Name ______Period _____
The Miracle Worker
Act II Study Guide Questions
Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. According to Annie, what is going to be her greatest problem in teaching Helen?
The greatest problem is disciplining Helen without breaking her spirit (p. 47)
2. What simile does Captain Keller use to describe Annie teaching spelling to Helen?
Spelling to Helen is like spelling to a fence post. (p. 50)
3. How is teaching Helen like teaching Mildred, or any baby, to speak?
Babies learn language by having words repeated to them, much like Annie is
is repeating words to Helen (p. 50)
4. According to Annie, how does knowledge enter the mind of a child?
Obedience is the gateway through which knowledge enters the mind of a child
(p. 51)
5. Complete the following chart regarding the breakfast scene:
What was Helen doing during this scene? / Helen is walking around the table, sticking her hands into everyone’s plate and taking food.Why didn’t anyone try to stop her? / It is the only way to have peace and quiet while eating; if they try to stop Helen, she will have a tantrum
Who finally tried to discipline her? / Annie attempts to stop her
What is Captain Keller’s attitude towards this? / He states that Annie is too harsh on Helen and should just let Helen do what she wants
6. What causes Annie’s tirade (angry outburst) against Captain Keller?
Captain Keller tells her to pity Helen and let Helen do as she pleases.
7. How does the Captain respond to this outburst? (54-55)
He states that Annie is not what Helen needs and should be fired. Keller wants Kate to handle it and he leaves to go to work.
8. Captain Keller and Annie feel sorry for Helen for different reasons. How does their
pity for Helen affect their approaches to dealing with her?
Character / Why does this character feel sorry for Helen? / How does this character’s pity affect their approach to dealing with her?Captain Keller / Keller pities Helen because he feels she is handicapped and will never be able to communicate. / He spoils her and gives in to all of her tantrums.
Annie / Annie pities her because she has been spoiled and never taught discipline. / She realizes that she needs to teach Helen discipline first before she can begin to teacher her language
9. What three things does Annie accomplish, with difficulty, in the breakfast room?
Accomplishment 1: Helen ate with a spoon
Accomplishment 2: Helen ate from her own plate
Accomplishment 3: Helen folder her napkin
10. 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?
Image 1:
Image 2:
Image 3:
11. At the garden house, what does Captain Keller mean when he says “give notice”?
He wants to fire Annie because she does not listen to or respect the family. He
also believes Annie is causing harm to Helen (p. 70)
12. Why does Captain Keller want to “give notice”?
She does not listen to or respect the family. He also believes Annie is causing harm to Helen
(p. 70)
13. Why does Annie insist on taking Helen to the garden house?
She needs to remove Helen from her parents and have Helen depend on her for
everything (p. 74)
14. Why does Annie say that Helen is handicapped by her parents’ love?
The Kellers spoil Helen because they love her and let her get away with things
that they should not (p. 73)
15. Annie tells the Kellers about her experience in the asylum. What does she hope to
accomplish by doing this?
She wants them to see that Helen would not survive in such a place and how bad
it could be.
16. List three horrible details Annie tells the Kellers about the asylum.
Detail 1: She played with rats (p. 75-76)
Detail 2: They played in the room with the dead bodies (p. 75-76)
Detail 3: There were diseases (p. 75-76)
17. What agreement do Annie and the Kellers reach?
Annie can have Helen for two weeks in the garden house (p. 78)
18. How can the reader tell that James is jealous of Annie and resentful of Kate?
He asks, “What’s her secret, sir? That enables her to get anything she wants out
of you?”
Keller asks, “What does he want out of me?” and James replies, “Everything you
forgot when you forgot my mother.” (p. 83)
17. How does Annie get Helen to let Annie touch her?
She uses Percy to make Helen jealous. (p. 85-87)
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