SARAH ORNE JEWETT “A WHITE HERON” Background and Style

BACKGROUND Civil War ends 1865 Reconstruction Immigration and Expansion Regionalism abounds “local color” offshoot of Realism (ordinary people, ordinary situations) writers focus on specific geographical areas presentation of characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features specific to a certain region often nostalgia and sentimentality in the writing (naturally, author from that area) contributed to: the reunification of the country after the Civil War and to the building of national identity short story as a literary form is popularized Realism Regionalism Naturalism

SARAH ORNE JEWETT born in South Berwick, Maine daughter of a country doctor (Obstetrician) poor health as a child accompanied father on trips to visit patients in rural southwestern coastal Maine Inspiration to Chronicle New England Life

Her most famous work: The Country of the Pointed Firs (1896), a collected of interconnected sketches about coastal Maine From 1881 to her death in 1909, Jewett had close domestic relationship with Annie Adams Fields, widow of editor James T. Fields: they had a “Boston marriage” Relationships between mothers/daughters and among women figure prominently in her fiction. After the Civil War, which killed many men, American women faced new demands and opportunities to form relationships and communities

CHRONICLES OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE “They melt into the land and the life of the land until they are not stories at all, but life itself.” -Willa Cather Works include but are not limited to… Deephaven A Country Doctor A White Heron and Other Stories A Native of Wimbly The Life of Nancy The County of the Pointed Firs*

STANDARDS L.F Analyze, interpret, and evaluate how authors use techniques and elements of fiction to effectively communicate an idea or concept. L.F Identify, explain, interpret, describe, and/or analyze the effects of personification, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, satire, foreshadowing, flashback, imagery, allegory, symbolism, dialect, allusion, and irony in a text. L.F Explain, interpret, compare, describe, analyze, and/or evaluate tone, style, and/or mood in a variety of fiction: the relationship between the tone, style, and/or mood and other components of a text how voice and choice of speaker (narrator) affect the mood, tone, and/or meaning of a text how diction, syntax, figurative language, sentence variety, etc., determine the author’s style L.F Interpret and analyze works from a variety of genres for literary, historical, and/or cultural significance.

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS Imagery Vivid words or phrases used to create images that appeal to one of the five senses Regional Dialect the accurate portrayal of how a person from a particular region actually speaks, evident in purposeful misspellings, grammatical errors, colloquial phrases, inventive punctuation and loose sentence structure Symbolism when an object represents an idea

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS 1. Imagery: Vivid words or phrases used to create images that appeal to one of the five senses Example: The cow stopped long at the brook to drink, as if the pasture were not half a swamp, and Sylvia stood still and waited, letting her bare feet cool themselves in the shoal water, while the great twilight moths struck softly against her. 1. Underline the imagery in the ex. 2. This ex. of imagery appeals to the sense of _________. 3. The purpose of using this example of imagery is …

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS CONT’D 1. Imagery: Vivid words or phrases used to create images that appeal to one of the five senses Example: The cow stopped long at the brook to drink, as if the pasture were not half a swamp, and Sylvia stood still and waited, letting her bare feet cool themselves in the shoal water, while the great twilight moths struck softly against her. 1. Underline the imagery in the ex. 2. This ex. of imagery appeals to the sense of touch. 3. The purpose of using this example of imagery is to detail how delightful it feels to do something as simple as wait for a cow to drink fully.

IMAGERY CONT’D Task: Find two effective visual images and two images that appeal to other senses. List your findings in a chart like the one below, addressing all areas of concern. Imagery Example ( underline the specific diction- [word choice]) LocationSensePurpose “Sylvia could see the white sails of ships out at sea, and the clouds that were purple and rose colored and yellow at first began to fade away.” Last paragraph of page 5 sight Jewett describes the visual beauty of the sunrise. The multi-colored sky is breathtaking against the stark sails of the ships. Anyone who has ever seen a sunrise would be readily able to recall the awesomeness of a scene such as this sight tough hearing

