2. Sarah Orne Jewett
Known for
Short Stories
Anthologies
Mastery of “local-color” pieces—
works that strive to accurately depict
the culture and lifestyle of a particular
area.
3. Jewett‟s “A White Heron”
Main characters
Setting
Sylvia
The Young Man
Mrs. Tilley (Sylvie‟s grandmother)
The Maine countryside/forest
Jewett describes the natural world that Sylvie
seems to flourish in with realistic detail. It is this
world that Sylvie seems comfortable in, even
though she came from a bustling city.
4. Jewett‟s “A White Heron”
At first Sylvie is wary of the stranger she met
when bringing the cow home to milk.
She learns that he likes to study birds and agrees
to help him find the elusive white heron that he
has been looking for.
As they search, she wonders why he wants to kill the
birds that he claims to be so fond of.
Sylive is conflicted because she wants to please
the young man and feels a sort of attraction to
him.
But she is also uncomfortable around him and is glad
that they search in silence.
5. Jewett‟s “A White Heron”
Sylvie uses an
extremely tall pine
tree to help her find
the white heron.
However, she cannot
show the hunter
where the bird is
because she knows
that if she does, its life
will be over.
Later, she regrets her
decision and wonders
if saving the life of the
bird was worth losing
the young man
6. “A White Heron” Questions to
Consider
Are Sylvie and the heron alike? If so, how?
What is the significance of Sylvia‟s name?
Why is the heron so important to Sylvie?
7. Kate Chopin
Known for
Writing about the Acadian region of
Louisiana
Creating main female characters who
are torn between the demands of
marriage and their own freedom and
independence
8. Chopin‟s “At The „Cadian Ball”
Main characters
Bobinôt
Alcée Laballière
Calixta
Clarisse
Setting
Acadia (South Louisiana)
Chopin accurately depicts the culture that the
characters live in.
9. Chopin‟s “At the „Cadian Ball”
Bobinôt is a likeable fellow, but he is a farmer
of low class.
He loves Calixta, a beautiful girl of mixed heritage
who is also lower class.
Alcée Laballière is a wealthy Creole planter
with whom Calixta is in love.
Alcée has a history with Calixta and has affection
for her, but he also seems to be attracted to
Clarisse, his mother‟s god-daughter.
10. Chopin‟s “At the „Cadian Ball”
Babinôt is jealous because Calixta prefers
Alcée and goes to the ball to keep Alcée from
claiming Calixta.
Alcée has just suffered a great loss of his
crops from a storm and goes to the
ball, hoping that having a fling will distract him
from this.
Clarisse hears the sound of Alcée leaving and
goes after him, being afraid of what might
happen if he stays at the ball with all those
other women.
11. Chopin‟s “At the „Cadian Ball”
When confronted by Clarisse while he is alone
with Calixta, Alcée chooses to go back home
with Clarisse, effectively making the two
engaged.
Seeing that she will never get Alcée, Calixta
gives in to Bobinôt‟s requests and agrees to
marry him.
Both men seem to be satisfied with the
arrangements at the end of the story.
12. Questions to Consider
How large a role does culture and
the class system play in this story?
Will both men be happy with their
marriages?
What about the women?
Was Calixta right in finally accepting
Bobinôt‟s proposal?
Was Clarisse wrong to mislead Alcée
when she came to find him?
