Essays on Helen Keller

Essays on Helen Keller

Helen Keller was a determined woman who was faced with tremendous difficulties in her life - most notably, loss of hearing and vision. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 27, 1880, to Kate and Captain Arthur Keller, she was only able to experience sights and sounds for the first nineteen months of her life (Hamilton). At this time, Keller suffered from an unknown sickness that is suspected to have been scarlet fever, explained as “acute congestion of the stomach and brain” (Stuckey). In the end, it was this sickness that caused her to lose her eyesight and ability to hear. Many doctors and professionals at the time doubted that Keller could do anything worthwhile during her lifetime (McGuire). Despite these adversities,

Keller was miraculously able to overcome them through working her hardest and having a desire to learn, both of which are traits that most people aspire to possess. Historians agree that Keller’s quick learning was mostly due to a brilliant and patient teacher who was by Keller’s side until her death (Williams). Of course, Keller’s own strength and grit also played a large role in her success. She received multiple awards and had the opportunity to meet famous authors and presidents throughout the years leading up to her death on June 1, 1968 (Stuckey). Though she has long since passed away, Keller continues to be an inspiration for thousands of people, regardless of what their struggles or goals are. She is an excellent example of someone who persists in the face of hardships and is intent on achieving their goals no matter how daunting they may seem, which are characteristics that Keller is well-known for (Williams).

Keller’s deafness and blindness mainly limited her ability to effectively communicate her thoughts and emotions. Especially as a young child, Keller struggled with letting her parents and siblings know what she felt or wanted. In an effort to help her family better understand her, Keller thought of her own hand signals. The problem with these signals was that they were often unclear and Keller’s parents were unsure of the point their daughter was trying to get across (McGuire).

As a result, Keller became temperamental and depressed due to having nobody to socialize with or understand her. “She remained locked in this lonely state of sensory deprivation until she reached the age of six” (Williams). Keller would eventually look back on this early childhood time, describing herself as an incredibly vocal child who was “wild and unruly, giggling and chuckling to express pleasure; kicking, scratching, uttering the choked screams of the deaf-mute to indicate the opposite”. In short, Keller’s disabilities set back her development and trapped her in her own mind, unable to truly escape into the rest of the world. However, this would all change in the not-so-distant future due to a significant figure in Keller’s life (Hamilton).

In spite of the fact that “the medical profession had given up hope for her” (McGuire), Keller surpassed their low expectations about her by a mile. The most pivotal moment in Keller’s life was the day that she met her life-long best friend and teacher; Anne Sullivan when she was around seven years old. A teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind, Sullivan was recommended to Keller’s parents by Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, renowned for his work with the deaf (Hamilton). Sullivan could relate to Keller since she herself had vision problems since a young age, which may explain how she was able to teach Keller so well whilst having minimal experience with teaching the blind (McGuire). Utilizing Keller’s other senses, particularly her sense of touch, was crucial to her fast development. Sullivan began her lessons with Keller by teaching her the manual alphabet, in which “messages were conveyed by moving the fingers to spell words in Helen's hand” (Hamilton).

The most famous instance of this happening was when Sullivan taught Keller the word “water” by spelling it out on her palm as she felt the water from a pump rushing over her fingers and palms (McGuire). Once Keller had mastered the manual alphabet and could recognize the connection between specific objects and words, she was allowed to progress and learn to read and write in Braille, “a system of writing for the blind that uses characters consisting of raised dots” (Merriam-Webster). This is an impressive feat when one considers that Keller had only six months of tutoring with Sullivan under her belt (Hamilton). In the span of just three years, ten-year-old Keller was already typing on a custom-made Braille typewriter and reading stories in Braille. It was at this time that Sullivan was dubbed “the Miracle Worker” due to her accomplishing what was considered nearly impossible to do - teaching a blind and deaf girl how to read and write (Williams).

