HELEN KELLER SPEAKS OUT

Helen Keller Channel

11 Apr 201103:09

Summary

TLDRThe video script tells the story of Helen Keller, a remarkable woman who, despite being deaf and blind, communicates with the world through touch and smell. Her companion, Thomson, serves as her eyes and ears, using a finger system to spell out letters to her. Helen's inability to speak clearly is a source of great sorrow for her, but her experiences have taught her the power of resilience and the limitless potential of the human spirit.

Takeaways

👤 Helen Keller is a remarkable woman who, despite being deaf and blind, has made significant achievements.
📚 Helen does not see or hear the world in the conventional sense, yet she reads books and communicates.
👂 Helen's senses of touch, taste, and smell are heightened, compensating for her lack of sight and hearing.
🤝 Anne Sullivan (Thomson) has been Helen's constant companion and helper for 40 years, serving as her 'eyes and ears'.
💬 Communication with Helen is facilitated through a finger-spelling system, where each letter has a unique sign.
👐 Helen relies heavily on touch to understand her surroundings and to communicate with others.
🗣️ Helen's inability to speak clearly is a source of great sorrow for her, as she believes it limits her ability to do good.
🤔 Helen's experiences have taught her the importance of understanding and the potential of human capacity.
🌟 Despite her challenges, Helen has made a profound impact, demonstrating resilience and the power of the human spirit.
📖 Helen's story is one of overcoming adversity, showing that limitations can be transcended through determination and support.

Q & A

Who is the remarkable woman mentioned in the script?
-The remarkable woman mentioned in the script is Helen Keller.
What are the two main senses Helen Keller lacks?
-Helen Keller is both deaf and blind.
How does Helen Keller perceive the presence of someone entering the room?
-Helen Keller perceives the presence of someone entering the room through her sense of touch, as her friend and companion can communicate with her by touch.
Who is Thomson and what is her relationship with Helen Keller?
-Thomson has been Helen Keller's companion for 40 years, serving as her eyes and ears, and has been with Helen for nearly half of her life.
What method does Helen Keller use to communicate with others?
-Helen Keller communicates with others through a finger spelling system where each letter has a sign.
What are the remaining senses Helen Keller relies on besides touch?
-Besides touch, Helen Keller relies on her senses of taste and smell to understand her surroundings.
How does Helen Keller 'read' and 'speak'?
-Helen Keller 'reads' by feeling the shape of letters and words on her hand and 'speaks' by using her hands to form words in sign language and by using her lips to respond.
What is Helen Keller's greatest sorrow according to the script?
-Helen Keller's greatest sorrow is not being able to speak clearly, which she feels has limited her ability to do more good.
What does the script suggest about Helen Keller's understanding of the world?
-Despite her disabilities, the script suggests that Helen Keller has a deep understanding of the world, its complexity, and the infinite capacity of the human spirit.
How does the script describe Helen Keller's experience of not being able to speak normally?
-The script describes Helen Keller's experience of not being able to speak normally as an acute disappointment and a significant limitation in her ability to communicate and contribute to society.
What is the significance of Helen Keller's story according to the script?
-The script implies that Helen Keller's story is significant because it demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to overcome adversity through determination and the support of others.

Outlines

00:00

👤 Helen Keller's World Beyond Sight and Sound

The paragraph introduces Helen Keller, a remarkable woman who, despite being deaf and blind, has a profound connection with the world. Helen's old friend, Thomson, has been her companion for 40 years, serving as her eyes and ears. They communicate through a finger-spelling system where each letter has a unique sign. Helen relies heavily on her sense of touch, as well as taste and smell, to understand her surroundings. She uses her hands to read and respond to others, and although her voice is not natural due to her inability to hear, she can still communicate. Helen expresses her sorrow for not being able to speak clearly, but she also conveys her understanding and appreciation for the world around her.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Helen Keller

Helen Keller was a remarkable American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the script, Helen Keller is the central figure, and her story illustrates the theme of overcoming adversity. Despite being deaf and blind, she managed to communicate and learn through touch and the assistance of her companion, Anne Sullivan.

