THE STORY OF MY LIFE BY HELEN KELLER

1. A brief description on
Chapter 18

2. CONTENT
(i)Summary of chapter 18
(ii)Important Characters
(iii)Let’s Revise-(a)Points to
remember
(b)Quiz
(c)Questions and
Answers

3. I.SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 18
•In October 1896,Helen entered the
Cambridge School for Young Ladies, to be
prepared for Radcliffe, when she was a little
girl. She visited Wellesley and surprised her
friends by the announcement that someday she
would go to college and she would prefer
Harvard to Wellesley.
•With passage of time, this desire grew
stronger and stronger and it impelled her to
enter into competition for a degree with girls
who could see and hear. It was decided that
she would go to Cambridge.

4. The plan was to have Miss. Sullivan
attend the class with her(Helen) and
interpret to her what was taught in
the class. It was not an easy task for
a handicapped child to acquire
knowledge in this way.
But her dedication towards
education and Miss. Sullivan's co-
operation made it easy for her to
accomplish her goal. And yet she had

5. Miss. Sullivan could not spell out in her hand
all that the books required and it was very
difficult to make her available all the
embossed books in a short time. But the
proverb, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’
came true to her and she surmounted every
obstacle.
She worked hard with Miss. Sullivan and
made satisfactory progress in all her subjects.
She studied Shakespeare’s ‘As you like it’.
She was much influenced by Burke's ‘Speech
on Conciliation with America’ and Macaulay’s
‘Life of Samuel Johnson'. She wondered how it
was that King George and his Ministers turned
a deaf ear to his(Burke’s) warning prophecy of

6. Macaulay’s ‘Life of Samuel Johnson’ made
her a great admirer of Dr.Johnson.She
rejoiced over all his success and ignored his
failures.
At Cambridge, Helen was delighted to
have lived with the girls who were able to
hear and see. She joined them in many of
their games, took long walks with them, and
discussed her studies and read aloud the
things that interested her.
Some of the girls learned to speak to her
and so Miss. Sullivan did not had to repeat
their conversation. Here preliminary
examination for Radcliffe started on 29th

7. Every student was required to pass in
sixteen hours. Twelve were called for
elementary and four for advanced. She was
no. 233.The examination papers were given
out at nine o’clock a Harvard and brought to
Radcliffe by a special messenger.
As Helen used a typewriter arrangement was
made for her to sit in a separate room. A man
was placed on guard at the door to prevent
interruption.
 A teacher read examination paper to her,
and she wrote the answers. Professor
Schilling informed Helen that she had passed
her exam in German Satisfactorily and this

8. II.Important characters
Helen:-This chapter spots light on
Helen’s boldness and ambition. She
studied and competed with the
normal girls who could hear and
see and proved that she was
second to none.Inspite of being
discouraged by many, she
remained firm on her decision to
go to Harvard. She worked hard

9. MISS.SULLIVAN:-She had always
been with Helen. She was
gifted with tremendous
patience and worked hard with
Helen so that the latter might
attain success. She never failed
Helen and did her best to
explain Helen what was taught
in the class.

11. POINTSTO REMEMBER
Helen enters Cambridge School for young ladies, to
be prepared for Radcliffe.
Competes with hearing and seeing girls.
Miss. Sullivan attends classes, works as go-
between Helen and her studies and teachers.
Reads German authors and their books; Gilman
teaches her English literature.
Reads Macaulay, Burke.
At Cambridge School enjoys the company of seeing
and hearing girls.
Takes preliminary examinations for Radcliffe from
29 June to 3 July 1897; passes with higher credits.
Passes in German.

12. III.QUIZ
Connect the following Pictures:-
(i)Place where Helen studied

13. (ii)A person who taught German to Helen

14. III.Q&A
1. Helen’s Instructors had no experience in teaching
the handicapped. Yet Helen coped up with her studies
bravely. How?
In spite of being taught by teachers who had no
experience in teaching the handicapped, Helen coped with
her studies bravely. Miss. Sullivan helped her a lot in
making her understand what was taught in the class. She
went to the class with Helen, and spelled in to her hand all
that the teacher’s said. Helen copied her Latin in Braille
to be able to recite with other girls.
2. What difficulties did Helen face at the Cambridge
School?
Helen faced many difficulties at the Cambridge School.
Most of her teachers did not know the finger alphabet to
give her instruction. It was difficult to get all the books
embossed needed by her. Her speech was imperfect and

15. 3. Name the two important persons whose works
influenced Helen the most?
Two important persons whose works influenced Helen were
Burke and Macaulay. She found Burke’s speech the best
and most instructive as compared to any other in politics.
Helen admired the masterly speech which was very
eloquent and had the power to sway minds. Similarly,
Macaulay’s ‘Life of Dr.Johnson’ also had a great influence
on her mind. She admired his bravery in the midst of hard
work and suffering, his supporting nature and his qualities
to make the ordinary look extraordinary.
4. How was Helen’s stay at the school?
Helen’s stay at the school was hectic, but she enjoyed the
company of the normal girls of her own age. She had
advantage of homely life as she lived in a house very close
to the school. Then, her own sister came to study with her
for six months. Miss. Sullivan had always been with her to
infuse her with necessary encouragement.