Chapter 14, The Story of My Life Summary Class 10 English Chapter 14

In this chapter, Helen described her darkest phase of her life. An incident occurred which turned her childhood’s joy into doubt, fear and anxiety. The main cause was a story called ‘The Frost King’, which she wrote and sent to Mr. Anagnos, director of the Perkins Institute on her Birthday.
She wrote the story when she was at home, the autumn after she learnt to speak. When she was writing book, she did not realize that the words and images coming to her mind without effort were not her own.
After completion of story, Helen read it to her friends and family. They were impressed with writing of Helen. Someone asked her if she had read the story in a book in answer she denied and told that it was her own story. Mr. Anagnos was delighted to receive the story and published it in a report of Perkins Institution. She felt like she had touched peak of success.
After the publication, it was discovered that her story was almost the similar to a story named ‘The Frost Fairies’ written by Miss Margaret T. Canby appeared in a book named ‘Birdie and His Friends’. The content of both story are so similar that it was clear that Helen’s story was plagiarism. This was a great shock for Helen.
A few day after the incident, she went to attend Washington’s Birthday celebration. The night before the celebration, one of the teachers asked her about the incident but she denied that she have ever heard Canby’s story but the teacher came to conclusions that Helen still remember that story and told to Mr. Anagnos.
He believed that Helen and Miss Sullivan had deliberately stolen the thoughts of a great writer to win his appreciation.
Helen was brought before a court of investigation composed of the teachers and officers of the institution. She was questioned and cross-questioned to force her to acknowledge that she remembered ‘The Frost Fairies’ story. She felt heavy at heart and responded to those questions only in monosyllables. Finally, she was allowed to leave the room. She did not noticed her teacher or friends. She wept that night in her bed and imagined that she should die before morning and the thought comforted her.
Miss Sullivan had never heard ‘The Frost Fairies’. With the assistance of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, Miss Sullivan investigated the matter carefully. Lastly came out that story had been narrated to Helen by Mrs. Sophia Hopkins when she had spent a summer with her at Brewster.
After the incident, she received many letters of love and sympathy from loved ones. She also received a kind note from Miss Canby herself inspiring her to write something of her own in future. All the things were making Helen easy but still she was afraid of writing again.
Later, she came to know that she had absorbed that story very much and used its ideas and language in her writing. This thing was explained by R.L. Stevenson who said that young writers spontaneously tries to copy whatever seems most admirable to them.
Miss Sullivan encouraged her to continue writing. This incident taught Helen about the problems in the writing but she also lost her dearest friend Mr. Anagnos. She included this chapter because it was important in her life and education.

Quick Revision Notes: 

• After learning to speak, Helen wrote a story named ‘The Frost King’ and sent to Mr. Anagnos, director of the Perkins Institute. 
• Her family and friends were impressed with her writing.
• Later, it was discovered that her story almost the similar to a story named ‘The Frost Fairies’ written by Miss Margaret T. Canby.
• She faced a court of investigation and loss all hope.
• She found that story ‘The Frost Fairies’ had been narrated to Helen by Mrs. Sophia Hopkins when she had spent a summer with her at Brewster.
• She later came to know that she had absorbed that story very much and used its ideas and language.
• She remembered a lot from this incident but she also lost her dearest friend Mr. Anagnos.