Question

Birds are a recurring motif in "A White Heron." Explain the significance of birds (both birds in general, and the white heron specifically) in this story.

Answer 1

Answer:

The birds:  They represent the respect that Sylvia has for nature, she knows its value is worth more than money.

The white heron:. The damage that society was doing to nature.

Man vs Nature

It can also symbolize many things, depending on what you think the theme of the story is

Explanation:

In a literary piece, a motif is a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme, while a theme is a central idea or message.

The story is about a young girl whose innocence is exposed to temptation from the outside world, when her developing interest in the opposite sex is used to seduce her into betraying the natural world to which she belongs.