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  • Essay / The use of literary devices in A White Heron

    In “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett, the adventure of a young heroine is glamorized by exploring the essence of her character before, during and after her symbolic victory over the great, great pine tree. TREE. Sylvia's journey from the bottom to the top of the tree represents her development and struggles as she goes from being a "little and silly" girl to a "pale star", grown up and ready to take on the world . The tree itself is a symbol of a father figure, whose guidance is needed to "scratch her angry claws" and hold her "firmly to prevent her from falling when she seeks protection." For Sylvia, a young girl, it is quite a journey for her to begin exploring the property. It is Jewett's responsibility, in his written work, to embody Sylvia's point of view. By capturing the heroine's rise, the author dramatizes the little girl's magical experience in adult eyes while using diction, imagery, narrative pacing, and point of view to transform the efforts of this young girl on an adventure. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay To make Sylvia's adventure very complete, the author uses images. Jewett makes the story more believable to the audience by illustrating the scenes Sylvia sees. The author uses imagery early in his writing to form a picture of the immense landscape surrounding the tree Sylvia is about to climb. “…The loggers who had cut down his companions had long since died, and a whole forest of sturdy trees, pines, oaks and maples, had grown back. But the majestic head of this old pine towered above them all and was a landmark for the sea and the shore for miles and miles away... The huge tree was still sleeping in the pale moonlight, and the small, silly Sylvia began with the greatest bravery to climb to the top...". First, the audience sees the reality regarding Sylvia and the pine tree. However, we can also guess the volume and size of the pine. Realizing that this tree was the largest tree Sylvia had ever heard of and that it was visible from the sea, it brought a sense of risk and anticipation to the scene. Having good syntax tends to express the effect this experience has on Sylvia. The choice of words is the secret of any literary work. In this scenario, diction is often used to illustrate how true everything seems, not only to the writer, but also to Sylvia. Even if the literal representation of the story is the narrator, using strong descriptive terms will seem realistic to the audience. Jewett uses diction, as well as imagery, to dramatize the story. His choice of words exaggerates the story. She says: “She finally crept along the swaying oak branch and took a bold step into the old pine.” The words “creep,” “swing,” and “bold” add to the excitement of the event. Using these phrases, Sylvia addresses the threat of climbing an oak tree. Jewett continues to write: "Sylvia's face was like a pale star, if seen from the ground, when the last thorny branch had passed, and she stood trembling and weary but utterly triumphant, high in the treetop. the tree”. The terms "pale star", "trembling", "tired" and "totally triumphant" accentuate Sylvia's struggle in her adventure, as well as her success. Jewett's diction worked extremely well to enhance Sylvia's adventure. Jewett drew a narrative of Sylvia's discovery and made it more meaningful by incorporating symbolism and using diction to its benefit. The imagination has.