed after the "miracle" at the pump?
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-emotion of love -attitude of trust
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what are four themes?
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- Learning is hard work -One person can change a life -Miracles exist -An individuals special needed affect an entire family
