A White Heron
by Sarah Orne Jewett

A White Heron: Genre 1 key example

Key Examples in A White Heron

Part I
Explanation and Analysis:

“A White Heron” is a short story that, in some ways, belongs to the category of Realism and, in other ways, could be categorized as Romanticism. While the inclusion of the effects of industrialization on 19th century New England society makes this story a Realist one, the ways in which Jewett captures the majesty of nature render it Romantic. Jewett intentionally veers away from capturing the messy or challenging aspects of living a more primitive life in the countryside and instead paints a picture of the ease and beauty of pastoral life, while contrasting it with the viciousness of urbanity. This comes across in passages like the following, in which Jewett contrasts Sylvia’s current experience living in the country and previous experience living in the city:

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.