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Page 1: Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst  10/06/the-scarlet-ibis-unabridged/  10/06/the-scarlet-ibis-unabridged

Scarlet IbisScarlet Ibis

By James HurstBy James Hurst

http://www.miettecast.com/2006/10/06/the-scarlet-ibis-unabridged/

Page 2: Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst  10/06/the-scarlet-ibis-unabridged/  10/06/the-scarlet-ibis-unabridged

James HurstJames Hurst

Once asked the meaning of the story, Once asked the meaning of the story, Hurst replied, “I hesitate to respond, Hurst replied, “I hesitate to respond, since authors often do not since authors often do not understand what they write. That is understand what they write. That is why we have critics. I venture to why we have critics. I venture to say, however, that it comments on say, however, that it comments on the tenacity and the splendor of the the tenacity and the splendor of the human spirit.”human spirit.”

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Scarlet IbisScarlet Ibis

Tropical bird rarely found in North Tropical bird rarely found in North Carolina, where the story takes Carolina, where the story takes place.place.

Hurst refers often to plants and Hurst refers often to plants and animals native to his hometown and animals native to his hometown and to the setting of the short story.to the setting of the short story.

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““the ibis lit in the bleeding the ibis lit in the bleeding tree”tree”

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““The garden was stained with The garden was stained with rotting brown magnolia rotting brown magnolia

petals…”petals…”

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What is the mood What is the mood and what words and what words cue you to the cue you to the mood? What are mood? What are their their connotations? connotations?

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The mood is somber or sad.The mood is somber or sad. Words like dead, bleeding, Words like dead, bleeding,

graveyard, stained, rotting, rank, graveyard, stained, rotting, rank, untenanted, empty etc. untenanted, empty etc.

The connotation of the words The connotation of the words brings up images of death or dying brings up images of death or dying which is paired with a few words in which is paired with a few words in the opening that resemble life the opening that resemble life such as cradle and born.such as cradle and born.

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What does the line mean What does the line mean “speaking softly the names “speaking softly the names

of our dead?”of our dead?”

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Sweet gardenias are often Sweet gardenias are often planted in graveyards planted in graveyards because they bloom every because they bloom every year.year.

The flowers are reminding us The flowers are reminding us that the dead rest in those that the dead rest in those graves every year. graves every year.

What does this line What does this line foreshadow?foreshadow?

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What is the difference What is the difference between crazy crazy and between crazy crazy and

nice crazy?nice crazy?Nice crazy- someone Nice crazy- someone exciting, full of life, exciting, full of life, “like someone you “like someone you meet in your meet in your dreams.”dreams.”

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Why does Aunt Nicey say Why does Aunt Nicey say Doodle would live?Doodle would live?

Doodle was born in a caul which Doodle was born in a caul which were made from Jesus’ nightgown. were made from Jesus’ nightgown.

A caul is a thin membrane that A caul is a thin membrane that covers the head of some babies at covers the head of some babies at birth. birth.

Indicates the person will have a Indicates the person will have a “special destiny”“special destiny”

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Why does the father have a Why does the father have a coffin built for Doodle right coffin built for Doodle right

after he was born?after he was born?

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Doodle “was, from the Doodle “was, from the outset, a disappointment.” outset, a disappointment.”

Doodle is born sick, “red Doodle is born sick, “red and shriveled”and shriveled”

Why would parents have a Why would parents have a coffin built for their child coffin built for their child after his birth?after his birth?

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Why does the name William Why does the name William Armstrong only sound good Armstrong only sound good

on a tombstone?on a tombstone?

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““It was like tying a big tail It was like tying a big tail on a small kite.”on a small kite.”

A strong name deserves a A strong name deserves a strong individual to strong individual to represent it. No one represent it. No one thought Doodle was strong, thought Doodle was strong, because of the way he was because of the way he was born; therefore, he did not born; therefore, he did not deserve the name. deserve the name.

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What does the narrator What does the narrator want in a brother?want in a brother?

He wants a brother he can He wants a brother he can run, jump, swim, play with, run, jump, swim, play with,

etc.etc.

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What does it say about the What does it say about the narrator and why would he narrator and why would he makes plans to smother his makes plans to smother his

brother, Doodle, with a brother, Doodle, with a pillow?pillow?

He is angry about not He is angry about not having a brother he can having a brother he can

play with. He feels wronged.play with. He feels wronged.

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What does the narrator What does the narrator mean by "he became one of mean by "he became one of us?“us?“

Doodle joins the rest of the Doodle joins the rest of the family in the living room.family in the living room.

Doodle conforms and Doodle conforms and becomes a real part of his becomes a real part of his family, but only after family, but only after learning to crawl.learning to crawl.

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Why do they refer to Doodle Why do they refer to Doodle like he is one of their like he is one of their

ancestors?ancestors?No one expects much No one expects much of Doodle. Do not of Doodle. Do not have faith in his have faith in his survival.survival.

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What is implied in the line What is implied in the line "caul babies turn out to "caul babies turn out to

be like saints?“be like saints?“

Foreshadowing Doodle’s Foreshadowing Doodle’s naturenature

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What are the conflicts in the story What are the conflicts in the story and what type of conflicts are they?and what type of conflicts are they?

Internal Conflict: Narrator vs. Internal Conflict: Narrator vs. Himself in that he wants a “real” Himself in that he wants a “real” brother, but does not have one that brother, but does not have one that fits that mold which causes him fits that mold which causes him internal turmoil.internal turmoil.

