A presentation about symbolism in A White Heron

1. SYMBOLISM
1. The gun symbolizes the stranger’s way
- Paragraph 21: “sharp report of his gun … their
pretty feathers stained and wet with blood”
- Paragraph 21: “sharp pang as the guest went
away disappointed later in the day”
The way he treats the birds is similar to the
way he treat Sylvia. They are used for his
hobby & interest.

2. SYMBOLISM
2. A white heron symbolizes Sylvia
White heron
- It’s rare “ that the rare bird was
one of her acquaintances”
(Paragraph 9)
- It’s an “immigrant”: “Perhaps it
was only migrating, or had
been chased out of its own
region by some bird of prey”
(paragraph 11)
Sylvia
- Sylvia’s thought and behavior
is very rare at her age
- Sylvia moved from a crowded
town to the country because
she “afraid of folks”
(paragraph 3), “the noisy
town”, “the great red-faced
boy who used to chase and
frighten her” (paragraph 4)

3. SYMBOLISM
3. Sylvia’s journey to the top of the pine tree symbolizes
her journey of maturity
a. It’s harder than she thought
- Sylvia claim up the tree: “It’s harder than she thought”
(paragraph 15)
- Sylvia makes decision not to reveal the white heron’s
nest: “many a night Sylvia heard the echo of his whistle
haunting… cow” (paragraph 21)
=> Both journey are difficult for Sylvia than she thought.
When Sylvia decides to keep silent, she suffer and feel sad
because the young man leave soon. She still remember
him in many later days.

4. SYMBOLISM
b. Sylvia’s struggle for climbing to the top of the tree = her
struggle for keep the white heron’s secret
- Climb up the pine tree: paragraph 15
+ “ she must reach far and hold fast”
+ “ the sharp dry twigs caught and held her and scratched her”
+ “the pitch made her thin little fingers clumsy and stiff”
- Not tell the young man place of the white heron’s nest:
paragraph 20
+ “the old grandmother fretfully rebukes her”
+ “he can make them rich with money” and “they are poor now”
+ “He is so well worth making happy, and he waits to hear the
story she can tell”

5. SYMBOLISM
=> To climb up to the top of the pine tree, Sylvia has to
struggle with sharp dry twigs, the pitch. To keep the bird’s
secret, she has to overcome her grandmother’s pressure, her
wish for 10 – dollar – treasure and her wish to make the young
man happy.
c. Sylvia’s at the top of the pine tree = Sylvia triumph over
herself
- At the top of the tree: paragraph 16:
+ “wholly triumphant”
+ “there was the sea with the downing sun”
+ “West ward, the woodlands… awesome world”
=> When Sylvia is at the top of the pine tree, it likes a “real
open - eyed”. When Sylvia not tell the place of white heron’
nest to protect it, she becomes mature. She wins herself.