ENGLISH 9

Quarter 2, Week 3

Act 1: List the five senses. What is the importance of each of them? How one’s life would change without them? The main character in this play has lost two of them.

Overview of the story behind The Miracle Worker. Act 2: Vocabulary for Act I: oculist, inarticulate,

intimations, pinafore, caricature, imperious, acute, vivacious, voluminous, asperity

Take roles, and read the play. At the end of the period, discuss the characters

their desires, their motivations and their obstacles.

Helen Keller:

A Chronology

June 27, 1880: Helen Keller born in Tuscumbia, Alabama

February 1881: Helen becomes deaf and blind March 3, 1888: Annie Sullivan arrives in

Tuscumbia 1900: Helen goes to college at Radcliff 1902-1903: Helen writes her book, The Story of

My Life 1904: Helen graduates from college 1924: Helen works for the American Foundation

for the Blind 1930: Helen takes her first trip abroad, traveling

to Europe October 20, 1936: Annie Sullivan dies 1957: First production of “The Miracle Worker” June 1, 1968: Helen Keller dies

Study Questions

Act 3. Vocabulary for Act II: nettled, temperance, nonplused, feigned, compunction, intractably, glower, to disinter, impassively, paroxysm

Finish reading Act I.  Pass out the Character chart. Have students fill it out and

discuss. MW Act I Study Questions:

Where does the Keller family live? What does Keller do for a living? What is James’ solution to the problem of Helen? What presents do the children given Annie? Why is Annie late in getting to the Keller’s? What is it that the Kellers can’t find at the end of Act I?

Where is it?

Quotations

I. MW Act I “This child has more sense than all these

men Kellers, if there’s ever any way to reach that mind of hers.”

“I think God must owe me a resurrection.” “Every day she slips further away. And I

don’t know how to call her back.” “Deaf, blind, mute – who knows? She is like a

little safe, locked, that no one can open. Perhaps there is a treasure inside.”

MW Act II

Act 5: Write about a time from your childhood when you got lost. How did it happen? How did you feel?

Act 6. With your group, discuss and write answers to “Interpreting Meanings” 9-14 on page 513.

Study Questions

Act 7. Interpreting Meanings, p. 533 9-14 Act 8. Act II Study Questions:

Why does Captain Keller think that Annie should be fired?

What defense for allowing Annie to stay does Kate offer?

What does Annie propose should be done? What do we learn about the strained relationship

between Captain Keller and his son? How does Annie get Helen to let her touch her?

QuotationsII. Act II

“The, more, I, think, the, more, certain, I, am, that, obedience, is, the, gateway, through, which, knowledge, enters, the, mind, of, the, child, - “

“Annie. Does it hurt, to be dead?” “One thing that girl’s secret is not, she doesn’t

fire one shot and disappear.”

 Begin Act 3 Finish Act 3 Act 9. Interpreting Meanings, p. 546,

9-14. Discuss with group & write answers.

Vocab Quiz Act 10. Act III Study questions:

At the beginning of the act, the two weeks are up. What change do we see in Helen?

What has Annie failed to do with Helen? Why won’t the Kellers give Annie more time? What does Annie say God owes her? At the Keller dining table, what is it that Helen

does that attracts everyone’s attention? Why does Annie drag Helen outside?

Quotations

III. Act III “At least we – Could you – be my friend?” “I treat her like a seeing child because I ask

her to see, I expect her to see, don’t undo what I do!”

She’s right, Kate’s right, I’m right, and you’re wrong.”

Discuss Study Questions

Watch portions of The Miracle Worker when Helen knocks Annie’s tooth out When Annie gets Helen to eat out of her ow

n plate

The last scene at dinner when Helen finally makes the connection between objects and their names.

Miracle Worker Test