Sarah Orne Jewett -- "A White Heron" (1886)

Discussion Questions

1.) Discuss the character of Sylvia / Sylvy. For example, is her name important? How does she change, grow, develop throughout the story? Why does she make the decision she does at the end of the story?

2.) Discuss the setting(s) of the story:

• Places

• Times and Seasons

• Distances and Directions

• Etc.

3.) Discuss the point of view. It is third person, but is it omniscient or limited? Could it have been written in first person? Why or why not?

4.) How is the two-part structure important?

5.) Discuss the plot of the story:

• What constitutes the “rising action”?

• Are there “complications” and/or “turning points”?

• What is the “climax”?

• What constitutes the “falling action”?

• How does the story “resolve”?

6.) How are these things important to the story? What role(s) do they play? Are they symbols?

• The Cow -- "Mistress Moolly"
• Mrs. Tilley
• The Young Man
• The Tree
• The Sea
• The White Heron

7.) What are the various “conflicts” in this story? Or, what are the sources of tension/conflict in this story?

8.) What is/are the theme(s) in this story?

9.) How is this story an example of regionalism? Of local color?

10.) How would a “feminist” literary critic “read” this story?