White Heron Analysis
Analysis of A White Heron
Addie Johnson
In a passage adapted from “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett, a little girl goes on a monumental adventure. Sylvia, the protagonist, climbs an enormous tree that “whoever climbed to the top could see the ocean” (10). Climbing the tree symbolizes Sylvia’s coming of age from girl to woman. The author dramatizes this climb using imagery and narrative pace.
Throughout the passage, Jewett uses imagery to emphasize Sylvia’s transformation into an adventurer. Jewett’s word choices like “bravery,” “human spirit,” and “determined spark,” all conjure images of heroism and growth, as well as the glory of adventure (18, 45, 46). The “golden dazzle” and “hawks flying” at the end represent Sylvia’s victory through resilience (59-60). Sylvia’s face is a “bright star,” illustrating the child’s triumphant struggle (55). Using description, Jewett depicts the child’s determination and successful journey to see the ocean.
While not as obvious as imagery, narrative pace plays a key role in the development of the passage. In the first ten lies, Jewett uses three long sentences of description to slowly draw the reader in. However, the sentence “Sylvia knew it well” interrupts this babbling stream of emotion and quickly focuses the passage (10). As Sylvia begins to climb the tree, Jewett lengthens her sentences exceedingly, like “she crept out along the swaying oak limb at last, and took a daring step across the old pine tree” to simulate the same slow paces in climbing as well as the emotion of fearlessness. As she continues upward, the sentences become choppier and riddled with commas and other punctuation. When Jewett writes “more than all the hawks, and bats, and moths, and even the sweet-voiced thrushes, was the brave, beating heart of the solitary grey-eyed child” there are four commas to allow the reader to fully understand the adrenaline rush and heroic symbolism, as well as pronounce the girl’s evolving maturity and
Addie Johnson
In a passage adapted from “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett, a little girl goes on a monumental adventure. Sylvia, the protagonist, climbs an enormous tree that “whoever climbed to the top could see the ocean” (10). Climbing the tree symbolizes Sylvia’s coming of age from girl to woman. The author dramatizes this climb using imagery and narrative pace.
Throughout the passage, Jewett uses imagery to emphasize Sylvia’s transformation into an adventurer. Jewett’s word choices like “bravery,” “human spirit,” and “determined spark,” all conjure images of heroism and growth, as well as the glory of adventure (18, 45, 46). The “golden dazzle” and “hawks flying” at the end represent Sylvia’s victory through resilience (59-60). Sylvia’s face is a “bright star,” illustrating the child’s triumphant struggle (55). Using description, Jewett depicts the child’s determination and successful journey to see the ocean.
While not as obvious as imagery, narrative pace plays a key role in the development of the passage. In the first ten lies, Jewett uses three long sentences of description to slowly draw the reader in. However, the sentence “Sylvia knew it well” interrupts this babbling stream of emotion and quickly focuses the passage (10). As Sylvia begins to climb the tree, Jewett lengthens her sentences exceedingly, like “she crept out along the swaying oak limb at last, and took a daring step across the old pine tree” to simulate the same slow paces in climbing as well as the emotion of fearlessness. As she continues upward, the sentences become choppier and riddled with commas and other punctuation. When Jewett writes “more than all the hawks, and bats, and moths, and even the sweet-voiced thrushes, was the brave, beating heart of the solitary grey-eyed child” there are four commas to allow the reader to fully understand the adrenaline rush and heroic symbolism, as well as pronounce the girl’s evolving maturity and