Final answer:
Spelling lessons in both Helen Keller's and Frederick Douglass's accounts signify the transformative power of literacy. They catalyze greater learning, providing both immediate joy and the foundation for future intellectual and emotional freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of spelling lessons in the contexts presented highlights the power of literacy as a transformative tool. In the narrative of Helen Keller, her ability to spell with finger play marks the climax and resolution of her story, providing her foundational access to language and transforming her from a state of 'dum_bness' to one of enlightenment and communication.
Similarly, Frederick Douglass illustrates the profound impact that learning to spell and eventually to read had on enslaved individuals, transforming their lives and empowering them towards the path of freedom.
Spelling lessons, therefore, serve as a catalyst for greater learning and self-awareness, granting both immediate pleasure and pride as well as long-term intellectual and emotional liberation.