Miracle Worker Act 2

What saved Annie Sullivan?

- Education - Wanted to help others that were struggling

anchorage

Noun - an area that is suitable for a ship to anchor in

7. What happens after Annie finally gets Helen to take a spoonful of food from her plate into her mouth?

(pg. 62) After she finally gets the spoonful in her mouth Helen spits it out. Then when she tries again and is successful she spells "good girl" into her hand.

9. Describe Annie's report to Kate after her ordeal with Helen and her response.

(pg. 65) Annie reported to Kate that Helen folded her napkin, ate with her spoon, ate from her own plate....Kate is so happy with the progress even though it is just some basic things she wants her to stay a while.

"What good will your pity do her when you're under the strawberries, Captain Keller?" What is she trying to say?

- Annie is trying to make everyone understand that Helen has a lot of potential and needs to break out of her shell of pity from her parents. She needs to learn to be independent and Helen knows she is capable of much more. - Annie believes in Helen.

What does Annie do right after Helen spills the ink all over the place?

- Helen wants to pull free from Annie but she first has to write the three letters from the word "INK" into her hand. - Kate is asking why Helen is doing that. -She doesn't understand the process.

8. List three horrible details Annie tells the Kellers about the asylum.

- Her and her brother used to play with the rats. - Old woman were crippled and dying. - Teenagers who have had babies at 14 and there are prostitutes with STD's.

1. What three things does Annie accomplish, with difficulty, in the breakfast room?

- She folded her napkin. - Ate from her own plate. - Ate with a spoon herself

2. There are over five pages of stage directions describing the wordless confrontation between Helen and Annie in the dining room. What three images stand out most clearly in your mind as you think about the scene?

- When Helen spits on Annie the food she just put in her mouth. - When Annie shoves the food down her throat and the sense of relief she must have felt. - When Annie takes charge and throws the bucket of water in her face.

immortal

Adjective - living forever, never dieing

Decisively

Adverb - in a manner that settles an issue convincingly

11. Whose voices does Annie hear in her mind after reviewing the report?

Annie hears the voice of Jimmie when they were in the asylums. There are talking about schools that teach the blind and death and when Annie leaves they don't want her to say where she comes from.

How is Annie planning to teach her?

Annie is trying to create a delicate balance between discipline and not breaking her spirit.

What is Annie trying to make everyone understand?

Annie is trying to make everyone understand that Helen has a lot of potential and needs to break out of her shell of pity from her parents. She needs to learn to be independent and Helen knows she is capable of much more. Annie believes in Helen.

10. Dismayed, what does Annie reread from the Perkins report upon going to her room?

Annie rereads a report about a blind, deaf and mute women and it reminds her that she needs someone to wake up Helen from this mindset. (pg. 67)

Why doesn't Annie just give up?

Because she knows how it feels to be thrown into an asylum and be treated like she is not good enough. She also formed a connection with Helen and she knows she can make a lot of progress. Class: She sees potential in her. She has a lot of odd connections with her.

2. Why does Annie have Helen feel the different expressions on her face?

Helen doesn't know what emotions are so she has to feel them. *You can register someone's face in one second. Annie uses that so Helen knows when someone is happy or sad etc.*

1. What does Annie feel is her greatest obstacle with Helen?

Her mother's love and pity. Kate feels sorry for Helen so she gives her candy. Annie is really being the loving one but Helen backfires. "Mrs. Keller, I don't think Helen's worst handicap is deafness and blindness. I think it's your love. And pity." (pg. 73) *Her mother's pity and love*

9. How can the reader tell that James is jealous of Annie and resentful of Kate?

James is jealous of Annie because she is able to get Keller to do whatever she wants. "James: Yes what's her secret, sir?... That enables her to get anything he wants out of you? When I can't." (pg. 83) He feels like he needs to protect his mom.

5. Explain why before exiting the dining room James says to Annie, "If it takes all summer, general"? (pg. 57)

James see's potential and know Anne is there for the right reason. He wants her to stick a while because what he has been saying for the past couple of years is finally happening. *James is the only one who has support in the beginning.*

6. Tell Kate's response to the Captain's demand that she tell Annie to change her tactics with Helen or leave. (pg. 57 + 67)

Kate is upset that he said is and she is happy Helen folded her napkin which is more progress than he ever did. *She says that she likes Annie and knows that she can help Helen. "Keller: What in heaven's name is extraordinary about folding a napkin? Kate: Well. It's more than you did, Captain." (pg. 70)

3. How does Kate respond when Annie questions her for rewarding Helen for stabbing her with the needle?

Kate says that the only way to make her stop is to give her sweets because they don't know how to control her. (pg. 51) *Kate thinks that giving her these sweets will make her really stop but it won't. A text-world would be a teacher giving a student a free pass for homework and they would be too lenient.*

What is the connection between Helen and Mildred?

Mildred and Helen do not understand what anybody is saying but she will understand one day.

Asylum

Noun - an institution where you put people that you don't know what to do with them.

Virtue

Noun - behavior showing high moral standards

Spirit

Noun - essence Essence - what determines someone's character

Contention

Noun - heated disagreement

Temperance

Noun - moderation

commotion

Noun - state of confused and noisy disturbance

7. Annie tells the Kellers about her experience in the asylum. What does she hope to accomplish by doing this?

She hopes that they don't take her to the asylum because the living conditions are horrible in there and Helen will not get any better. - there's so much darkness - she wont accomplish anything while there

5. Why does Annie insist on taking Helen to the garden house?

She insists on taking Helen to the garden house because she wants a place secluded from the rest of the house so that Helen doesn't run to her mother or father in a time of minor distress.

4. For what reason does Annie insist everyone leave the dining room during breakfast? (pg. 56-57)

She insists that everyone leave the dining room during breakfast because she needs to teach Helen manners. Helen is going around sticking her fingers in everyone's food like it's okay and Annie is shocked. Helen pretends to be hurt and runs to her other and she is just so sick of it and needs to take action. "Annie: I'll begin this minute, if you leave the room, Captain Keller!" (pg. 56) The parents felt sorry for Helen and they are full of pity not patience. Annie is trying to make them understand that the only way that this is going to work is if they leave her alone. *She didn't want the parents and James to interfere with her work. She needs to set a standard.*

6. Why does Annie say that Helen is handicapped by her parents' love?

She says this because due to her parent's love Helen can't grow or mature. She is stuck in this cycle of tantrum and reward.

What kind of figure was Annie for Jimmie?

She was a mother for her little brother.

Intervened

Verb - come between something to alter events

contemplate

Verb - look thoughtfully for a long time

relinquish

Verb - to give up

10. How does Annie get Helen to let Annie touch her?

When Helen wouldn't play with her she got Percy and started teaching him the letters so then she got jealous and then Helen spelled cake and got cake, same thing with milk.

3. At the garden house, what does Captain Keller mean when he says "give notice"? 4. Why does Captain Keller want to "give notice"? pg. 70

You will be fired or let go. Because he is sick of her and he wants to feel like the man of the house and Annie is giving him a really hard time with that.

feigned

faking something