Find a summary of "A White Heron" with analysis and a review of the symbolism evident in the book. I even threw in some lesson ideas.

The halls were already filled with students one February morning, just before seven o'clock, though a bright sunrise still glimmered faintly among the trunks of the cars in the student lot. A little girl was driving in her Chevy, a plodding, dilatory, provoking vehicle in its behavior, but a valued companion for all that. They were going away from whatever light there was, and striking deep into the lot, but their tires were familiar with the path, and it was no matter whether their eyes could see it or not.

That's when she plowed into my new BMW that I foolishly decided to park in the student lot. Traumatized, I called in a sub and threw together some "White Heron" lesson ideas that included "A White Heron" summary, "A White Heron" analysis, and "A White Heron" symbolism.

I now share it with you.

The following assignments cover the following ELA common core standards for reading and writing.  This is for your administrator, not your kids.  Kids need student-friendly worded objectives.

1. RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
2. RL.9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
3. RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
4. RL.9-10.5 Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
5. W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

I know--you read this story two years ago and don't quite remember everything. You have 167 essays to grade and don't have time to read it again. You don't need to feel guilty for reading this "White Heron" summary.

Sylvia lives on a farm. She hadn't always lived on a farm. She used to live in the city. She prefers the farm and its solitude and all the birds and animals. Sylvia's in charge of milking a pesky, wandering cow. One day as she walks the cow back home, she hears a whistle. The whistle belongs to a hunter, carrying a gun, searching for rare birds to kill and stuff.

The hunter offers Sylvia $10 if she can help him find a white heron. Silvia dreams of the many things she could buy with $10 (your governor will give you that much to buy textbooks next year, for example (the previous comment is commentary and not an actual part of "A White Heron" summary)). Sylvia also takes a liking to the charming hunter and seeks to gain favor in his sight.

Sylvia awakes early one morning and climbs the tallest tree in the forest in order to locate the heron's nest. Her quest is successful. Upon her return, however, she does not reveal the bird's location. Later in life, Sylvia contemplates what she gave up that day. The narrator pleads with nature to reward Sylvia's sacrifice by revealing its secret.

Enhance you class discussion of the story with "A White Heron" analysis and "White Heron" symbolism.

Environmentalism - This story was written long before the environmental movement took hold, but it certainly embraces environmentalist ideas. It also embodies Romantic ideals of nature and individualism.

Gender Issues - It's no coincidence that Sylvia, the grandmother, and the cow are all females living a peaceful rural life when interrupted by the male hunter.

Internal Conflict - The main conflict in "A White Heron" focuses on Sylvia's internal battle of whether or not to reveal the location of the white heron.

External Conflict - The story's rural setting is set up against the urban setting from which the hunter comes.

Romanticism and Realism - "A White Heron" embodies two contradictory literary schools--Romanticism and Realism. The story shares Romantic ideals, the importance of nature and the individual, yet its style, use of details, realistic settings, and realistic people exemplifies Realism.

The color white--the color of the heron--represents the purity of rural life.

The tall tree in the forest that Sylvia climbs symbolizes clarity of thought. It is from her lofty perch that Sylvia sees all and from this lofty perch that Sylvia realizes the heron's life is more valuable than $10.

The geranium that stands out in the city setting, but belongs in a rural setting symbolizes Sylvia, who belongs in nature. It also represents the suffocating nature of the city in comparison to the farm. The name Sylvia comes from the same root as sylvan, which is a spirit that frequents or lives in the woods.

The hunter symbolizes the intrusion of civilization and technology--a common element of Romanticism.

I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. Instead I'll provide links (in addition to the ones on Romanticism and Realism above) to lessons that may be beneficial in teaching "A White Heron":

1. Try this symbolism lesson plan or ideas from these short stories for teaching symbolism.
   
2. Take a look at these lesson ideas and short stories for teaching conflict.

Teaching the Reading Literature Common Core Standards are easy with short stories.

• The Black Cat
• The Cask of Amontillado
• The Masque of the Red Death
• The Necklace
• The Most Dangerous Game
• The Interlopers
• The Gift of the Magi
• An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
• A White Heron