1. The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
TechFocus
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

2. The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
How do our choices affect other people?

3. The Scarlet Ibis Introducing the Story
Click on the title to start the video.

4. The Scarlet Ibis Introducing the Story
I thought myself pretty smart at many
things

5. The Scarlet Ibis Introducing 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—
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
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6. The Scarlet Ibis Literary 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.

7. The Scarlet Ibis Literary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
In literature, the use of symbols adds deeper levels of meaning to a work.
A writer might take an object or event and make it stand for some human concern.
A symbol might even be associated with a particular character, like that magic lamp and Aladdin.

8. The Scarlet Ibis Literary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Symbols speak to the reader’s emotions and imagination. They make stories memorable.

9. The Scarlet Ibis Literary 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.

10. The Scarlet Ibis Literary 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.

11. The Scarlet Ibis Literary 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.
characters
plot
setting
symbols
Theme

12. The Scarlet Ibis Literary Skills Focus: Symbolism and Theme
Read the following. What clues can you find that suggest a theme about life renewing itself?
The side-by-side descriptions of hands suggests a connection between young and old.
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.
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.
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.
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13. The Scarlet Ibis Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
As you read, pay attention to details, even those that may seem insignificant.
Details about
character,
plot,
and setting
can develop deeper meaning as a story develops.

14. The Scarlet Ibis Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Details
Listen to this excerpt from “The Scarlet Ibis.”
What are some of the details included in the description?
What larger meaning might they suggest?

15. 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.
Into Action: Detail Chart
Story Details
Larger Meanings
Summer was dead; autumn not yet born.
Nature might mirror human experience—birth and death.
Graveyard flowers are blooming.
Despite death, life goes on.
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16. The Scarlet Ibis TechFocus: 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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17. The Scarlet Ibis Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
This story is narrated by a man looking back on his childhood relationship with his younger brother.
“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.
As you read, note passages that help you understand this relationship.

18. Vocabulary

19. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
imminent adj.: near; about to happen.
iridescent adj.: rainbowlike; displaying a shifting range of colors.
infallibility n.: inability to make a mistake.
reiterated v.: repeated; said several times.
mar v.: damage; spoil.

20. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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.

21. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
What imminent event is suggested by the picture above?

22. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
The photograph suggests that the man faces an imminent fall.
He is about to land on the sidewalk.

23. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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?

24. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
Which of the birds below has iridescent feathers?
peacock
eagle
cardinal

25. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
Which of the birds below has iridescent feathers?
peacock
eagle
cardinal

26. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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.

27. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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.

28. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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.

29. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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?

30. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
Mr. Evans is angry because he had just reiterated the rule, yet Alice had broken it.
Mr. Evans is getting tired of repeating himself.

31. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
The word mar suggests that something has caused physical damage.
Tomato sauce had marred Millie’s white gown.
Mar also may suggest a less tangible sort of destruction.
That spill forever marred Millie’s memories of her wedding day.

32. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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

33. The Scarlet Ibis Vocabulary
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

34. The End

35. QuickTalk

36. The Scarlet Ibis QuickTalk
Talk with a classmate about whether or not it’s ever a good idea for one person to try to change another. Can we ever know what’s best for someone else?
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37. Meet the Writer

38. The Scarlet Ibis Meet the Writer
James Hurst was born on a farm in coastal North Carolina in After studying chemical engineering and singing, he worked as a bank clerk during the day, writing at night.
Hurst wants readers of “The Scarlet Ibis” to think of how the world war that raged among “brothers” in Europe is related to the conflict between Doodle and his brother.
Perhaps, he suggests, people always suffer when others try to make them over in their own image.
More About the Writer
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39. Build Background

40. The Scarlet Ibis Build Background
The story is set in the American South. Its climax takes place in 1918, the year World War I ended. You’ll find references in the story to battles being fought far from its peaceful Southern setting.
As you read, think about why the author chose this setting.
The physical setting— American South in 1918
The historical setting— end of World War I
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41. Preview the Selection

42. The Scarlet Ibis Preview the Selection
The brothers in “The Scarlet Ibis” couldn’t be more different.
In fact, the narrator of this story describes his brother Doodle as “just about the craziest brother a boy ever had.”
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