Student Question

What is the dialogue in "A White Heron"?

Quick answer:

The dialogue in "A White Heron" includes direct exchanges between characters, such as Sylvia's grandmother and a stranger, as well as the narrator addressing the reader and Sylvia herself. This narrative technique provides multiple perspectives, enhancing the story's depth and interpretation. Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia's grandmother, speaks in a manner reflective of the rural setting, contributing to the story's local color. An omniscient narrator weaves these voices together to enrich the storytelling.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Direct dialogue exists in the story between the stranger and Sylvia’s grandmother, but also we encounter direct speech from the narrator to the reader,

 Bring your gifts and graces and tell your secrets to this lonely country child!

  and even to Sylvia herself-

 look down again, Sylvia

This range of perspectives has been highlighted by some as confusing, but by others as an effective way of portraying the levels of interpretation of the actions and events of the story. We see the simple language of Mrs Tilley, Sylvia’s grandmother, as evocative of the setting of the story in terms of place and time-

There ain’t a foot o’ ground she don’t know her way over,

And it is such details which make the text an extremely effective and evocative piece of local color writing.

The story is narrated by an omniscient third person, but the story is told by each of the voices: that of Mrs Tilley, the narrator and Nature itself.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial