Sylvia Sylvy's The Climb

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The Climb
“There was the huge tree asleep yet in the paling moonlight, and small and silly Sylvia began with utmost bravery to mount to the top of it, with tingling, eager blood coursing the channels of her whole frame, with her bare feet and fingers that pinched and held like bird’s claws to the monstrous ladder reaching up, up, almost to the sky itself.” (page 1603) Sylvia was not a normal nine-year-old girl, she did not dream of friends, and weddings, or princes and true love, no Sylvy lived, dreamed, and breathed nature. She had a connection to the woods, and all of the creatures living within it, and during the story is presented with a task and choice; remain loyal to woods she knew or betray for a very valuable reward.
Sylvy lives with …show more content…

So with this knowledge Sylvy sneaks out of bed and makes her journey up the tree. Sylvia’s voyage up the tree was not an easy one, she had to trust herself and the tree. “ The way was harder than she thought; she must reach far and hold fast”, it was as if the tree was on her side, “who knows how steadily the least twigs held themselves to advantage this light, weak creature on her way!” ( page 1602) Once at the top, "wholly triumphant," she sees the sea for the first time, "with the dawning sun making a golden dazzle over it." ( page 1602) And then she holds still, not making a sound, for she has spotted the "solemn" white heron “perched on a pine bough not far beyond” hers. She watches the white creature descend back down ‘to his home in the green world beneath" ( page 1603). This moment is very significant for Sylvy because, during her voyage up the tree, she has become one with the tree. It has shown her the secrets of its woods below and entrusted her with them. Sylvy has the information needed to please the hunter and receive the ten dollars for her grandmother, this creates a choice for Sylvy; will she betray the trust of the friend she knows well, or keep the Heron’s secret and send the hunter on his way. “But Sylvia does not speak after all,

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