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.

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)

SYMBOLISM

3. Sylvia’s journey to the top of the pine tree symbolizes her journey of maturitya. 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.

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”

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.