Summary:
"A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett depicts how Jewett uses diction, imagery and point of view to transform a simple "tree-climbing journey" into a breathtaking adventure.
A White Heron
In "A White Heron," Sarah Orne Jewett dramatized the breathtaking adventure of Sylvia, a small girl who sets out to climb the old pine tree that "towered above them all." Throughout the story, she encounters many challenges and with the author's use of figurative language, we can easily visualize Sylvia's journey as she courageously proves that even the smallest of creatures can overcome any obstacle.
Jewett's choice of words depicts the significant distinction in size between Sylvia and the tree in order to illustrate the difficulty of Sylvia's climb. In lines 12 and 13, ."..And the little girl had often laid her hand on the great rough trunk..." she brings to us a contrasting image of "little" Sylvia standing next to the "great" tree. Another example can be found in lines 16 and 17. "There was the huge tree asleep...and small and silly Sylvia began utmost bravery to mount to the top of it..." Once again, Jewett compares "small and silly" Sylvia to the "huge" tree to put emphasis on her courageous struggle against the colossus.
Jewett uses imagery as well as diction to illustrate the difficulty of Sylvia's climb. In lines 35 to 40, "The way was harder than she thought; she must reach far and hold fast, the sharp twigs caught and held her and scratched her like angry talons, the pitch made her thin little fingers clumsy and stiff..." Sylvia encounters some obstacles as she journeys up the tree. As Sylvia's fingers are portrayed as being thin, clumsy and stiff, we begin to see just how frail and delicate she is physically in contradiction to how strong and brave she is spiritually.
The point of view also aided in adding drama to Jewett's story. The story was told from a third person spectator's point of view in order to amplify the excitement and fear for the life of the small and fragile girl. The narrator seems to be watching Sylvia's every move with agitation and concern. Thus, making the story more dramatic and thrilling for the reader.
Through the last twenty lines of the passage, Sylvia has finally reached the top of the tree. She is overwhelmed with victory and satisfying accomplishment as she gazes at the majestic view of the ocean. The reader can also share in this overwhelming triumph that Sylvia feels at the end of the story as a result of the author's choice of words, imagery and point of view and thus realizing how it feels to overcome the greatest obstacle.
This is the complete article, containing 417 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
