Background of the Story - William Saroyan was an Armenian-American writer known for his simple yet deeply emotional stories about humanity, kindness, and hope. The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter reflects his belief in compassion and the dignity of all living beings. The story is set in Fresno , where Saroyan himself spent much of his life. Summary in Points The speaker lives in Fresno, California. His elderly neighbour Dikran is famous for his beautiful garden. One freezing winter day, Dikran finds a weak hummingbird in the street. The bird appears close to death because hummingbirds usually survive only in warm weather. Dikran gently warms the bird with his breath and takes it home. He and the speaker prepare warm honey for the bird. Slowly, the hummingbird regains strength and starts flying around the kitchen. When it becomes restless, Dikran asks the speaker to open the window. The bird flies away into the open air. The next summer, the speaker won...
The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter by William Saroyan The Hummingbird that Lived through Winter by William Saroyan narrates the adventures of a little hummingbird that is unable to move to a warmer place and gets stuck in Fresno, California during its harsh winter. It also tells us about the efforts and struggles of the speaker and his elderly neighbour, Dikran to revive the little bird. The speaker lived in a neighbourhood in Fresno, California and across the street lived his old neighbour, Dikran. Dikran was over eighty years old and had poor eyesight. He lived with his wife and was known for his extraordinary garden, filled with various plants, bushes, and trees that thrived in the rich, dark soil, attracting a variety of birds and other flying creatures. On an extremely cold Sunday, right in the middle of winter, the speaker saw Dikran standing in the middle of the street with something in his hand. It was a hummingbird—a beautiful bird of the summer. The speaker ...