"the woman's heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely thrilled by a dream of love..."See in text(Part I)
“Vaguely” means uncertainly or in a way that is faint or unclear. Although Sylvia is still a child, she experiences the first stirrings of romantic feelings for someone, specifically the young hunter. “Woman’s heart” is an implied metaphor for a woman’s emotions, especially those of love; it is personified as sleeping within Sylvia.
"where the sunshine always seemed strangely yellow and hot, where tall, nodding rushes grew, and her grandmother had warned her that she might sink in the soft black mud..."See in text(Part I)
The passage includes numerous examples of imagery, writing that appeals to the senses. The imagery is mostly visual as it appeals to the sense of sight: “yellow” sunshine, “tall, nodding rushes,” and “black mud”). The sunshine’s seeming “hot” and the mud’s being “soft” appeal to the sense of touch or tactile feeling. The image of sinking in the mud is an example of kinesthetic imagery in that it appeals to the sense of movement.
"I never wanted for pa'tridges or gray squer'ls while he was to home...."See in text(Part I)
In another example of vernacular style, “pa’tridges” refers to partridges, a type of game bird also called quail; “squer’ls” is Mrs. Tilley’s pronunciation of “squirrels.” The expression “to home” means “at home.” Mrs. Tilley’s speech will continue to reflect Jewett’s use of vernacular style in the story.
"it seemed like a hermitage..."See in text(Part I)
A hermitage is the home of a hermit, someone who lives in solitude apart from the world; a hermitage by definition is usually small and remote. Describing Mrs. Tilley’s house with a simile that compares it to a hermitage emphasizes the small size of the house and its isolated location.
“Ma’sh” is Mrs. Tilley’s pronunciation of the word “marsh,” which refers to an area of low-lying land, often near the sea, that remains wet throughout the year. Jewett writes in vernacular style, spelling words to reproduce a character’s regional dialect or way of speaking.
"whose long slumbering hospitality seemed to be easily awakened..."See in text(Part I)
“Hospitality” refers to extending a friendly and generous reception to visitors or strangers. Mrs. Tilley’s hospitality is personified as having been asleep and is now awake. The personification suggests that it is unusual for someone to come to Mrs. Tilley’s home at the farm.
"she hung her head as if the stem of it were broken..."See in text(Part I)
Sylvia is described with a simile, comparing her to a flower with a broken stem that cannot hold up the flower’s blossom. The simile underscores Sylvia’s timid nature in dealing with people other than her grandmother.
"Mrs. Tilley had chased the hornéd torment..."See in text(Part I)
Sylvia’s grandmother is now identified by her name: Mrs. Tilley. “[T]he horned torment” is an implied metaphor that describes Mistress Moolly, emphasizing her traits that “torment” her owners. In regard to Mistress Moolly, to torment means to cause worry, trouble, or distress.
The visual image of “golden air” recalls the previous description of the “golden dazzle” of light upon the sea, again emphasizing the beauty of the natural world Sylvia experienced at the top of the towering pine.
"and goes back like an arrow presently to his home..."See in text(Part II)
The passage describes the white heron’s return to its nest with a simile, comparing it to an arrow in flight. The simile suggests that the heron suddenly and quickly drops to its nest, much like an arrow speeds to its target.
“Bewildering” means difficult to comprehend. The sun’s being “bewilderingly bright” suggests that the brightness of the sun is astounding. Also, the repetition of the “B” sound in “bewilderingly bright” is an example of alliteration; it draws attention to the description of the sun, further emphasizing its brightness.
"there was the sea with the dawning sun making a golden dazzle over it..."See in text(Part II)
The sea is described through visual images. The sun is beginning to rise, and there is a “golden dazzle” over the sea, suggesting light illuminating the surface of the ocean. The word “golden” has connotations of great beauty.
"Sylvia's face was like a pale star..."See in text(Part II)
Sylvia’s face is described with a simile, comparing it to a pale star. Also, the physical point of view has changed, as Sylvia is now viewed from the ground, looking up.
"The old pine must have loved his new dependent...."See in text(Part II)
The tree is described again through personification, giving it the human trait of feeling love and a sense of responsibility for Sylvia, “his new dependent.”
"It was like a great main-mast to the voyaging earth; it must truly have been amazed..."See in text(Part II)
A mast is a tall vertical pole that rises from the center of a sailing ship and holds the sails that catch the wind to power the ship. A mainmast is usually the tallest mast on a ship that has several masts. The great pine tree is described with a simile, comparing it to the mainmast on a sailing ship. “The voyaging earth” is an implied metaphor comparing the earth to a ship at sea. The tree is also described through personification, giving it the human ability to feel amazed.
"the sharp dry twigs caught and held her and scratched her like angry talons..."See in text(Part II)
The twigs are described with a simile, comparing them to the talons or claws of a bird of prey. The talons are personified by describing them as angry, a human emotion.
"and scolded pettishly at the harmless housebreaker...."See in text(Part II)
“Pettishly” means in a way that shows worry or irritation. The “harmless housebreaker” refers to Sylvia as she is climbing the tree. The “house” that Sylvia is breaking into is a metaphor for the tree, which is the squirrel’s home.
The tree is described with an implied metaphor, comparing it to a “monstrous ladder” that Sylvia climbs. “Monstrous” emphasizes the huge size and tremendous height of the tree, while also suggesting that it is dangerous to climb.
"that pinched and held like bird's claws..."See in text(Part II)
Sylvia’s feet and fingers are described with a simile, comparing them to the claws of a bird. The description emphasizes the difficulty of climbing to the top of the tree.
"There was the huge tree asleep yet in the paling moonlight..."See in text(Part II)
The towering pine tree is personified as sleeping in the moonlight, which is growing pale as dawn approaches. The image is one of peace, silence, and solitude.
"The short summer night seemed as long as the winter darkness..."See in text(Part II)
The summer night, which brief in duration, is described with a simile that compares it to a winter night, which is dark for a much longer period of time. The simile suggests that time passes very slowly for Sylvia as she anticipates climbing the pine tree at sunrise and discovering the location of the white heron’s nest.
