1. Why is the movie entitled The Miracle Worker?

The movie The Miracle Worker is about a low-visioned student, Anne

Sulivan who was recommended, by her professor, to the Keller family. The Kellers
have a special child, Helen Keller, she is blind and deaf. Helen is very aggressive. She
is used having everything in her way and the only way to calm her down is to give
her candy. Because of her lack of discipline and her aggressive character, her father
wants her to be placed in an asylum. Of course, her mother opposed of this
proposition and with the help of an aunt, she convinced her husband to hire
someone to control and teach Helen.
Anne Sulivan was from a blind institute. When she accepted the task of
governing Helen, she believed that she must teach Helen language. She believed
language is the tool to make Helen understand the world.
Anne tried so hard to take control of Helens undisciplined behavior. She was
convinced that Helen would not improve if she is under her parents roof. Anne
believed that Helen was undisciplined and aggressive because no one in the house
had tried to dominate the child because of her situation. Even the way of the Kellers
calming Helen down was giving her candy which is wrong because it only
encourages Helens unwanted behavior. Anne convinced Helens parents for her and
Helen to live on their own but still in the Kellers property. But the Kellers had a
condition: she only has two weeks.
Helen did improve. Anne managed to teach Helen good manners. She tried
her best to make Helen understand that everything has a name. Everything she
touches, Anne spelled its name on her hand and she would repeat it though not the
real word, she spells other words. Anne was stressing about this challenge. Her two
weeks was almost due and she believed that Helen would only go back to the way
she was before once she felt she was back at her home.
And that did happen. Helen showed signs once they were at the dinner table.
Helen threw water at Anne. Upset of the results, Anne carried Helen to the pump
because she wanted Helen to refill the pitcher. Then a miracle happened Anne
spelled water and Helen spelled it back. She started to touch everything and ask for
its name. Helen understood, and that was all because of her teacher, Anne Sulivan,
the miracle worker.



2. Who are the characters in the movie? Give their distinct characteristics.

The characters of movie, The Miracle Worker, are:
Anne Sulivan she was from a Blind Institute because of her low-vision. She was
recommended by her professor to the Keller family and she was the teacher
of Helen Keller, a blind and deaf child. She also mourns for her younger
brother, Jimmie. She has flashbacks of his illness, blaming herself fornot
being able to save him.
Helen Keller she is a special child: shes blind and deaf. She was aggressive and
undisciplined before but because of her teacher, Anne Sulivan, she learned
how to spell, thus making her understand that everything has a name. Her
teacher enabled her to understand the world and graduate with a college
degree.
Kate Keller -- is the Mother of Helen Keller. She was the only one that insisted that
Helen should stay with them. She did not give in to her husbands wish: Helen
should be put in an asylum where she could be taken care of properly.
Captain Keller is Helens father and Mrs. Kellers husband. He owns his own ranch
and is very hard to please. He wanted to take Helen to an asylum because she
always causes trouble and he thinks that an asylum is the place for her. His
wife does not agree to this and with the help and recommendation of an aunt,
he allowed Helen one more chance to be taught and disciplined.
James Keller is Helens older half brother. He is secretly jealous of Helen because
their fathers tolerance towards her. Though he loves his sister, he doesnt
show it. When Anne first arrived to their home, he teased her that she could
never succeed. After he witnessed Annes determination for Helen and why
shes doing it, he saw her in a different light and even asked her for advice
about his father.
Aunt Ev was the aunt that recommended the Kellers to see Dr. Chilsom for help.
Jimmie was Annies little brother who died when they were younger.

Percy is a servant to the Kellers. Annie used his presence for her to be able to
catch Helens attention -- when Annie teaches him a new word, milk, and
makes Helen jealous enough to let Annie teach her.



3. Did Anne Sulivan succeed in her quest? Why/why not?

Anne Sulivan did succeed. She was able to make Helen understand language
spell words and name things. Nobody thought she could, though Kate Keller kept
hoping that she would. The task was difficult for her, for anyone. But she didnt give
up. She tolerated Helens stubbornness and worked around it. Helen only
memorizes spellings of words, not when to spell it. Near the end of the movie, back
to the pump, which I believe is Helens peaceful spot, Helen touched water coming
from it. It was like she had a change in a matter of seconds. Anne continued to pump
water and spell it on Helens hand. Then by some sort of miracle, Helen correctly
spelled water back to Anne. After that, Helen kept toughing things and asking for
Anne to spell its name for her.

4. What did you gain from the movie watched?

I always knew that in teaching children with special needs, teachers should
always have very long strings of patience only I wasnt aware how long a string
should be. Seeing Helens stubbornness and aggressive behavior, I thought that I
wouldnt be able to tolerate her the way that Anne Sulivan did. I learned discipline
and responsibility at a very young age. Helen, spent most of her childhood getting
almost anything her way but Anne successfully taught her about discipline and
behavior. She managed to do it in a short number of weeks.

Teachers have a very vast effect on students. Anne knew the importance of
her role. You cannot do your job perfectly if you are not passionate about it or do
not have a liking at all. I knew this before. But seeing Annes unwavering hope for
Helen, I took the meaning of this to the heart. Whats even more encouraging is that
this is a true story, it happened in real life. What seemed like a hopeless situation
was rendered possible and Anne Sulivan had a special condition as well. No matter
how hopeless Helens case seemed and even though she had her own problems and
conditions, Anne never gave up on Helen. Anne and Helen made me realize that
positive determination can make things possible.