💡Deaf-blindness

Deaf-blindness is a condition where an individual has a combined vision and hearing loss. The script highlights Helen Keller's deaf-blindness as a significant challenge she faced. It is central to understanding her reliance on touch and the finger-spelling system for communication, which are detailed in the narrative.

💡Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan, also known as Annie, was Helen Keller's teacher and companion. She played a pivotal role in Keller's life by teaching her to communicate using the manual alphabet and helping her to learn and express herself. The script mentions Anne Sullivan as Helen's 'eyes and ears' upon the world, emphasizing her crucial role in Helen's life.

💡Finger-spelling system

The finger-spelling system is a method of spelling words by using specific hand configurations for each letter of the alphabet. In the script, this system is described as the primary mode of communication between Helen and Anne. It allowed Helen to 'read' and 'write' through touch, which was vital for her education and communication.

💡Touch

Touch is a sense that Helen Keller relied heavily upon due to her lack of sight and hearing. The script emphasizes the importance of touch as a means for Helen to understand her surroundings and communicate with others. It is described as her 'chief link with the outer world,' highlighting its significance in her life.

💡Smell and taste

Smell and taste are the two remaining senses that Helen Keller could use to experience the world. The script mentions that the 'sent of objects and places and people tells Helen much that we learn with eyes and ears.' These senses provided her with additional information about her environment, compensating for her lack of vision and hearing.

💡Voice

The script discusses Helen Keller's struggle with her voice, stating that she has an 'unnatural voice' and has never learned to speak clearly. This is a significant sorrow for her, as she believes that having normal speech would have allowed her to do more good. The concept of voice in the script represents the challenges of communication and the impact of physical limitations on one's ability to express oneself.

💡Disappointment

Disappointment is a recurring theme in the script, particularly in relation to Helen Keller's inability to speak normally. It is described as her 'greatest sorrow,' showing the emotional impact of her physical limitations. The script uses this term to convey the depth of Helen's feelings and the barriers she faced in expressing herself.

💡Capacity

The script mentions the 'infinite capacity' of Helen Keller, which refers to her intellectual and emotional capabilities despite her physical challenges. This concept is used to highlight her resilience and the potential that exists within individuals, even when faced with significant obstacles.

💡Adversity

Adversity is a key theme in the script, as it outlines the challenges Helen Keller faced due to her deaf-blindness. The script uses her story to show how individuals can overcome adversity through determination, support, and the development of alternative methods of communication and learning.

💡Communication

Communication is central to the script, as it details the various ways Helen Keller was able to interact with the world despite her sensory limitations. The script explores the importance of communication in human relationships and how it can be achieved through different means, such as touch and the finger-spelling system.

Highlights

Helen Keller, despite being deaf and blind, has a remarkable ability to sense the presence of people and objects.

Helen's companion, Thomson, has been with her for 40 years, serving as her eyes and ears.

Thomson communicates with Helen using a finger spelling system for each letter.

Helen relies heavily on her sense of touch to understand the world around her.

Taste and smell are Helen's other remaining senses, providing her with significant information.

Helen's sense of smell allows her to discern the scent of objects, places, and people.

Helen's hands are her primary link to the outer world, reading and responding through touch.

Helen's voice, though unnatural, is a result of her inability to hear since infancy.

Helen has never learned to speak clearly due to her lack of exposure to spoken language.

Helen's inability to speak normally is a source of great sorrow for her.

Helen believes she could have done more good if she had normal speech.

Despite her challenges, Helen has developed a deep understanding and empathy for others.

Helen's experiences have taught her about the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit.

Helen's story is one of overcoming adversity and making a significant impact despite her disabilities.

Helen's reliance on touch and other senses highlights the adaptability of human perception.

Helen's communication methods demonstrate the power of human connection even in the face of extreme limitations.

Helen's life serves as an inspiration, showing that one can achieve great things regardless of physical challenges.