The Story of My Life · Chapter
The Frost King Incident explained
Helen Keller recounts the painful episode of writing 'The Frost King,' a story she believed to be original but was later discovered to closely resemble Margaret T.
What happens
Helen Keller recounts the painful episode of writing 'The Frost King,' a story she believed to be original but was later discovered to closely resemble Margaret T. Canby's 'The Frost Fairies.' The chapter explores Helen's confusion, the investigation by the Perkins Institution, and the lasting impact on her confidence as a writer. It also reveals how the story had been read to her years earlier, leading to an unintentional plagiarism that haunted her.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Self-Expression
Helen grapples with the authenticity of her own voice and the fear that her writing is not truly hers, questioning her identity as a writer.
Overcoming Adversity
Helen endures the emotional turmoil of the plagiarism accusation and the investigation, yet continues to write with encouragement from Miss Sullivan.
Language and Communication
The chapter highlights how language can be unconsciously absorbed and reproduced, and the challenges of distinguishing one's own thoughts from those encountered in books.
Characters to notice
- Helen Keller
The author and narrator, who experiences the trauma of being accused of plagiarism and struggles with the fear that her writing may not be original.
- Anne Sullivan
Helen's teacher, who is suspected of complicity in the plagiarism but later helps investigate the matter with Dr. Bell.
- Michael Anagnos
Director of the Perkins Institution, who initially believed Helen but later turned against her after the investigation.
- Margaret T. Canby
Author of 'The Frost Fairies,' whose story Helen had unconsciously plagiarized; she later wrote kindly to Helen.
- Sophia C. Hopkins
The woman who read 'The Frost Fairies' to Helen in 1888, though she could not recall the specific reading.
- Alexander Graham Bell
Assisted Miss Sullivan in investigating the source of the plagiarism.
Key passages
“I have never played with words again for the mere pleasure of the game. Indeed, I have ever since been tortured by the fear that what I write is not my own.”
After the incident, Helen lost the joy of writing and became constantly anxious that her words might belong to someone else.
This reflects the lasting psychological impact of the plagiarism accusation on Helen's creative confidence.
“No child ever drank deeper of the cup of bitterness than I did. I had disgraced myself; I had brought suspicion upon those I loved best.”
Helen felt an intense bitterness and shame, believing she had dishonored herself and cast doubt on her loved ones.
This captures the depth of Helen's emotional suffering during the Frost King incident.
“I was brought before a court of investigation composed of the teachers and officers of the Institution, and Miss Sullivan was asked to leave me. Then I was questioned and cross-questioned with what seemed to me a determination on the part of my judges to force me to acknowledge that I remembered having had 'The Frost Fairies' read to me.”
Helen was interrogated by a panel of teachers without Miss Sullivan present, and she felt they were trying to pressure her into admitting she remembered the story.
This describes the formal and intimidating investigation that deepened Helen's trauma.