Miss Spitfire Flashcards
In this book, one of the main characters graduated from the Perkins Institution.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
In this book, a character’s brother dies as a child, leaving this character without family growing up.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“I’m delighted by her intelligence, in spite of this dismaying audacity.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“Her features show none of the subtle ripples of thought emotion that pass over normal faces.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“We were just making our bread. She tried to tell me something with her hands, but I couldn’t understand her quick enough.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Soon after Annie arrives, Helen throws a tantrum when working with young Martha Washington.
“There’s a difference between understanding and simple obedience.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Having Helen learn obedience was very important to Annie Sullivan.
“Even things that don’t make sense to her, she imitates.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“It’s the question of what lies behind those sealed doors that troubles me most.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“I’m not sure I can do this job.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Annie Sullivan, unsure if she can teach Helen
“Then I hear it. Click. She’s locked me in.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Helen locks Annie in the bedroom, after Annie had done the same to Helen.
“I hear a crack inside my head and think for a moment, of thunder, until something in my mouth distracts me.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Helen hits Annie and knocks out a tooth.
“Come back here, you beast”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“It’s hardly fair to punish her for something she doesn’t understand.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Keller struggled to discipline her before Annie’s arrival, feeling she cannot understand anything so that she should not be punished.
In this book, one of the main characters grew up in an institution, abandoned relatives.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“If you don’t stop her now, it’s a prizefighter you’ll be hiring to cope with her later.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“If she can sort and fold laundry, there’s no excuse for her not to crease a bit of cloth into a square before leaving the table.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“At sixty-eight she surrenders, folding the napkin quicker than a skivvy on washing day.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Annie held her hand over Helen’s mouth until Helen cooperated with folding the napkin at the end of a meal. Again, Miss Annie felt it was imperative for Helen to learn obedience.
“Let me take her away somewhere.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Miss Annie feels Helen’s family is preventing Helen from learning from Annie.
In this book there is a poem about Matilda Jane, a child who is blind, mute and deaf.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Miss Annie spells this poem to Helen in the early days after the pair move into the little house on the family’s property. In the end of “Miss Spitfire,” the author acknowledges that this poem, written by Lewis Carroll, was actually written after the time this story occurred.
“Anyone can see your brain is screaming to be let loose.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“We’ve taken one great step forward, and after this glimpse of success I have not intention of giving any ground back.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“I know it hurts to see your child punished, and even more because of her afflictions.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“For now she’s tame, but given the chance, she’d turn on you like a mad dog.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“No child of mine shall be deprived of food on any account.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Captain Keller, on multiple occasions, is angered at the thought of Annie keeping food from Helen, feeling it is one of few pleasures he can give Helen.
“You sly little thing. Your body stops when your brain stirs, doesn’t it?”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
In this book, a young child compares her features to a cow.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Miss Annie spells the similarities and differences between Helen and the family cow. “Girls have fingers. Cows have hooves.”
In this book, each chapter opens with a quote taken from a letter.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Annie Sullivan writes to Sophia Hopkins.
In this book, April 5, 1887 is an important date.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
The day Helen has her breakthrough of connecting spelling and the meaning of words.
“The severity of her sudden dependence astounds me; her thirst for the world burns in her skin, and only I can quench it for her.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
In this book, the arrival of a twenty-year-old woman is celebrated as a child’s “soul’s birthday.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Helen called the day of Annie Sullivan’s arrival Helen’s “soul’s birthday.”
In this book, even as adults, one woman calls the other only by the name “Teacher.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
The silent movie “Deliverance” was about this student and teacher.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
In this book, Polly Thomson takes over for an ailing teacher.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
This book, a historical novel, drew extensively from the autobiography of one of the main characters.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
This book is a memoir, and the main character has bad eyesight.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
The main character in this book tries to teach a difficult child.
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“I don’t know how to answer him. Most all of them are dead, and the living ones might as well be, for all they care about me. Even the dead ones aren’t worth a tear.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“We smooth ‘em out, though. Sunshine and country cooking turns ‘em all bright and rosy in no time.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“Still, the stoutness of this dictionary, its size and shape, please me. I run my fingers along the spine, savoring the feel of the leather. I lay it on the nightstand with a satisfying thump. It almost looks like it belongs there. I wish I felt the same.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“I shouldn’t have slept so late,” I tell her. “I’m sorry.” “Nonsense,” she says, straightening her dress and smoothing her hair into place. “You needed a good rest. Anyone could see that.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“Her eyebrows crinkle for an instant, then she paws away the layer of skirts and shirtwaists and snatches the doll into her arms. Though she doesn’t smile, a funny sort of delight shows on her face–more like satisfaction than pleasure.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“She’s a parrot. . . A parrot only understands that mimicking the right noises produces a treat.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“Alone, all alone, by the wave-washed strand, all alone in the crowded hall.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Miss Annie recalls a poem when holding the doll she gave to Helen.
“My fury boils so high I can’t move. “She’s. . . locked. . . me. . . in,” I growl through gritted teeth, one syllable at a time.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“It isn’t just the mug-milk mess.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“Then she slinks to her plate and crawls up onto her chair.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“The next day, Friday, I invite Percy to attend Helen’s lesson.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“If her fingers know the word so well, why doesn’t her brain grasp the way to use it?
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
“The captain slips two fingers into his mouth and whistles a shrill note.”
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