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I am Helen Keller Essay

I am a remarkable woman and made a stupendous mark on history today. I may have suffered from my disabilities but my phenomenal spirit helped me work through it. I’m so important to this society due to I pushed the United States government for more …

Helen Keller
Words 442
Pages 2
A Critique of Three Days to See, an Essay by Helen Keller

Hellen Keller was just 19 months old when she became blind and deaf due to an illness. Yet, she did not let this hold her back. She made the best out of her situation and learned to communicate through sign language, voice lessons, and most …

Helen Keller
Words 1014
Pages 4
Significant Event Helen Keller

Throughout the course of Helen Keels remarkable life, there were many notable events that brought about significant changes to her life. One event that is particularly notable was her contraction of the Brain Fever in 1 882, as it completely changed the way she would …

DisabilityDiseaseHelen Keller
Words 335
Pages 2
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Helen Keller’s Intrinsic Motivation

A lack of motivation is a real pressing problem, throughout United States in Education. Intrinsic motivation is defined as an internal force that motivates students to learn Schuster’s article comments on which she describes five characteristics. PIO Research, states 40% of High School students are …

EducationHelen KellerMotivationPsychology
Words 1066
Pages 4
Helen Keller: Overcoming Disability and Redefining Ability

Introduction Helen Keller, known worldwide for her exceptional life story, stands as a shining beacon in the history of the disability rights movement. Despite losing her sight and hearing at a very young age, Keller’s tale of triumph over adversity has resonated with millions. This …

Helen Keller
Words 359
Pages 2
The Story of Her Life

A deaf and blind girl born in 1880 said, “Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn whatever state I am in, therein to be content.” (more…)

DiseaseHelen Keller
Words 28
Pages 1
Comparing the Similarities of Romeo and Juliet in Miracle Worker by Helen Keller

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. It is a love story between two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo, who is a Montague, falls in love with Juliet who happens to be a Capulet. It is love at …

FictionHelen KellerRomeo and Juliet
Words 709
Pages 3
Helen Keller: Overview

The Minds Eye As humans we become thankful for what we have after having to go without. We do not become thankful for the light until we have had to walk through the dark tunnel. In “Three Days to See” by Helen Keller the author …

DisabilityHelen KellerImagination
Words 789
Pages 3
The Struggles and Triumphs of Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an extraordinary woman that had an illness that made her blind and deaf when she was young. Helen would have this illness for the rest of her life. Helen didn’t want her disabilities to stop her from doing things as a normal …

Helen Keller
Words 1174
Pages 5
What Caused Helen Keller to Be Deaf and Blind

At 19 months old, Helen Keller caught and illness which left her both deaf and blind. However, her disabilities didn’t prevent her from learning how to read, write and communicate. She was examined by Alexander Graham Bell at the age of 6 and soon got …

Helen Keller
Words 736
Pages 3
The Life and Contributions of Anne Sullivan, an American Teacher, Instructor and Lifelong Companion of Helen Keller

When I think of powerful women from the past, Anne Sullivan is one of the first women to pop into my mind. Anne Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866 in Massachusetts. Her real name is Joanna, but she was called Anne throughout her life. …

Helen KellerMiracles
Words 752
Pages 3
Helen Keller: An Unexpected Advocate for Eugenics

Introduction Helen Keller, a symbol of resilience and advocate for the disabled, is globally recognized for her contribution to society despite her disabilities. A lesser-known aspect of her advocacy, was her support for eugenics, a subject that has sparked debate due to its ethical implications. …

Helen Keller
Words 361
Pages 2
Unleashing the Human Potential: The Inspiring Journey of Helen Keller

Their story serves as a beacon of inspiration, reminding us that human potential knows no bounds. Throughout their life, these individuals accomplished feats that many deemed impossible. Helen Keller, a name that reverberates through time, faced profound challenges from a young age. Stricken by an …

DisabilityHelen Keller
Words 398
Pages 2
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Find extra essay topics on Essays on Helen Keller by our writers.

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness at the age of 19 months.
Education

Radcliffe College (1900–1904), The Cambridge School of Weston (1896–1900)

Frequently asked questions

What was essay on Helen Keller about?
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The story of her life, as told in The Story of My Life, has become an American classic and has been translated into more than fifty languages.
What are 5 interesting facts about Helen Keller?
1. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama.2. At 19 months old, Keller contracted an illness that left her deaf and blind.3. Keller's teachers, Anne Sullivan and Alexander Graham Bell, helped her learn to communicate.4. Keller became an advocate for the disabled and helped found the American Foundation for the Blind.5. Keller died on June 1, 1968, in Westport, Connecticut.
Who was Helen Keller and why was she important?
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first person with both deafness and blindness to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The story of how Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through her isolation is one of the most inspiring tales in American history.
Who is Helen Keller explain?
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The story of her life, The Story of My Life, has become a classic.

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