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Class 7: Unit-12: The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter (Only For Reading & Discussion)

 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 saw that the bird was in a very rather pathetic state for it looked extremely ill and it seemed that it would die anytime. On hearing this, Dikran lifted his palm to his mouth and blew his warm breath on it. He then took the bird to his home and with the help of the speaker, warmed some honey and gave it to the bird. The comfort of the room, the vapour of the warm honey and the love and dedication of the old man had permeated a new life in the little bird. Dikran could feel the change in the bird in his hand and after some time, the bird began taking the honey in little amounts. Dikran was confident that the bird would live and just like he had thought, the transformation of the bird was astounding and beautiful.

Dikran kept his hand open and in no time did the bird shoot upward and suspended itself in the air. It then moved about in the kitchen, went towards the window and came back to the heat. It was as if summer had arrived and the bird was enjoying to its heart’s content. The speaker described the bird’s new life as magnificent. Dikran asked about its progress and if it showed signs of weakening again or if it was becoming restless. The speaker kept describing its actions to the old man. When the bird became restless, Dikran asked the speaker to open the window and let the bird out. As he opened the window, the hummingbird twitched and quivered around the area near the open window and a few minutes later disappeared in the open.

Dikran believed and claimed that the hummingbird ultimately survived but the speaker was not entirely sure. The following summer, when he saw a host of hummingbirds again, he could not distinguish one from the other. On a summer day, the speaker went on to ask Dikran if the little hummingbird they saved last winter had survived or not. 

Dikran asked him to look around him and tell him what he saw. The speaker said that he saw hummingbirds to which the old man replied that every one of these birds was their bird. He saw the little bird which they had saved in every hummingbird that was around him.

 This heartwarming story showcases the deeply kind and caring nature of Dikran and his love for all things living. The hummingbird, either because of its inability or its choice to move to warmer place, becomes a victim of a harsh winter in Fresno. Dikran does not give up on the bird and takes it upon himself to breathe new life into the bird. He is successful in reviving the bird and sending it back into nature. In spite of the speaker’s hesitation and doubts, he learns a valuable lesson on kindness, compassion, optimism, and hope from Dikran.

Detailed Summary in Points of “The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter”

  1. The story is written by William Saroyan and is set in Fresno, California during winter.

  2. The narrator lived in a neighbourhood where his elderly neighbour, Dikran, stayed across the street with his wife.

  3. Dikran was more than eighty years old and had weak eyesight, but he was famous for his beautiful garden.

  4. His garden was filled with trees, plants, bushes, and rich dark soil that attracted many birds and insects.

  5. One extremely cold Sunday in winter, the narrator saw Dikran standing in the middle of the street holding something carefully in his hand.

  6. When the narrator went closer, he discovered that Dikran was holding a tiny hummingbird.

  7. Hummingbirds are usually summer birds and are not expected to survive harsh winters.

  8. The bird looked weak, frozen, and close to death because of the severe cold weather.

  9. Dikran felt deep sympathy for the bird and immediately tried to warm it by blowing his warm breath gently into his hands.

  10. He carried the bird inside his house with great care and concern.

  11. Dikran and the narrator warmed some honey to feed the bird and help it regain energy.

  12. The warmth of the room, the vapour from the honey, and Dikran’s kindness slowly began reviving the bird.

  13. After some time, the hummingbird started drinking tiny drops of honey.

  14. Dikran became hopeful and confidently declared that the bird would survive.

  15. Gradually, the hummingbird regained its strength and became active again.

  16. The transformation of the bird amazed the narrator because it looked lively and energetic once more.

  17. Dikran kept his hand open, and suddenly the bird flew upward and hovered in the air.

  18. It moved around the kitchen happily, flew near the window, and returned to the warmth inside the house.

  19. The narrator described the bird’s movements as beautiful and magnificent, almost like the arrival of summer in winter.

  20. Dikran continuously asked the narrator about the bird’s condition and behaviour because his eyesight was poor.

  21. After some time, the bird became restless and eager to fly freely outside.

  22. Understanding the bird’s desire for freedom, Dikran asked the narrator to open the window.

  23. The hummingbird fluttered near the open window for a few moments and then finally flew away into the open sky.

  24. Dikran strongly believed that the bird survived and continued living happily in nature.

  25. However, the narrator was unsure whether the little bird could truly survive the cold winter outside.

  26. The following summer, many hummingbirds returned to the neighbourhood again.

  27. The narrator asked Dikran whether he thought the same bird they had saved during winter had survived.

  28. Dikran replied wisely that every hummingbird around them was “their bird.”

  29. Through this statement, Dikran expressed his deep love and connection with all living creatures.

  30. The story highlights Dikran’s kindness, compassion, patience, optimism, and respect for nature.

  31. The narrator also learns an important lesson about hope, humanity, and caring for even the smallest living beings.

  32. The hummingbird becomes a symbol of hope, survival, and the healing power of love and compassion.

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