A White Heron-Soriano, E.

Introduction

A White Heron and Other Stories, 1886

"A White Heron" is a short story by Sarah Orne Jewett. First published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company in 1886, it was soon collected as the title story in Jewett's anthology A White Heron and Other Stories. It follows a young city girl named Sylvia who came to live with her grandmother in the country.

How does she change, grow, develop, throughout the story?

Why does she make the decision she does at the end of the story?

Task

At the end of the lesson, the students should have been able to:

-understand the story;

-work cooperatively with their group mates; and

-express their thoughts about the story

Process

1. The students will be grouped into three groups. 

2. Seated with their group mates, the students will read the story for ten minutes.

3. Answer the guide questions by group.

  1. Describe the setting.
  2. Is the hunter a good guy? Why or why not?
  3. Is Mrs. Tilley happy with her current life? Why or why not?
  4. Would Sylvia's life have been better if she had taken the hunter's deal?
  5. What would you have done if you were in Sylvia's shoes? Explain your answer.
  6. What do you think the white heron represents?

4. One representative per group will share to the class their answers.

Evaluation

 

Criteria                 5                    3                  2
Analysis of the Story All questions were answered completely; in depth answers. Ideas are presented well. Questions were answered completely but lacks some ideas. Questions were not answered completely.
Reflections/Insights Reflection statements are profound and clear. Reflection statement are clear but not clearly supported. Reflection statements are shallow.
Grammar Exemplary grammar. Grammar is acceptable. Grammar needs improvement.
Team Work The group worked as a team in achieving the task.  Cooperation in the group is quite seen. Few members of the group worked only.

 

Conclusion

The story, only 41 paragraphs long, tells the tale of a young city girl named Sylvia who comes to live with her grandmother in the country. One day, while exploring the nearby woods, she meets a young ornithologist and hunter who is searching the woods for a rare bird he recently saw. Sylvia is torn between telling the hunter that she saw the bird or protecting the beautiful, rare creature. Along the way, she discovers how at home she feels in the country and develops a deep love for the animals that inhabit the woods. At the end, Sylvia decided not to tell the hunter that she knows where the heron can be found.  Considered an early example of New England feminist literature, A White Heron explores themes of humans’ interaction with the natural world, choices and regret, and the joy and purpose found in a simple, nature-based life.

The main conflict in "A White Heron" focuses on Sylvia's internal battle of whether or not to reveal the location of the white heron.

 

"A White Heron" Symbolism

  1. The color white--the color of the heron--represents the purity of rural life.
  2. The tall tree in the forest that Sylvia climbs symbolizes clarity of thought. It is from her lofty perch that Sylvia sees all and from this lofty perch that Sylvia realizes the heron's life is more valuable than $10.
  3. 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.
  4. The hunter symbolizes the intrusion of civilization and technology.

 

 

Credits