Background

• The Scarlet Ibis

Background

– Author

– Publication

– Influence

• James Hurst

• published in the July

1960

• "The Scarlet Ibis" was

the first and only work

of Hurst's to achieve

widespread success.

• The Scarlet Ibis

Background, Con’t:

– The Bird Itself

• Native of the South

American tropics

• The scarlet ibis is vivid

red, but loses its color if it

doesn’t eat the proper

diet

• It needs a particular

habitat in order to thrive

• The scarlet ibis is an

endangered species

which has not bred

successfully in its natural

habitat since the 1960s.

• The Scarlet Ibis Background, Con’t:– The Story

• Explores the conflicts between love and pride and draws attention to the effects of familial and societal expectations on those who are handicapped.

• Draws a powerful symbolic connection between the handicapped child Doodle and the beautiful and rare Scarlet Ibis

• Overview

– Plot at a Glance• The story focuses on

the troubled relationship between two young boys: the narrator and his mentally and physically disabled brother, Doodle.

• His brother wishes he had a normal functioning brother and sometimes even has dark thoughts about murdering him

• Overview

– Plot at a Glance• Motivated by a smile

Doodle give his brother,

however, Brother decides

to teach Doodle how to

walk along with other

skills a normal boy would

possess

• With his brother

pushing him perhaps

too hard to be

something he is not,

Doodle’s health

begins to decline.

Literary Focus

• Literary Focus

– Symbols

• The Scarlet Ibis

• Connections Between The

Scarlet Ibis and Doodle

• In the course of the story, Doodle becomes symbolically identified with a rare and beautiful Scarlet Ibis

1a.The Scarlet ibis, an exotic bird that does not belong in the narrator's region, land in their backyard

1b.Doodle is forced to do things that he should not have to try to do and is forced out of his element

2a.The red bird falls from the tree it is in, and lands dead at the feet of Doodle’s family

2b.Forces of out of his element Doodle loses his color (as a Scarlet Ibis would) and his health declines

The shaded area of the

map highlights the region

populated by the Scarlet

Ibis

• Symbols, Con’t:

• Coffin and Go-Cart

• Weather

• Representative of both

the expectations of

Doodle’s family and

Doodle’s ability to

overcome those

expectations (that he is

going to die as an infant

and that he will never

walk)

• Reflects the mood of the

story—the weather often

mirrors if good or bad

things are happening in

the story

• Literary Focus

– Themes and Conflicts

• Love

• Pride

• Disabilities

• Expectations and

Limitations

• Brotherly Love

• Beauty Found in the

Unique

• Age and Experience

• Literary Focus

– Foreshadowing

• Hurst frequently uses

foreshadowing to suggest

an upcoming event.

• In “The Scarlet Ibis” this

most clearly used to hint

at death coming:

– Doctor's warning about

Doodle's weak heart, to

foreshadow the death of

Doodle

– The changing of seasons

being described in terms of

“death” and rebirth

• Literary Focus

– Point of View

• Literary Focus

– Irony

• The story is told as a first-person reminiscence by Brother

• This is noteworthy because Brother is looking back on events from his childhood with the maturity of an adult.

• The narration is would suggest that the story would be told with sympathy for Brother, but because of the honesty of the narrative, Doodle is the more sympathetic character

• Furthermore, Brother’s attempts to help Doodle are ultimately harmful to him

Characters

• Characters

– Doodle

• Mentally and physically retarded

• Doodle is a disappointment to his family, especially to Brother

• Everyone expects Doodle to die, but he defies them all and survives, becoming a loving boy with a strong attachment to Brother

• Characters– Brother

• He is not given a name but is referred to by Doodle, his brother, only as "Brother."

• Brother grows ashamed of Doodle's limitations and regularly taunts him

• Brother loves Doodle, but the love is tainted with cruelty and embarrassment.

Questions and Response

Critical Thinking: Scarlet Ibis 1. Early in the story Brother remembers seeing the Ibis for the

first time. Highlight the descriptions around the bird that

foreshadowed how it's arrival is symbolic of death.

– Starter: The Ibis is connected strongly with death early in

the story because...

2. Use descriptions from the story to highlight details that show

that Doodle and the Ibis are symbolically connected.

– Starter: Doodle is physically similar to a bird in that he...

3. How does Doodle mirrors the delicate nature of the rare bird?

– Starter: Like a rare bird, Doodle is...

4. How does Doodle’s death mirror that of the bird?

– Starter: Doodle's death symbolically connects him to the

Scarlet Ibis because...

Introduction & Body Paragraph Test

• Pick a thesis statement from below. Build your written response around the thesis statement you have chosen.

• Here are your list of thesis statements for the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”

The story’s appeal is connected to its rich use of symbolism.

The story creates a symbolic connection that foreshadows the sad ending.

The author’s use of symbolism makes the sad ending more impactful.

The biting reality of the relationships explored in the story makes it more impactful.

Well placed symbols are used within the story to reinforce the theme of accepting people for themselves.

The use of symbols within the story helps shape for the audience a clearer picture of the story’s message.