The Story of My Life

At age twelve, Keller learns a sharp lesson about originality and the tricks the human mind can play. While staying at Fern Quarry, Keller writes a fantastical story after being inspired by a reading Miss Sullivan has shared with her. Keller believes that she is writing a piece of fiction and admits that, as new as she is to books, she has a habit of reading quite a bit and absorbing all the ideas from the material.

This habit becomes a problem when the story, called “The Frost King,” receives an excellent response from Keller’s family. When asked if she had read the story elsewhere, Keller responds, “Oh, no, it is my story, and I have written it for Mr. Anagnos” (85). Unfortunately, after sending the story to the Perkins Institution to be published, it is discovered that Keller’s story closely mirrors one by Margaret T. Canby called “The Frost Fairies,” written in a book before Keller’s birth.

Although Mr. Anagnos initially believes Keller’s protestations of innocence, the change of plagiarism is a serious one. Keller is brought before a jury of her peers where she defends herself against the charge. Despite her best efforts, Keller feels alone, as Miss Sullivan is not allowed to be with her during questioning.

When speaking with Miss Hopkins, Keller is informed that Canby’s story is part of a book that Hopkins owns and had probably read to Keller at some point in time. It is determined that Keller is innocent of purposeful intent to copy, but she is marked to some extent by what has occurred. She realizes that composing ideas of one’s own is a difficult process, and she compares writing to sewing: “Consequently, in nearly all that I write, I produce something that very much resembles the crazy patchwork I used to make when I first learned to sew” (93).

The lesson is learned, but Keller loses Mr. Anagnos as a friend and confidante, who despite declaring Keller and Miss Sullivan innocent of any ill intent, changes his position two years later for reasons Keller is never told. 

“The Frost King” episode has a lasting impact upon Keller’s self-esteem, despite her best efforts to put the incident behind her. When she begins to write a small piece on her life, she finds herself panicking in fear that she is copying someone else’s words. She spells to Miss Sullivan, “I am not sure it is mine” (97). Although Miss Sullivan tries her best to restore Keller’s courage, the author is stricken with fear: “the terrible experience I had passed through left a lasting impression on my mind, the significance of which I am only beginning to understand” (98).

Miss Sullivan encourages Keller to write about her life for the Youth’s Companion, and the result is that Keller gets a clearer insight into her mind and way of thinking. It is, to Keller, the first step in the passage from childhood to adulthood.

In 1893, Keller attends the inauguration of Grover Cleveland in Washington and visits Niagara Falls and the World’s Fair. The visit to the Falls gives Keller the opportunity to express how she can be impressed by the magnificence of this natural wonder despite not being able to see or hear it: “I cannot define of fathom their meaning any more than I can fathom or define love or religion or goodness” (99).

Attending the World’s Fair with Dr. Bell, Keller explores the Fair’s extensive range of world exhibits, including a Viking ship, the Pyramids, the lagoons of Venice, and Columbus’ ships. Mr. Higinbotham, the president of the World’s Fair, gives Keller permission to touch the exhibits, and Dr. Bell describes all the items to her on her visit. The World’s Fair is another step in Keller’s growth, as she writes, “in the three weeks I spent at the Fair I took a long leap from the little child's interest in fairy tales and toys to the appreciation of the real and the earnest in the workaday world” (102).