Angelica Hurtado

Eng 110-19
Prof. Julia Intawiwat
August 26, 2015
The Most important Day
1- What is Kellers Thesis? What question do you think Keller is trying to
answer? Does her thesis answer the question?
Her thesis describes the most important day of her life, which
was when Anne Mansfield Sullivan came into her life. She is trying to
understand what the future holds for her. I think her thesis does
answer her question.
2- What is Kellers purpose?
Her purpose is to express and describe how she got over her
limitations and learned how to read and write.
3- What was Kellers state of mind before Sullivan arrived to help her? To
what does she compare herself? How effective is this comparison?
Explain.
Keller felt anger and bitterness before Sullivan arrived at her
house. She compared herself to a ship without a compass or a
sounding-line that didnt know how near the harbor was. I think it is a
powerful comparison because she did not know what her path was and
where it would lead her. She made me realize how a person with those
limitations has to live day by day in the darkness not only because she
could not see but because she could not dream or plan her future.
4- Why was the realization that everything has a name important to
Keller?
It was important because she did not know that words existed
and that she was able to make words with letters. She connected back
with the world through this realization.
5- How was the mystery of language(7) revealed to Keller? What were
the consequences for her of this new understanding of the nature of
language?
It was revealed to her when she was capable to relate the word
water with the feeling of a misty consciousness that flew over her
hands.
As a consequence of this revelation the living word gave her hope,
joy, light and set her free even though she was still conscious that
there were barriers to be broken down.

Angelica Hurtado
Eng 110-19
Prof. Julia Intawiwat
August 26, 2015
6- Keller narrates the events of the day Sullivan arrived (2-4), the morning
after she arrived (5), and one day several weeks after her arrival (6-9).
(Glossary: Narration) Describe what happens on each day, and explain
how these separate incidents support Kellers thesis.
(2-4): Keller was a 7 year old who wondered what her future
would be and if a future was still possible for her. She was full of anger
but tense and anxious waiting for something to come. She compared
herself with a lost ship without a compass without a chance to arrive to
a harbor. She begged for light to show her a sign or a path. The
moment when Mrs. Sullivan stretched her hands a love between them
was revealed.
(5): Keller received a doll from Laura Bridgman, a deaf-blind child
at the Perkins Institute. That was the time when she learned how to
spell the word D-O-L-L and she felt pride and childish pleasure. She
showed her mother what she learned and days after she continued to
learn even more words like pin and hat. This showed her that
everything has a name.
(6-9): When Keller was trying to learn and understand the words
doll and water and their meaning, she got on a fight with Sullivan. She
felt confused and under too much pressure to learn the meaning of doll
that she dashed and broke it. Ms. Sullivan decided to go for a walk with
Keller to calm her down. Keller however did not feel sorrow or regret for
what she did. During their walk Ms. Sullivan had the chance to place
her hand under the spout with water and teach her how the word
water feels flowing over her hands. This was the time when she
discovered the mystery of language. That gave her light, hope, joy
and freedom. When she knew that everything had a name it somehow
made her more sensible of everything and the idea of her broken doll
made her feel repentance and sorrow. Her life made sense and she
thought about the new days to come.
All these situations she went through made it clear that her most
important days of her life were when she the days she had spent with
Ms. Sullivan.