In “A White Heron,” Jewett presents her readers with a series of conflicting values, all of which may be included under the theme of
the country versus the city
. By having Sylvia choose nature over civilization, Jewett clearly indicates her own preference while she also acknowledges the cost of making that choice.
What are the major themes of the White Heron?
- Nature vs. Industrialization. …
- Conservation vs. Greed. …
- Innocence vs. Experience. …
- Solitude. Sylvia’s existence in the country is quite solitary, as her only companions are her grandmother Mrs.
What is the moral of the White Heron?
Conservation versus Greed
At the heart of “A White Heron” lies the conflict between conserving nature and exploiting it for financial gain. The stranger wants to shoot, kill, and stuff the elusive white heron for his personal collection, and he offers Sylvia $10 to help him find it.
Why the heron is important to the story?
In many respects, the heron is what keeps her father at the sanctuary. Symbolically, the heron
ties together themes of life and death as well as past and future
. … The heron symbolizes both hope and the transient nature of life.
What is the symbolism 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 is the main conflict of a white heron?
The main conflict in the story revolves around
the hunter’s desire to hunt the white heron, and Sylvia’s desire to protect the bird from harm
.
How does nature in a white heron interact with the main character of the story?
The most important interaction that a character has with nature in the story is
when Sylvia climbs the pine tree to look for the heron’s nest
. She stood trembling and tired but wholly triumphant, high in the tree-top.
What does the geranium symbolize in a white heron?
The geranium that stands out in the city setting, but belongs in a rural setting symbolizes
Sylvia, who belongs in nature
. It also represents the suffocating nature of the city in comparison to the farm. The name Sylvia comes from the same root as sylvan, which is a spirit that frequents or lives in the woods.
What literary devices are used in white heron?
Jewett uses literary elements such as
diction, imagery, and narrative pace
to dramatize this “gray-eyed child” on her remarkable adventure. Word choice and imagery are necessary elements to put the reader in the mind of Sylvia as she embarks on her treacherous climb to the top of the world.
How does Sylvia change in a white heron?
In Sarah Orne Jewett’s short story “The White Heron,” the protagonist, Sylvia, changes from
a vulnerable young girl seeking approval to a strong person who knows that nature is more valuable than money
. … In a short time, she has grown from being a shy girl to one who can stand up for what she believes in.
What does Marlene want at the beginning of the story?
What does Marlene want from her father? She
wants him to care more about her life and talk to her more
.
Why did the narrator bury the heron?
To allow it to live a free life without anything stopping it
. He possibly wants to free himself from his past too- let go off his pain. He doesn’t want to admit to Marlene what the heron meant to him.
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 does seeing a heron mean spiritually?
Heron symbolism is important because the heron meaning refers to
tranquility and stillness for us humans
. … The symbolism also signifies determination because we are bound to wade through marshes and ponds through life’s journey, but we must never give up.
Is the stranger a symbolic figure the White Heron?
The White Heron
Symbolizing the destructive force of the Industrial Revolution
, the stranger longs to hunt down the elusive heron to kill, stuff, and put it on display. In his greed to control and commodify nature, the stranger has lost all connection to the importance of protecting and appreciating nature.
Are white herons rare?
The largest heron in North America, Great White
is very rare outside central and southern Florida
(and quite rare elsewhere in its range; confined to the Caribbean).