IMAGERY CONT’D Task: Find two effective visual images and two images that appeal to other senses. List your findings in a chart like the one below, addressing all areas of concern. Imagery Example (underline the specific diction-[word choice]) LocationSensePurpose “Sylvia could see the white sails of ships out at sea, and the clouds that were purple and rose colored and yellow at first began to fade away.” Last paragraph of page 5 sight Jewett describes the visual beauty of the sunrise. The multi-colored sky is breathtaking against the stark sails of the ships. Anyone who has ever seen a sunrise would be readily able to recall the awesomeness of a scene such as this “Here she comes now, paler than ever, and her worn old frock is torn and tattered and covered with pine pitch.” Middle of page 6 sight Jewett adds to the suspense of this climatic part of the s.s. by presenting a disheveled Sylvia, the reader has a good “image” of S. and what she just went through. “…the sharp dry twigs caught her and held her and scratched her like angry talons...” use of simile Third paragraph of page 3 touch Jewett provides a very sharp painful image. The reader can readily imagine how painful it must be to climb the tree. “…listening* with a sense of comfort and companionship to the drowsy twitter of a half-awakened bird …” Top of page 5 hearing Jewett assists the reader in feeling the sense of comfort that would accompany waking to the sound of a newly woken bird’s singing.

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS CONT’D 2. Regional Dialect - the accurate portrayal of how a person from a particular region actually speaks, evident in purposeful misspellings, grammatical errors, colloquial phrases, inventive punctuation and loose sentence structure Example: “ ‘Afraid of folks,’ they said! I guess she won't be troubled no great with 'em up to the old place!” 1.Underline two examples of regional dialect within the above sentence from “A White Heron.” 2.Label each example as to what type of regional dialect is being used. 3.Translate each example as to what it should be or really is meant. 4.Explain the purpose of Jewett’s portrayal of old Mrs. Tiley in speaking this way.

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS CONT’D 2. Regional Dialect - the accurate portrayal of how a person from a particular region actually speaks, evident in purposeful misspellings, grammatical errors, colloquial phrases, inventive punctuation and loose sentence structure Example: “ ‘Afraid of folks,’ they said! I guess she won't be troubled no great with 'em up to the old place!” 1.Underline two examples of regional dialect within the above sentence from “A White Heron.” 2.Label each example as to what type of regional dialect is being used. Ex. 1 Grammatical Error Ex. 2 Inventive Punctuation and Spelling 3.Translate each example as to why it is an error, what it should be or really is meant. Double negative with “won’t” (will NOT) and “no” …“Won’t be bothered by” shortening of word, insertion of apostrophe… them 4.Explain the purpose of Jewett’s portrayal of old Mrs. Tiley in speaking this way. Jewett’s purpose is to portray Mrs. Tiley in a manner that reflects her lack of a formal education and local dialect.

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS CONT’D 2. Regional Dialect - the accurate portrayal of how a person from a particular region actually speaks, evident in purposeful misspellings, grammatical errors, colloquial phrases, inventive punctuation and loose sentence structure Task: Find 3 examples of regional dialect within text and list your examples in a chart that replicates the following: LOCATIONLOCATION Regional DialectTypeTranslationPurpose Bottom 2 nd para. on Page 2 “…a good ways." Colloquial Phrase Far away Assists reader in recognizing Sylvia has fully acclimated to the country life.

STYLISTIC COMPONENTS CONT’D 2. Regional Dialect - the accurate portrayal of how a person from a particular region actually speaks, evident in purposeful misspellings, grammatical errors, colloquial phrases, inventive punctuation and loose sentence structure Task: Find 3 examples of regional dialect within text and list your examples in a chart that replicates the following: LOCATIONLOCATION Regional DialectTypeTranslationPurpose Bottom 2 nd para. on Page 2 “…a good ways." Colloquial Phrase Far away Assists reader in recognizing Sylvia has fully acclimated to the country life. 3 rd full paragra ph of page 2 “…and go out gunning early in the morning." Colloquial Phrase Go hunting Helps reader to see that although Stranger is an educated man, he is still a country hunter, using jargon (language specific to a particular group or career). End of 2 nd full para. on page 3 “Dan an' his father they didn't hitch,…” Inventive punctuation Colloquial phrase and Didn’t get along The reader gets a real sense of the personal nature of Mrs. Tiley’s convo.; it’s like she is having a side-bar convo with the Stranger while she is talking to the Stranger.

