For others, the pine tree symbolizes
the transition from social expectation to personal freedom
. On the ground, Sylvia is expected to follow social norms—to hunt the white heron, to covet money, to embrace those “dreams of love” and partner with the stranger—both in the hunt and perhaps even romantically.
Why does Sylvia climb the pine tree?
Climbing the great pine allows Sylvia to spot the white heron from high above the forest. She climbs the tree
to find the heron's nest so that she can tell the hunter
, thus pleasing him and earning the money her grandmother needs.
What is the significance of the old tree Why is Sylvia fascinated with it?
Sylvia climbs the great pine tree so that she can find the hidden nest of the white heron, but she also
considers climbing it a great adventure
. There is symbolism in the act of Sylvia climbing the tree, because, when she gets to the top, she has what might be described as a transcendental experience.
How does Sylvia feel about the great pine tree at the beginning of the story?
Sylvia feels
“as if she never had been alive at all before she came to live at the farm
.” When a young hunter enters Sylvia's life, she slowly overcomes her shyness and begins to like him. She feels the stirrings of first love.
What does Sylvia symbolize in a white heron?
The white heron symbolizes
the independence and wonder of nature
, which must be preserved against the destructive forces of industrialization and greed. When Sylvia sees the heron's spectacular perspective on the world from the top of the tree, she makes a moral choice to refuse to help the hunter kill the bird.
What does Sylvia ultimately decide to do at the end of the white heron?
Although she's torn, Sylvia decides to
find the heron for the hunter
. She climbs the highest tree in the area, has a magical experience, and sees the heron.
What does the heron represent?
In the Celtic traditions, the heron and the egret meaning stand for
autonomy, persistence, and longevity
. In some Celtic lore, you will find an association of Heron with gods because of their peace-loving and calm nature. Take Rhiannon for example, she was the epitome of protection, especially for the travelers.
What does the pine tree symbolize?
For Native Americans, they represent wisdom and longevity. … “In the countries around the world where pine trees grow, many legends, beliefs, and folklore surround this magnificent tree.” Aside from representing fertility, wisdom and longevity, the pine tree is a
symbol of peace
.
Why did Sylvia not tell the stranger about the heron?
Sylvia doesn't tell the stranger where to find the heron's nest
because she knows he'll kill the herons
, and she doesn't want that to happen. … Even though the hunter could improve Sylvia and her grandmother's lives, she can't make herself a party to the death of the heron by helping him find the nest.
How does Sylvia feel about living on her grandmother's farm?
She likes it very much
. She thinks it is a beautiful place to live. She didn't like it at all. She didn't feel alive there.
What do you foreshadow when Sylvia hears the strangers whistle?
Expert Answers
Sylvia hears
the hunter before she sees him
. He whistles, loudly and clearly, and she is “horror-stricken” because she immediately figures out that it isn't a bird's whistle she hears but a boy's. A bird would have sounded somewhat friendly to her while the boy's whistle sounds more aggressive.
Why does Sylvia live with her grandmother?
The protagonist in Sarah Orne Jewett's short story “A White Heron” is a young girl named Sylvia. She lives with her grandmother now
because living in the city nearly killed her spirit.
How Old Is Sylvia in a white heron?
“A White Heron” is the story of Sylvia, a
nine-year-old girl
, who goes in quest of an exotic, almost miraculous bird. She herselfhas unusual gifts.
What do Sylvia and the White Heron have in common?
Both Sylvia and the heron have quite a few things in common. Both are
solitary, lone creatures
that are most comfortable surrounded by nature and its beauty. The heron is a rare bird, just as Sylvia, a girl who loves the country life and living in solitude, is a rare type of person.
What does the White Heron mean to the ornithologist?
Expert Answers
The ornithologist in “A White Heron”
offers ten dollars to anyone who can show him the heron
. This was a large sum of money in the 1880s, when “A White Heron” was written, equivalent to about a week's wages for an average American.
What does the protagonist do at the end of a white heron?
He ends up staying with Sylvia and her grandmother, and
he offers Sylvia money if she will lead him to the elusive bird
.
