Helen Keller
Courage in the
Dark
Book Study
Name: _________________________
1
Before Reading:
Pre-reading: What do you currently know about
Helen Keller?
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Genre: What is the genre of this book?
a) fantasy
b) fiction
c) nonfiction
Pre-reading: What are you most interested in
learning about Helen Keller?
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2
After Chapter 1
Point of View: Which point of view is this story
written?
a. First person
b. Third person
Which words or phrases helped you to determine the
point of view?
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Reading for Details: When and where was Helen
Keller born?
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Cause and Effect: Fill in the cause.
Cause: ___________________________________
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Effect: Helen Keller was deaf and blind.
3
Supporting Details: Cite 2 pieces of evidence from
the story that supports the following statement:
“The Keller’s sweet little girl became a wild child.”
1. ______________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________
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Reread to Clarify: Answer the Chapter 1 multiple
choice questions.
1. Which did Alexander Graham Bell invent?
a. television
b. electricity
c. telephone
Dr. Bell
d. e-mail
2. Why did Helen’s parents bring Helen to see Dr.
Bell? (Pick two answers.)
a. So they could buy a telephone.
b. He knew how to cure Helen.
c. Dr. Bell knew a lot about teaching people
who are deaf.
d. Dr. Bell had advice on a school that would
help Helen.
4
After Chapter 2
Read for Details: How old was Helen when Annie
agreed to live with the Kellers and teach Helen?
a) 5 years old.
b) 7 years old.
c) 10 years old.
Cause and Effect: Fill in the causes.
Causes: __________________________________
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Effect: Helen was unhappy.
Parts of Speech: "Mr. and Mrs. Keller wrote a letter
to the Perkins Institution.”
Which part of speech is letter as used above?
a) adjective
b) noun
c) verb
5
Reread to Clarify: Why was it important for Annie
to be strict with Helen? Cite evidence from the text
to support your answer.
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Supporting Details: Cite 3 pieces of evidence from
the story that supports the following statement:
“Annie taught Helen many new things.”
1. ______________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________
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3. ______________________________________________
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6
Reread to Clarify: Why was the water pump lesson
so significant (important)?
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Vocabulary - Prefix: "…she was so unhappy.”
Underline the base word and circle the prefix in:
What does the prefix mean? ______________________
In which word does the prefix 'un-' mean the same as
it does is 'unhappy'?
a) united
b) underwear
c) unused
7
After Chapter 3
Summarize: Summarize Chapter 3. Be sure to
include the central (main) idea and supporting
details.
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8
After Chapter 4
Read for Details: What two languages did Helen
learn?
a) Italian and French
b) French and German
c) Spanish and French
Draw Conclusions: Why do you think Helen
wanted to go college with students who could see and
hear? Explain your thinking.
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Citing Evidence: Which sentence from the text
proves Helen never gives up?
a) “The school helped her improve her speech and
lip-reading skills.”
b) “She worried she might not pass.”
c) “For three years, Helen worked very hard to
prepare for the entrance exams.”
9
Read for Details: How did Annie help Helen at
college?
a) She spelled the professor’s words for Helen.
b) She wrote the assignments for her.
c) She did not go to college with Helen.
Synonyms and Antonyms: Write a synonym and
an antonym for the underlined word.
“Of course, it was only a small part of her life.”
Synonym of small: _______________________________
Antonym of small: _______________________________
Parts of Speech: "…had grown into a beautiful,
educated woman.”
Which part of speech is beautiful as used above?
a) adjective
b) noun
c) verb
Draw Conclusions: Why do you think so many
people were interested to read Helen’s story?
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10
After Chapter 5
Reading for Details: List three places Helen
visited.
1. ______________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________
Reread to Clarify: What was the purpose of
Helen’s speeches?
a) To make lots of money.
b) To reach anyone who had given up hope.
c) To teach people how to read braille.
Supporting Details: Cite 2 pieces of evidence from
the story that supports the following statement:
Helen did not let being blind or deaf hold her
back.
1. ______________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________
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11
Read for Details: How old was Helen when she
passed away?
a) 87 years old
b) 88 years old
c) 90 years old
Vocabulary - Prefix: “Helen’s story has been retold
over and over.”
Underline the base word and circle the prefix in:
What does the prefix mean? ______________________
In which word does the prefix 're-' mean the same as
it does is 'retold'?
a) rewrite
b) read
c) remember
Analyze: Analyze and explain the following excerpt:
“Helen Keller's life was filled with silence and darkness.
But she had the courage and determination to light
her days.”
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12
After Finishing the Story:
Character Traits: Identify and describe one
character trait of Helen Keller.
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Cite two pieces of evidence from the text to
support your answer.
Circle your character trait and underline your
evidence from the story.
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13
Sequence of Events: Put the following events in
order from first to last using the numbers 1 – 12.
____ Dr. Chisholm sent the Kellers to Washington
to meet Alexander Graham Bell. Mr. Bell
told them about the Perkins Institution.
____ Helen learned Braille at the Perkins
Institution.
____ Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880.
____ Helen became very sick. The illness left her
blind and deaf.
____ Helen went to Radcliffe College and
graduated with honors.
____ Annie taught Helen a finger alphabet and
the understanding of what words meant.
____ Helen became a wild child.
____ Helen traveled all over the world giving
speeches about helping blind people.
____ Helen Keller died on June, 1 1968.
____ Sarah Fuller taught Helen to speak.
____ Helen wrote a book called The Story of My
Life.
____ Annie Sullivan agreed to come and live with
the Kellers to teach Helen.
14
Author’s Purpose: What was the author’s purpose
for writing Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark?
a. Persuade
b. Inform
c. Entertain
Fact or Opinion: Which of these is an opinion?
a) This book was the best book in the world.
b) Helen Keller worked hard to succeed.
c) Annie Sullivan never gave up on Helen when
she was a child.
Rating: How many stars would you give this book?


1 being terrible and 5 being awesome.
Be sure to color or shade in your rating.
Connect: Would you recommend this book to a
friend? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
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15
Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark
Word Jumble
hidden message:
16
Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark
Word Search
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