THE STORY OF MY LIFE

CHAPTER :- 7 AND 8

INTRODUCTION

• Helen could spell a few words and this lead to her some advanced learning to read. In a frame she learned to arrange words into sentences from the printed slips. Then she started with the printed book and she began to read. Everything was illustrated with the help of a poem or a story. She learned in the orchard and on the Warf of the Tennessee river. She studied zoology, botany and other living subjects.

SUMMARY

• Helen started learning to read through slips of cardboard having printed work. she learned that every word stood for an object, an act or a quality. She started arranging the words in little sentences. Now came the printed book “READER FOR BEGINNERS". thus she began to read and every thing looked like a play. Miss Sullivan taught herby illustrating a story or a play and she was very conscious about her pleasures and desire. She always tried to make every subject real so that Helen could remember them well.

• It was preferred to study in the wood and under a shade of tulip tree. In this way Helen learned to think that everything had a lesson and a suggestion. She learned their uses and often took them in her hand. She felt the whistling of the wind passing through the corn and rustling of the leaves. In the meadow she learnt about her pony and the smell of his breath. Sometime she caught a flower insect to feel its faint noise. She had a great delight in gathering the fruits from the orchard trees it looked her nice to walk to the landing place to the Tennessee river. Their she spent many hours in learning geography. Her teacher prepared maps in the clay so that Helen could feel the mountain ridges, valleys, rivers and the temperate zone.

WORD MEANINGS

• Plodding:-working• Pinafore:-sleeveless dress• Nagged:-irritated• Trilled:-made sounds of• Tumbledown:-ruined• Wharf:-wooden landing• Devious:-not straight• Mollusk:-creatures like snail, slugs etc

• Uncouth:-disgraceful• Somber:-dark or dull• lustrous:-soft and glowing• Darted:-moved suddenly and rapidly• Fuchsia:-an ornamental scrub native to America• Billowy:-smoky cloudy• Peculiar:-distinct ,particular• Sympathy:-feeling of support and understanding• Faculty:- talent or aptitude• Reedy:-high and not very pleasant• Leisurely:-relaxed and unhurried

QUESTIONS

1) How did Helen started learning to read? Ans- Helen started learning to read through slips of

printed cardboard.2) Which was the printed book red by Helen?Ans- The printed book was “READERS FOR

BEGGINERS”.3) How did Miss Sullivan taught Helen?Ans- Miss Sullivan taught her by illustrating her a story

or a poem.

4) Where did Helen preferred to study?Ans- Helen preferred to study in the wood, orchard

under the shade of tulip tree.

5) Which subject was not favourite of Helen?Ans- Arithmetic was not favourite of Helen.

INTRODUCTION

• Helen and her teacher miss Sullivan came to Tuscumbia where the school children on the Christmas eve invited Helen. She was happy there. In her waiting of Santa Claus, she slept very late. In the morning she noticed the Christmas and her teacher gave her a canary. She looked after it very well but a cat killed it and left her unhappy.

SUMMARY

• The first summer with Miss Sullivan was a great event for the narrator. For then first time she was the giver as well as the receiver and she enjoyed the excitement on the Christmas eve. The Tuscumbia school children had their Christmas tree and the narrator was invited to participate. She was allowed to present the children their gift. The narrator also had gifts to open under that tree which only made her more excited for the real Christmas to come

• She hung her stocking and tried to stay awake to catch the Santa Claus leaving presents, but finally she felt asleep. She was the first to wake upon Christmas morning and was astonished to find presents everywhere. Her favourite present came from Miss Sullivan and it was a canary named Little Tim. The narrator loved to care for Tim. But one morning to her utter dismay, she could not feel Tim in the cage. Unfortunately a big cat got him when the narrator left Tim's cage to get water for him the narrator knew that she could never meet her sweet little singer as he was killed by the cat.

THEME

• The Christmas festival is full of hope, amusement, delight, preparation and presentation.

WORDMEANINGS

• Pretended:- falsely claimed• Ablaze:- full of bright colors or light• Shimmering:- shining• Ecstasy:- a feeling of extreme happiness• Persuaded:- made believe, convinced• Canary:-a bright yellow colored seed eating song bird• Tantalizing:- teasing• Sauntered:-walked in a slow relaxed manner

• Ramble:-a pleasure walk• Thickets:-dense groups of shrub or bushes’• Persimmons:- edible fruits resembling tomatoes• Strayed :-moved without any intention