The Miracle Worker Homework Questions
Pages 5-16
1) How did Helen become deaf and blind?
2) Why does Percy ring the bell?
3) What does Captain Keller mean, “The house is at sixes and sevens from morning to night over the child...”?
4) Why does Helen pull off Aunt Ev’s buttons?
5) To whom does Aunt Ev want Captain Keller to write?
6) How do you think Helen’s life would have been different if she had been born into a poor family?
7) In what ways might Helen be better off than a child who was born without sight or hearing?
8) How does James seem to feel toward Helen? In what ways do you think this might change as the story progresses?
Pages 17-22
1) Where is Annie before she comes to the Kellers?
2) Who is Anagnos?
3) According to Anagnos, what was Annie like when she came to Perkins?
4) What do the girls and Mr. Anagnos give Annie?
Pages 23-30
1) How does Annie get to Alabama, and why does it take her so long?
2) What is Kate’s reaction when she first sees Annie?
3) What three advantages does Annie claim to have over others who might try to help Helen?
4) Why do you think Annie was chosen as the one to send to the Kellers?
5) How do you think Helen’s father will treat Annie, and why?
6) How do you think Annie and Helen will get along, and why?
Pages 31-40
1) Why doesn’t Annie let Captain Keller take her suitcase?
2) How does Helen react when she first meets Annie?
3) What are three things Captain Keller criticizes Annie for when he first meets her?
4) What does Helen take out of Annie’s suitcase?
5) What is the first word Annie signs to Helen?
6) Why does Annie think that Helen is bright?
7) Why does Annie say that she wishes James would take a vow of silence?
8) How does Annie end up with a bloody lip, locked in her room?
Pages 41-47
1) How does Annie get out of her room?
2) What happens to the key to Annie’s room?
3) Why do you think James seems to enjoy putting Annie down and seeing her in trouble?
4) Did you find any parts of this section funny? Which ones, and why?
5) What do you think the next step in Helen’s education will be?
6) What goals do you think Annie will set for Helen?
Pages 48-57
1) Why does Helen get angry and almost break her doll?
2) What two phrases does Annie teach Helen by letting Helen feel Annie’s face?
3) According to Annie, how is Helen like Mildred, the baby?
4) What is the topic of conversation between James and his father over breakfast?
5) Why does Helen have a tantrum at the breakfast table?
Pages 58-64
1) Why does Captain Keller threaten to send Annie back to Boston?
2) Why does Kate hand James the napkin that had been Captain Keller’s?
3) Why has Annie demanded to be left alone in the dining room with Helen?
4) Why do you think getting Helen to mind her manners is so important to Annie?
5) What advice would you have for Annie at this point?
6) What does Annie accomplish with Helen?
Pages 65-72
1) What was Annie’s brother’s name?
2) What is significant about his name in this story?
3) Did Annie promise her brother they would be together forever?
4) What happened to Annie’s brother?
Pages 73-80
1) Why does Annie say that Helen is handicapped by her parents’ love? Do you agree or disagree with her and why?
2) Where have the Kellers thought about sending Helen? List three horrible details that Annie has told them about that place.
3) Why do you think Captain Keller doesn’t just fire Annie?
4) Why does Annie want to be in control of the food Helen eats?
5) What agreement do Annie and the Kellers reach?
Pages 81-91
1) How can you tell that James is jealous of Annie and resentful of Kate?
2) Annie says to Helen, “I will touch you” (p. 86). Why is this so important to Annie?
3) How does Annie get Helen to let Annie touch her?
4) What lullaby does Annie “talk” to the doll?
5) Why do you think Captain Keller didn’t answer when Annie asked him if he liked the child?
6) What do you think will happen at the end of the two weeks when the Kellers return for Helen?
7) Look back over Act II. Which scene stands out the most in your mind and why?
Pages 92-102
1) What is Kate’s advice to Jimmy (James) on getting along better with his father?
2) What does Annie mean when she tells Kate, “It’s like a surprise party, the most unexpected characters turn up” (p. 96)?
3) Why are Annie and Kate spelling to each other rather than speaking?
4) Does Kate agree to give Annie more time alone with Helen?
5) List four things that Annie has taught Helen during the two weeks in the garden house.
6) Are you surprised that Helen hasn’t made the connection between all the words and what they mean yet? Why do you think it is hard for her to make the connection?
7) How long do you think it will be before Helen makes the connection between a word and what it represents?
Pages 103-110
1) What does Annie ask Captain Keller to promise?
2) What does Helen give to her mother to keep?
Pages 111-122
1) Aunt Ev tells James that he has chosen to say a strange grace. What is strange about it?
2) Why does Helen have a tantrum at her homecoming dinner?
3) Why does Annie take Helen out to the pump?
4) What is the first word that Helen really understands?
5) How can you tell that Helen is eager for more words after learning the first?
6) What does Helen call Annie?
7) What does Helen give Annie before kissing her?
8) What does Annie spell into Helen’s hand after the others have gone into the house?
9) How long do you think Annie would have kept trying to teach Helen if Helen hadn’t had the breakthrough at the pump?
10) Why do you think Annie tried so hard to teach Helen?