[ANNIE . . . spells into HELEN's free palm:]

Question

Water. W, a, t, e, r. Water. It has a—name—
And now the miracle happens. HELEN drops the pitcher on the slab under the spout, it shatters. She stands transfixed. ANNIE freezes on the pump handle: there is a change in the sundown light, and with it a change in HELEN's face, some light coming into it we have never seen there, some struggle in the depths behind it; and her lips tremble, trying to remember something the muscles around them once knew, till at last it finds its way out, painfully, a baby sound buried under the debris. . . .
HELEN: Wah. Wah.
From William Gibson, The Miracle Worker. Copyright 1957 by William Gibson
The previous text suggested that for Helen, learning the word "water" felt like triggering a memory. How does this play build on or challenge that idea?
it shows that learning came easily to lelen from the beginning
it suggests that Helen knew the word "water" before she lost her hearing
it illustrates how happy helen felt when she understood the word "water".

Answer 1

The passage from "The Miracle Worker" illustrates a profound moment of realization and understanding for Helen. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that learning came easily to her from the beginning; rather, it highlights the difficulties she faced due to her disabilities and the significance of the breakthrough moment when she learns the word "water."

The moment Helen drops the pitcher and then vocalizes "Wah" signifies a breakthrough in communication and understanding, suggesting that this knowledge is a connection to the world around her rather than simply a recall of a word she had previously known before her disabilities. This aligns with the idea that the learning process was challenging for Helen, as this moment is portrayed as a miraculous and transformative change for her.

Thus, among the options given, the most fitting response would be:

• It suggests that Helen knew the word "water" before she lost her hearing.

This interpretation aligns with the theme of learning and the struggle for communication, emphasizing the emotional and cognitive journey Helen undergoes in finding her voice.