Symbolism -- when an object represents an idea ItemDescription Most WILL have multiple descriptions LocationSymbolizesWhy Geranium “Everybody said that it was a good change for a little maid who had tried to grow for eight years in a crowded manufacturing town, but, as for Sylvia herself, it seemed as if she never had been alive at all before she came to live at the farm. She thought often with wistful compassion of a wretched geranium that belonged to a town neighbor.” Para. 2 Page 1 Sylvia Nature -It 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…symbolizes nature, wretched in city but would thrive on the farm. Pine Sylvia Ornithologist Heron Jack Knife Task: 1.List descriptions of the items on the left, as many as you can find, skim and scan the entire text. 2.List the location. 3.Determine what each item could symbolize based on the descriptions you have listed. 4.Explain your reasoning as to why you have come to that conclusion Stylistic components cont’d cont’d

Symbolism -- when an object represents an idea ItemDescription Most WILL have multiple descriptions LocationSymbolizesDescribe why you think this Geranium “Everybody said that it was a good change for a little maid who had tried to grow for eight years in a crowded manufacturing town, but, as for Sylvia herself, it seemed as if she never had been alive at all before she came to live at the farm. She thought often with wistful compassion of a wretched geranium that belonged to a town neighbor.” Para. 2, Pg 1Sylvia Nature -It 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…symbolizes nature, wretched in city but would thrive on the farm. Pine “…where the land was highest, a great pine-tree stood, the last of its generation …” “…a boundary mark …” “…stately head of this old pine towered above them all and made a landmark for sea and shore miles and miles away.” “…huge tree asleep …” “…like a great main-mast to the voyaging earth …” “…amazed that morning through all its ponderous frame as it felt this determined spark of human spirit wending its way…” “…stood still and frowned away the winds…” 2 nd to last pg.4 2 ND Para. pg. Para. 4, pg.5 Life Landmark Journey Greater than all, it is great Serves a the way for mankind to follow, to refer back to, to guide as it is a boundary mark or a landmark. Ponderous frame feels man wending its way through life like Sylvia wending through the tree Sylvia “…Sylvia's pale face and shining gray eyes…” "There ain't a foot o' ground she don't know her way over, and the wild creaturs counts her one o' themselves.” “…the childish heart…” “…small and silly Sylvia …” “…the brave, beating heart of the solitary gray-eyed child…” “…Sylvia's face was like a pale star…trembling and tired but wholly triumphant …” Top of page 3 Para. 2, pg. 3 last sent. pg.4 2 nd para., pg. 5 Para. 4, pg. 5 2 nd to last on pg.5 Nature Innocence Mankind Name Sylvia from Latin Sylvan meaning “of the forest” Described as pale multiple times…white …innocence In the entire universe, mankind is small and insignificant but brave and tie in Jewett’s sadness at the fact that nature was being overrun by society and her childhood coastal main was disappearing. mankind should be tied to nature when climbing through life Ornithologist “determined, and somewhat aggressive…the enemy” “…handsome stranger …” “…young sportsman …” “…most kind and sympathetic …” “…so charming and delightful…” Para.2, pg. 2 top pg.4 Para. 2, pg4 Para.3, pg. 4 ” “ SocietyIn direct opposition to Sylvia or nature, described in an unflattering way, enemy, stranger, but then is described as being appealing, almost tempting. He wants to cage nature and needs Sylvia’s help. Society wants to overtake nature and needs mankind’s help. Heron “…very rare ones…” “A queer tall white bird with soft feathers and long thin legs…” “…strange white bird…” “…longed-for white heron was elusive, …” “…wild, light, slender bird …” Para. 4, pge 3 2 nd to last pge 3 Last para., page 3 Para.4, pg. 4 InnocenceAll descriptions of whiteness Jack Knife “…as great a treasure as if she were a desert-islander.”Para. 2 pg. 4Nature killerTool that could end nature

TASK: As a Regionalist writer in “A White Heron,” how does Sarah Orne Jewett convey her purpose? Divulge what the purpose of this short story is, and how Jewett achieves this purpose. You will Discuss the literary elements used, specifically, the use of style and the following components of style: (imagery, regional dialect, and symbolism). Be sure to include multiple examples to support your answer. L.F Analyze, interpret, and evaluate how authors use techniques and elements of fiction to effectively communicate an idea or concept.