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Vocabulary in A White Heron

Vocabulary Examples in A White Heron:

Part I

🔒 17

"the woman's heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely thrilled by a dream of love..."   (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.

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"a jack-knife..."   (Part I)

A jackknife is a small knife with a folding blade. Sylvia’s thinking of it as a treasure suggests that she has few personal possessions.

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"a white heron..."   (Part I)

A white heron is a bird distinguished by its soft white feathers; long, thin legs; long, sharp bill; and broad wingspan. White herons usually live in temperate southern climates, but those in the north migrate south during cold weather. They nest in tall trees near lakes or wetlands.

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"the ornithologist..."   (Part I)

An ornithologist is a person who studies or is an expert on birds. The hunter’s interest in birds is scientific, unlike Sylvia’s relationship with them.

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"demure..."   (Part I)

“Demure” means reserved, modest, and quiet.

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"they didn't hitch..."   (Part I)

“Didn’t hitch” means they didn’t get along with each other.

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"the jay-birds to bangeing here..."   (Part I)

“Jaybirds” are blue jays, birds that are predominantly blue with a white chest and a black ring about the neck; they are sometimes aggressive toward other birds. The word “bangeing” means loitering or gathering around.

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"a plaguy thing..."   (Part I)

“Plaguy” means annoying or troublesome.

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"the old woman's quaint talk..."   (Part I)

In context, “quaint” means unusual in an old-fashioned way; “quaint talk” refers to Mrs. Tilley’s vocabulary and pronunciations of words.

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"it seemed like a hermitage..."   (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.

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"the ma'sh...."   (Part I)

“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.

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"whose long slumbering hospitality seemed to be easily awakened..."   (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.

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"discreetly..."   (Part I)

“Discreetly” means acting in way that avoids drawing attention; it suggests the desire to keep one’s actions unnoticed. Sylvia’s hiding from whoever had whistled indicates her timid and shy nature.

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"Mrs. Tilley had chased the hornéd torment..."   (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.

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"Sylvia..."   (Part I)

The little girl previously referenced in the story is now identified by her name, Sylvia. “Sylvia” is an appropriate name for her since the word “sylvan” is defined as someone who spends time in the woods.

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"huckleberry..."   (Part I)

A huckleberry bush is a “perennial” plant, meaning that it lives for more than one growing season; it is often found in the countryside and produces berries similar to blueberries.

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"a plodding, dilatory, provoking creature in her behavior, but a valued companion for all that..."   (Part I)

“Plodding” means slow-moving; “dilatory” means being slow to act in order to cause delay. “Provoking” is defined as being irritating and causing annoyance. The cow’s being a “valued companion,” despite having these negative traits, suggests that the little girl might have no other companions; it also suggests her love of animals, which will play an important role in the story.

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"haunting..."   (Part II)

As the word is used here, it means the persistent presence of a sound Sylvia remembers and indicates that she is unable to forget the hunter, whom she misses very much.

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"dumb..."   (Part II)

“Dumb” was used in the past to mean unable to speak; it is now unacceptable to use the word in that way.

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"fretfully rebukes..."   (Part II)

To rebuke means to scold or express strong disapproval. Sylvia’s grandmother’s rebuking her “fretfully” suggests that Mrs. Tilley feels upset and distressed.

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"her lamed feet..."   (Part II)

“Lamed” is used here to mean injured or wounded. The condition of Sylvia’s feet illustrates the physical toll of having climbed the tree.

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"perilous..."   (Part II)

“Perilous” means dangerous. Sylvia’s descending from the top of the pine tree is as dangerous as her ascent had been.

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"bewilderingly bright..."   (Part II)

“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.

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"pinions..."   (Part II)

“Pinions” refers to the feathered wings of a bird.

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"pitch..."   (Part II)

As the word is used here, “pitch” is a semi-solid secretion similar to sap that oozes from pine trees and adheres to the bark.

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"chafed..."   (Part II)

“Chafed” means rubbed against.

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"and scolded pettishly at the harmless housebreaker...."   (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.

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"but Sylvia's great design kept her broad awake..."   (Part II)

Sylvia’s “great design” is her plan to climb the towering pine tree in the forest at dawn so as to discover the location of the white heron’s nest. “Broad awake” means wide awake.

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"the whippoorwills..."   (Part II)

A whippoorwill is a medium-sized song bird that is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. The whippoorwill’s song sounds like its name: whip poor will. The whippoorwills’ gathering and singing on the step of Sylvia’s house again suggests her close relationship with nature.

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