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The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
TechFocus
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
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The Scarlet Ibisby James Hurst
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The Scarlet Ibis Introducing the Story
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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 Skills Focus: Symbolism 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.
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 Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Symbols speak to the reader’s emotions and imagination. They make stories memorable.
The Scarlet IbisLiterary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
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 symbolism can help deepen your understanding of the character.
The Scarlet IbisLiterary Skills Focus: Symbolism 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 Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Because theme is not usually stated directly, you should consider all of the work’s elements, including its symbols. Then, make an educated guess about its theme.
setting
characters
plot
symbolsTheme
The Scarlet IbisLiterary Skills Focus: Symbolism 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 IbisLiterary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
The Scarlet Ibis Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
As you read, pay attention to details, even those that may seem insignificant.
character,
plot,
and setting
can develop deeper meaning as a story develops.
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 Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
Into Action: Use a chart to record details and see what larger meanings they might point to.
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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.
The Scarlet Ibis Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
The Scarlet IbisTechFocus: Analyzing Details
As you read "The Scarlet Ibis," think about using presentation software to create a presentation to accompany this story. What images might you include in your presentation?
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Find It in Your Reading
The Scarlet Ibis Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
This story is narrated by a man looking back on his childhood relationship with his younger brother.
As you read, note passages that help you understand this relationship.
“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; said several times.
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
