# Anne Sullivan — The Story of My Life character guide > Anne Sullivan in The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Sullivan, Annie, Miss Anne Mansfield Sullivan, Teacher **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-story-of-my-life ## Snapshot The half-blind young teacher from Perkins who refuses to give up on a spoiled, wordless child, and hands her the manual alphabet like a key. ## Who they are Miss Sullivan arrives at Ivy Green as an outsider with her own hard history, and her letters to a friend supply the book's second, plainer voice on how Helen was actually taught. Her method is stubborn patience: spelling into a palm, again and again, until meaning catches. When a plagiarism scandal engulfs Helen, Sullivan is questioned, separated from her pupil, and suspected of coaching her — the relationship's first real test, and the reason the middle of the book carries such weight. ## Relationships ### [Helen Keller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/helen_keller) _professional_ Anne was Helen's dedicated teacher and lifelong companion, who broke through her isolation. ### [Kate Adams Keller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/kate_adams_keller) _professional_ Anne worked closely with Helen's mother to coordinate Helen's education and care. ### [Michael Anagnos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/michael_anagnos) _professional_ Anagnos was Anne's employer and mentor at Perkins, who recommended her to the Kellers. ### [Helen Keller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/helen_keller) _professional_ Anne was Helen's dedicated teacher and lifelong companion, who broke through her isolation. ### [Michael Anagnos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/michael_anagnos) _professional_ Anagnos was Anne's employer and mentor at Perkins, who recommended her to the Kellers. ## In the story ### [Editor’s Preface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/editor-s-preface) Helen's teacher; her reports and letters are included to explain Helen's education. ### [The Story of My Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/the-story-of-my-life) Helen's teacher who arrives and teaches her language, beginning with the breakthrough at the well-pump. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/ii) Helen's teacher; mentioned at the end of the chapter as arriving after Helen's naughty pranks, and Helen locks her in a room. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/iv) Helen's teacher who arrives on March 3, 1887, and patiently teaches her to spell words, leading to the pivotal moment at the well-house. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/v) Helen's teacher; guides her through nature lessons, leaves her in the cherry tree to fetch lunch, and rescues her during the storm. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/vi) Teacher who patiently explains abstract concepts like love and think, and uses the method of spelling into Helen's hand to teach language. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/vii) Helen's teacher who uses creative methods like object sentences, raised maps, and outdoor lessons to make learning engaging. ### [The First Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/viii) Helen's teacher who participates in the guessing game and gives Helen a canary. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/ix) Accompanies Helen on the journey and describes the scenery to her. ### [The Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/x) Helen's teacher; accompanies her to Brewster, rescues her from the water, and shows her the horseshoe crab. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xi) Helen's teacher, who accompanies her on rambles and lets her ride the pony safely. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xiii) Assists Helen constantly in her speech practice and continues to correct her pronunciation. ### [The Frost King Incident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xiv) Helen's teacher, who is suspected of complicity in the plagiarism but later helps investigate the matter with Dr. Bell. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xv) Consoles and helps Helen restore her self-confidence, persuading her to write for Youth's Companion. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xvi) Assists Helen with speech and lessons, spelling into her hand. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xvii) Accompanies Helen to New York and supports her studies at the Wright-Humason School. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xviii) Accompanies Helen to classes, interprets instruction, and assists with studies. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xix) Reads books aloud, interprets for instructors, and supports Helen through academic challenges and the conflict with Mr. Gilman. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xxi) Helen's teacher who read to her, explained unfamiliar words, and introduced her to Little Lord Fauntleroy. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xxiii) Helen's teacher and companion, present during visits with Holmes, Whittier, and others. ### [II: Letters (1887–1901)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/ii-letters-1887-1901) Helen's teacher and companion, frequently mentioned in the letters. ### [Letters (1887–1901)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/letters-1887-1901) Helen's teacher and companion; accompanies Helen on journeys and supports her in learning and writing. ### [III: A Supplementary Account of Helen Keller’s Life and Education](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/iii-a-supplementary-account-of-helen-keller-s-life-and-education) Helen's teacher and companion, central to her educational progress. ### [The Writing of the Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/i-the-writing-of-the-book) Helen's teacher and editor, who read the manuscript aloud to Helen and offered critical suggestions during composition and revision. ### [Personality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/ii-personality) Helen's teacher and constant companion, who guides her understanding of the world and is noted for her wisdom and humor. ### [III: Education](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/iii-education) The teacher who developed the method of teaching language to the deaf-blind, documented through her letters and reports, and whose own background and talents are highlighted. ### [Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/iv-speech) Provides an account of Helen's speech lessons, her initial reluctance to teach speech, and her support for Helen's practice. ### [Literary Style](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/v-literary-style) Helen's teacher, credited with her disciplined writing practice and exposure to fine literature. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned in endnotes for her accounts of Miss Keller's speech and the Frost King incident. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Helen's teacher, who informed her of Mr. Brooks's appointment. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters/anne_sullivan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/characters