External Conflict: Conflict developing External Conflict: Conflict developing between the brothers.between the brothers.

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Why does the narrator take Why does the narrator take Doodle to Old Woman Doodle to Old Woman

Swamp?Swamp?Narrator has decided that Narrator has decided that “Doodle was my brother “Doodle was my brother and he was going to cling and he was going to cling to me forever.” Narrator to me forever.” Narrator accepts the relationship accepts the relationship with his brother. with his brother.

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There is within me a knot of cruelty There is within me a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love, much borne by the stream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears the as our blood sometimes bears the seed of our destruction, and at seed of our destruction, and at times I was mean to Doodle..." times I was mean to Doodle..." What does this line mean? In your What does this line mean? In your journal, explain a time when you journal, explain a time when you have been mean to someone you have been mean to someone you love and why?love and why?

(Worth 10 points)(Worth 10 points)

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Why does the narrator Why does the narrator make Doodle touch the make Doodle touch the

casket?casket?Narrator wants to punish Narrator wants to punish

Doodle for the way he was Doodle for the way he was born, for not being a born, for not being a “normal” brother.“normal” brother.

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"Don't leave me." What is "Don't leave me." What is implied in Doodle's phrase implied in Doodle's phrase

and what is the tone?and what is the tone?Desperate for the love of his Desperate for the love of his

brother.brother.

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What is the narrator's What is the narrator's motivation in teaching motivation in teaching

Doodle to walk?Doodle to walk?Narrator is “embarrassed at Narrator is “embarrassed at having a brother of that age having a brother of that age

who couldn’t walk.”who couldn’t walk.”

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Journal:Journal:How is pride a terrible or How is pride a terrible or

wonderful thing? How does wonderful thing? How does it bear both life and death?it bear both life and death?

(Worth 10 points)(Worth 10 points)Discuss a time when pride Discuss a time when pride

caused you to do something caused you to do something that seemed selfless to that seemed selfless to others, but was actually others, but was actually

selfish.selfish.

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What is an allusion What is an allusion and why does the and why does the author refer to the author refer to the

Resurrection?Resurrection?

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An allusion is a reference to An allusion is a reference to another work of literature, another work of literature, story, person, etc. and is meant story, person, etc. and is meant to add meaning to the reading.to add meaning to the reading.

Doodle’s growth is miraculous Doodle’s growth is miraculous and he is a wholly good and and he is a wholly good and “saintly” person. “saintly” person.

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What does the line mean "They What does the line mean "They did not know I did it for did not know I did it for

myself...“myself...“

Pride made the narrator teach Pride made the narrator teach Doodle to walk at first, but Doodle to walk at first, but

then he realizes that his pride then he realizes that his pride is what motivated him, not the is what motivated him, not the

love of his brother.love of his brother.

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What do Doodle's stories say What do Doodle's stories say about him? about him?

His stories show his desire to His stories show his desire to “fly” and his desire to be “fly” and his desire to be comforted and loved and comforted and loved and “enfolded” by others. “enfolded” by others.

The sunflowers turn to look at The sunflowers turn to look at him, to admire him. him, to admire him.

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What is the narrator's new What is the narrator's new plan concerning Doodle?plan concerning Doodle?

The narrator plans on The narrator plans on teaching his brother, teaching his brother, based on his previous based on his previous success, to “run, swim, success, to “run, swim, climb trees, and to fight.”climb trees, and to fight.”

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What does the line "no What does the line "no rain and the crops rain and the crops

withered" foreshadow?withered" foreshadow?

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Why are the children Why are the children frightened when their frightened when their father puts his head down father puts his head down when looking at the when looking at the damage to his land?damage to his land?

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. What does the line mean . What does the line mean "Do you want to be different "Do you want to be different from everybody else when from everybody else when

you start school?" What you start school?" What does this say about Doodle does this say about Doodle

and the narrator?and the narrator?

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Fitting in is important to the Fitting in is important to the narrator.narrator.

Doodle responds, “Does it Doodle responds, “Does it make any difference?”make any difference?”

Doodle cares more about his Doodle cares more about his brother than fitting in with brother than fitting in with classmates.classmates.

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Why is Doodle so Why is Doodle so shocked by the Ibis shocked by the Ibis dying? How might dying? How might Doodle look like an Doodle look like an Ibis?Ibis?

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What is significant about What is significant about Doodle wanted to bury the Doodle wanted to bury the bird but his mother telling bird but his mother telling him no because he might him no because he might have a “disease?”have a “disease?”

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How does the storm How does the storm represent the crisis of the represent the crisis of the story, the turning point?story, the turning point?

A bad storm can change the A bad storm can change the course of things. The storm course of things. The storm represents the inner turmoil represents the inner turmoil

the narrator feels.the narrator feels.

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Why does the narrator feel Why does the narrator feel "that streak of cruelty within "that streak of cruelty within

me awaken?”me awaken?”Doodle had failed his Doodle had failed his

training, failed as a brother, training, failed as a brother, failed to comform, which failed to comform, which caused the cruelty in the caused the cruelty in the

narrator to awaken, narrator to awaken, stemming from his pride.stemming from his pride.

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What happens to Doodle? What happens to Doodle? Why did the narrator stop Why did the narrator stop running to then look back running to then look back

for Doodle?for Doodle?

Doodle dies. He is hit by Doodle dies. He is hit by lightning. The narrator lightning. The narrator

realizes what he has done realizes what he has done and his “childish” fit fades. and his “childish” fit fades.


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