Although A White Heron is such a short story it says so much about America and some of the ideals that were held at the same time this was written/set, it embodies the purity and innocence of a new America. The story is also a microcosm for nature and the drive for expansion; it only shows a sliver of what is happening in the world but it still embodies those qualities. It encompasses not only the beauty and hope that Sylvia discovers while searching for the white heron, but also the strength and determination that she gains through saving the herons from the hunter. America is a beautiful and hopeful nation, but it’s also strong and determined to protect what is right and good. Sylvia at her core is the epitome of America itself; young, adventurous, and full of spirit.
The tree seemed to lengthen itself out as she went up, and to reach farther and farther upward. It was like a great main-mast to the voyaging earth; it must truly have been amazed that morning through all its ponderous frame as it felt this determined spark of human spirit winding its way from higher branch to branch. The first line talks about a tree stretching itself out, growing. Which is what America was doing. Like Sylvia and the tree, the country was growing, becoming its own ‘being’ by expanding westward and developing the Frontier. Next is the voyaging Earth. A voyage typically means a long journey, a quest to find something new, like the West. Like how Sylvia takes a journey within
The diction in the excerpt is an essential component to the dramatization of the plot’s central incident. Jewett uses rich language to intensify the simple nature of the main character Sylvia’s journey up a “great pine-tree.” For example, in describing the tree, the narrator uses personification as he mentions the “huge tree asleep yet in the paling moonlight.” The use of personification harkens back to those universal moments in childhood in which everything alive had human feelings, and creates an emotional attachment between the reader and the tree. Jewett also uses other figurative language, like similes, to relate the grandeur of the tree to the audience. She writes, “It [the tree] was like a great main-mast to the voyaging earth…” In comparing the tree to the great mast of a ship, the author invokes feelings of awe at its size.
Female roles in society have often been minute. In Jewett’s “A White Heron” and Freeman’s “The Revolt of Mother”, Sylvia and Mother demonstrate feminine empowerment. These two prominent female protagonists overcome the male influence in their life and society. Both defy social expectations of women and the obstacles that come with it. The authors express this through their similar use of symbolism and alienation. Jewett and Freeman use different examples of poverty, the motivation of society, and speech in their stories.
One’s view on something often changes when you look at it from more than one point of view. Morality plays a significant role in any decision making process. It is hard to justify any decision that is not moral. Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron” has many elements of nature, and of the preservation of what Sylvia holds dearly. The thought provoking short story evokes emotions of caring, loving, and fear. All of these emotions are shown by different settings and characters in the story.
Writing, as described by E.L. Doctorow, is an exploration. In her novel, Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott explores the writing process, providing her insight on stylistic, theoretical, and instructional points. These points are essential in the composure of a book and are prevalent in many literary works such as Tim O’Brien’s The Things they Carried. In his book, O’Brien relives his time on the frontlines of the Vietnam War, telling fictional stories of life before, during, and post war. The novels are tied together with O’Brien’s use of character development, dialogue, and design setting strategies as discussed in Bird by Bird.
In Cold Mountain and "A Poem for the Blue Heron", tone is established in a multitude of ways. These two pieces of literature describe the characteristics and actions of a blue heron, both aiming for the same goal. However, Charles Frazier and Mary Oliver approach their slightly differing tones employing organization, metaphoric language, and diction.
“By then I could feel the ground rumbling through my shoes. I saw the first water sluicing through the lowest part of the pasture, and I knew we didn't have time to make it to higher ground ourselves. In the middle of the field was an old cottonwood tree, broad-branched and gnarled, and we ran for that.” pg.12
She knew her family was never safe where they lived. She was a brilliant young girl, she understood more than most adults. Even though she wasn’t the richest or the best dressing girl in town, her heart for everyone
senses in the twelfth hour when she climbs high into the trees early one morning
"I look at my homely sketch. It doesn't need anything. Even through the river in my eyes I can see that. It isn't perfect and that makes it just right" (198). This relates to her character traits because it shows her big emotions/expressions and that those emotions change her personality and reputation and that all gives her encouragement to finally finish and like her
Each character in the novel had their own horizons. Each horizon was different, they were made up of different dreams and goals, but what
Understanding human behaviors is a complicated job because it requires many studies on various people in a long period of time. Sarah Orne Jewett introduces an image of a nine-year-old girl, Sylvia, innocence mind with a mature decision into her story, “A White Heron.” Sylvia does not want to betray the love for nature from an offer of an attractive hunter. She discovers what is most important to her after overcoming many internal thoughts about what she will do with the money from the hunter’s offer, or fulfills her passion with a natural world. The story is contained both situational and dramatic irony, which provides a different point of view of Sylvia in the society. Not everyone is motivated by money. The setting and keeping of economic power is central to Sylvia’s existence and activities.
The Great Blue Heron is one of six species of Herons. Great Blue Herons live in fresh and saltwater marshes, isolated swamps or on islands and near lakes and ponds that have neighboring forests. During the summer they stay in parts of southern Canada and the Midwestern United States. During the winter they reside in Mexico. They migrate in groups of 3-100 in August to the southern coast of the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, sometimes traveling as far as Panama.
The United States of America has seen great change throughout its history. While a considerable amount of time has matured the nation, the core spirit of the American people remains unaffected. In spite of all the wars fought and problems that arose, the
The basic premise of the story talks about the American Dream and how for some people, the American Dream does not exist for them (Hughes 345-347). Or to put it simply, “America never was America to me” (Hughes 345). With all these individuals pursuing this one single dream, the main hurdle that presented itself was the law, or the general populous, that put them down. However, with the final line “We, the people, must redeem The land, the mines, the plants… And make America again,” it reinforces the fact that we do indeed need some sort of law to govern the people (Hughes 347). The story might appear to argue for the point that we do not need a society but what it truly means is that we need a better society, one that will not discriminate based on age, gender or race.
The White Heron is a spiritual story portraying great refinement and concerns with higher things in life. A 9 year old girl once isolated in the city found fulfillment in a farm surrounded by nature. Too those less unfortunate, money charm and other attractions can be intoxicated; Sylvia did not bite. She could have helped her situation and found a way to wealth but in the end she realized that it wouldn’t help her to be the person she wanted to be. This paper will illustrate a critical analysis of the story of White Heron and focus on the relationship between the literary elements of the story, plot, characterization, style, symbolism and women’s concerns that are specific to this period.