Transcription
“The Scarlet Ibis”Discussion notes
The narrator Point of view? Why? “But sometimes (like rightnow), as I sit in the cool,green-draped parlor, thegrindstone begins to turn,and time with all itschanges is ground away–and I remember Doodle.” Told in flashback structure Narrator is an adult
Characterizing the narratorCharacterization- much of what we learn aboutthe narrator is based on his words, thoughts, oractions regarding his brother– Is the narratordynamic or static?– How does thestructure of thestory help revealthe character asstatic or dynamic?
Characterization: Narrator’sReaction to Doodle Doodle as a baby– How does thenarrator feel aboutDoodle? Doodle at age 2 Doodle and the Go-Cart
Doodle at age five– How does the narratorfeel about Doodle? Preparing for SchoolDoodle is six
James Hurst’s Hope He wants the readers of“The Scarlet Ibis” tothink of how the warraging among “brothers”in Europe is related tothe conflict betweenDoodle and his brother. He reflects, “Peoplealways suffer whenothers try to make themover in their ownimage.”– How does this applyto war?– How does it apply tothe story?United States soldiers fire a machine gunin Belleau Woods, France, in June 1918.
Setting and Tone Place- South; cotton farm;Old Woman Swamp Atmosphere- clove ofseasons– What does clove mean? Summer was blighted What is the tone of thisstory?– How does the setting in thefirst paragraph help developthis?
Three Allusions in our story1. Belleau Woods- WWIbattle sites2. Hansel and Gretel- “Itwas too late to turn back,for we had both wanderedtoo far into a net ofexpectations and had left nocrumbs behind.”3. “If we produced anythingless than the Resurrection,[Aunt Nicey] was going tobe disappointed.”
Foreshadowing What are someexamples offoreshadowing inthe story?
Foreshadowing: hints of clues ofevents that have yet to occur “summer was dead, but autumn was not yet born”“ last graveyard flowers were blooming”- death imagery"untenanted" oriole nest that rocks "like an empty cradle."such times make him “remember Doodle”coffinDoodle’s real name only looks good on a tombstonearrival of the bird, its death, and Doodle burying itFall of Ibis- Doodle’s fallDoodle’s response to the Ibis“Dead birds is bad luck Specially red dead birds!”Doodle’s illness- needs to be treated with care
Imagery Imagery is descriptivelanguage that deals withany of the five senses(sight, touch, smell,hearing, and taste), andeven movement. Essentially, imagery isany series of words thatcreate a picture orsensory experience inyour head.
Death Imagery Whatexamples ofdeath imagerydid you find inthe story?
Death Imagery Bleeding tree Rotting brownmagnolia Ironweeds grew rank Graveyard flowers Mahogany box Black clouds,darkness descended
Imagery using figurative language “ with a tiny body which was red and shriveledlike an old man’s”- simile that appeals to thesense of sight “Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay onthe earth like a broken vase of red flowers.” –simile that appeals to the sense of sight “The [rain] drops stung my face like nettles”simile that appeals to the sense of touch Nettles are covered with tiny, nearly invisiblestinging hairs that produce an intense, stingingpain, followed redness and skin irritation.
Other Examples of Similes andMetaphors Simile- William Armstrong’s name is like putting a big tailon a small kite Metaphor- “There is within me (and with sadness I havewatched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by thestream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears theseed of our destruction ”- The narrator’s cruelty isbeing compared to a disease that kills Metaphor- “Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seedthat bears two vines, life and death.” Simile- “Promise hung about us like leaves” Simile- “Hope no longer hid in the dark palmetto thicketbut perched like a cardinal in the lacy toothbrush tree,brilliantly visible.”
Symbols A symbol is a thing or idea thatstands for something else The main symbol in the storyis the scarlet ibis which standsfor Doodle Why does the author choosethe scarlet ibis as the symbolas opposed to another bird? With what is red usuallyassociated? Why choose a redbird and develop red imagery?
How is the Scarlet Ibis like Doodle? Storm contributes totheir deathsBoth died- position issimilarBoth are different/outof placeBoth are sickBoth are redBoth are beautiful intheir own way
What is the theme of this story? Look for key lines
Key Lines that Develop Theme “There is within me (and with sadness Ihave watched it in others) a knot of crueltyborne by the stream of love, much as ourblood sometimes bears the seed of ourdestruction ” “All of us must have something to beproud of.” “Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seedthat bears two vines, life and death.”
the scarlet ibis as the symbol as opposed to another bird? With what is red usually associated? Why choose a red bird and develop red imagery? How is the Scarlet Ibis like Doodle? Storm contributes to their deaths Both died-
