Summary of Three Days to See

"Three Days to See" is a reflective essay by Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, expressing her deep desire to experience the world through sight if she had only three days to see. She imagines dividing these days to appreciate the most important aspects of life: the people she loves, the wonders of nature and history, and the daily lives of ordinary people. Helen Keller emphasizes the importance of using all our senses fully and cherishing the beauty and experiences the world offers.

Key Elements

• Themes: Appreciation of senses, the value of sight, human connection, nature's beauty, and the passage of time.
• Literary Devices: Imagery, metaphor ("window of the soul"), personification, and symbolism.
• Important Quotes: "Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind." "I do not know what it is to see into the heart of a friend through that ‘window of the soul’, the eye."

Textual Evidence

Helen Keller describes touching the "delicate symmetry of a leaf" and feeling the "shaggy bark of a pine," showing her vivid sensory experiences despite blindness. She imagines seeing the "thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day" and the "pageant of man’s progress" in museums.

Solved Example

Question: What would Helen Keller do on the first day if she had sight for three days?

Answer: On the first day, Helen Keller would want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made her life meaningful. She wishes to see her friends’ faces and understand their emotions through their eyes, which she calls the "window of the soul." She values the human connection deeply.

Practice Set

Level 1 – Easy

• Who is the author of "Three Days to See"?
• What is the main wish expressed by Helen Keller in the essay?
• List two things Helen Keller would like to see on the second day.

Level 2 – Moderate

• Explain the meaning of the phrase "window of the soul" as used in the essay.
• Describe how Helen Keller uses her other senses to experience the world.
• What does Helen Keller advise people who can see?

Level 3 – Challenging

• Analyze the theme of appreciation of senses in "Three Days to See" with examples from the text.
• Discuss how Helen Keller’s perspective on sight challenges the way we usually take it for granted.
• Explain the significance of the three days and what each day represents in the essay.

Answer Key

• Level 1
  • Helen Keller is the author.
  • She wishes to see the world if she had sight for three days.
  • On the second day, she would like to see the sunrise and visit museums to see the history of the earth.
• Level 2
  • "Window of the soul" refers to the eyes as a way to see a person's true feelings and emotions.
  • Helen Keller uses touch, hearing, smell, and taste to experience the world, such as feeling the texture of leaves and hearing birds sing.
  • She advises people to use their senses fully, as if they might lose them tomorrow.
• Level 3
  • The essay highlights the importance of appreciating all senses, especially sight, which reveals beauty and meaning in life.
  • Helen Keller’s perspective shows that sight is a precious gift often overlooked, encouraging readers to value it deeply.
  • The three days symbolize the most important aspects of life: relationships, nature and history, and everyday human life.

Quick Reference

• Author: Helen Keller
• Theme: Appreciation of senses and life
• Key Quote: "Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind."
• Day 1: See loved ones
• Day 2: See nature and history
• Day 3: See daily life and people

Glossary

• Symmetry: Evenness or balance in shape
• Birch: A slender tree with thin peeling bark
• Shaggy: Covered with rough or messy hair
• Quiver: To tremble or shake slightly
• Behold: To see or look at
• Panorama: A wide, unbroken view
• Glimpse: A brief or quick look
• Pageant: A public display or procession
• Condensed: Made shorter or more concise
• Carcasses: Dead bodies of animals
• Mastodons: Large prehistoric animals similar to elephants
• Stature: Height or build of a person
• Haunts: Places frequently visited
• Merely: Only or just
• Strains: Musical tunes or melodies
• Tactile Sense: Sense of touch
• Morsel: A small piece of food
• Facets: Different aspects or sides