The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst

Introducing the Story

Literary Focus: Symbols and Theme

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Reading Focus: Analyzing Details

Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

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The Scarlet Ibisby James Hurst

What might be learned from a relationship or encounter with someone who is different from us?

Click on the title to start the video.

The Scarlet Ibis Introducing the Story

The Scarlet IbisIntroducing the Story

I thought myself pretty smart at many things. . .

The Scarlet IbisIntroducing the Story

The narrator of “The Scarlet Ibis” describes his life with Doodle, his physically disabled brother.

When the narrator decides that Doodle will learn to walk—and perhaps run—

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he may be in for a painful lesson about life:

I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.

—from “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

A symbol is an object, person, animal, or event that we often associate with other concepts.

Symbols are all around us in our everyday lives.

Their special meanings often have been handed down over time.

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

A writer might take an object or event and make it stand for some human concern.

In literature, the use of symbols adds deeper levels of meaning to a work.

A symbol might even be associated with a particular character, like that magic lamp and Aladdin.

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

Symbols speak to the reader’s emotions and imagination. They make stories memorable.

In “The Scarlet Ibis,” you’ll notice associations—and similarities—between a character and a bird.

Pay attention to how the author uses the symbolic connection between that character and the bird.

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

The symbolism can help deepen your understanding of the character.

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

Writers also reveal their thoughts and feelings about a subject in the work’s theme. The theme

is its central idea. is not usually stated directly.

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

Because theme is not usually stated directly, you should consider all of the work’s elements. Then, make an educated guess about its theme.

setting

characters

plot

symbolsTheme

The Scarlet IbisLiterary Focus: Symbols and Theme

Read the following. What clues can you find that suggest a theme about life renewing itself?

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Mr. Day held his tiny new grandbaby in his wrinkled hands. Outside the window of his hospital room, the gray of winter was broken by the first flowers of spring peeking up from the ground.

Mr. Day stroked the baby’s blanket, the same one in which he’d wrapped his own son thirty years ago.

Mr. Day held his tiny new grandbaby in his wrinkled hands. Outside the window of his hospital room, the gray of winter was broken by the first flowers of spring peeking up from the ground.

Mr. Day stroked the baby’s blanket, the same one in which he’d wrapped his own son thirty years ago.

Mr. Day held his tiny new grandson in his wrinkled hands. Outside the window of his hospital room, the gray of winter was broken by the first flowers of spring peeking up from the ground.

Mr. Day stroked the baby’s blanket, the same one in which he’d wrapped his own son thirty years ago.

Mr. Day held his tiny new grandson in his wrinkled hands. Outside the window of his hospital room, the gray of winter was broken by the first flowers of spring peeking up from the ground.

Mr. Day stroked the baby’s blanket, the same one in which he’d wrapped his own son thirty years ago.

The side-by-side descriptions of hands suggests a connection between young and old.

The description of the change from winter to spring shows a natural renewal of life.

Symbolically, the blanket links the lives of grandfather, son, and grandson in renewal.

The Scarlet Ibis Reading Focus: Analyzing Details

As you read, pay attention to the details that the author shares.

character, plot, and setting

can develop more meaning as you read further.

Details about

Listen to this excerpt from “The Scarlet Ibis.”

What are some of the details included in the description?

What larger meaning might they suggest?

The Scarlet Ibis Reading Focus: Analyzing Details

Into Action: Use a chart to record details and see what larger meanings they might point to.

The Scarlet IbisReading Focus: Analyzing Details

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Into Action: Detail Chart

Summer was dead; autumn not yet born

Nature might mirror human experience—birth and death

Story Details Larger Meanings

Graveyard flowers are blooming Despite death, life goes on

Find It in Your Reading

The Scarlet Ibis Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

Dialogue not only helps move a story along, but also reveals the essence of the story’s characters.

As you read, note passages of dialogue that reveal information about characters.

“Aw, come on, Doodle,” I urged, “you can do it. Do you want to be different from everybody else when you start school?”

“Does it make any difference?”

“It certainly does,” I said. “Now, come on,” and I helped him up.

Vocabulary

The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary

imminent adj.: near; about to happen.

infallibility n.: inability to make a mistake.

reiterated v.: repeated.

iridescent adj.: rainbowlike; displaying a shifting range of colors.

mar v.: damage; spoil.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

The word imminent often describes an undesirable event that is about to happen.

After being caught unprepared for his part of the group’s presentation, Will knew that disaster was imminent.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

What imminent event is suggested by the picture above?

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

The photograph suggests that the man faces an imminent fall.

He is about to land on the sidewalk.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Iridescent describes the rainbowlike shimmer seen on things like oil-slicked puddles and dragonfly wings.

What are some other examples of things that appear iridescent?

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Which of the birds below has iridescent feathers?

peacock eagle cardinal

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Which of the birds below has iridescent feathers?

peacock eagle cardinal

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

The word infallibility consists of three parts

in-

prefix meaning

not

+

fallible

capable of making an

error

-ity

suffix used to show a

condition

+

Small children are often impressed with the seeming infallibility of adults.

They think that adults never make mistakes.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Karen prides herself on her perfection.

Which of the following is NOT an example of Karen’s infallibility?

a. She scored 100% on her math test.

b. She received applause for her violin solo.

c. She woke up late for work.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Karen prides herself on her perfection.

Which of the following is NOT an example of Karen’s infallibility?

a. She scored 100% on her math test.

b. She received applause for her violin solo.

c. She woke up late for work.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Mr. Evans had just reiterated his policy against using cell phones during class.

When he saw Alice sending a text message, he threw his hands up and stared at the ceiling.

Why is Mr. Evans frustrated by Alice’s behavior?

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Mr. Evans is angry because he had just reiterated the rule, yet Alice had broken it.

Mr. Evans is getting tired of repeating himself.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

The word mar suggests that something has caused physical damage.

Tomato sauce had marred Millie’s white gown.

That spill forever marred Millie’s memories of her wedding day.

Mar also may suggest a less tangible sort of destruction.

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Josh was ashamed by his yearbook photo, though there was only a slight blemish to mar his otherwise perfect face.

Which of the following is the best substitute for the word mar?

a. embellish

b. tarnish

c. decorate

The Scarlet IbisVocabulary

Josh was ashamed by his yearbook photo, though there was only a slight blemish to mar his otherwise perfect face.

Which of the following is the best substitute for the word mar?

a. embellish

b. tarnish

c. decorate

The End