1
Name: _____________________
THE MIRACLE WORKER
Comprehension Questions – Pgs. 97-112
1. Why do you think William Gibson follows the scene of Kate and Helen returning
home with Annie experiencing another painful memory of her brother? (97)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. What does Annie mean when she says, “I think God must owe me a
resurrection…And I owe God one.”? (97)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. What does Annie tell Captain Keller she will keep trying to do? Why is it so
important to her that she do so? (98)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. How can you tell by Captain Keller’s gestures and words that he is changing his
attitude toward Annie? Why do you think he is changing? (98-99)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. Why do you think Helen gives the keys to her mother? (100)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. How can you tell by James’s gestures and words that he is changing in his attitude
toward Annie? Is she surprised? (100-101)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2
7. Why do you think Helen keeps dropping her napkin? Who exactly is she testing?
How does this behavior lead to a disruption in the welcome-home meal? (102-106)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
8. How does James finally stand up to his father? What is his father’s response?
(107)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9. Why does Annie want Helen to fill the pitcher? What “miracle” happens at the
pump? (108-109)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
10. What is Helen’s first act of communication with her mother? Why is it “a
moment in which she simultaneously finds and loses a child”? (111)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3