The Scarlet Ibis By: James Hurst

What is an Ibis? South American wading bird In the same family as the stork and heron Gets its color from what it eats; shrimp Baby ibises have a dull color compared to their parents

James Hurst Grew up in North Carolina on a farm Setting of the story much like Hurst’s childhood Wanted to go into a music career after serving in the Army during World War I Attended Juilliard, hoping to become an opera singer

The story “The Scarlet Ibis” was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in July 1960 The story quickly became a classic and has been seen in almost every high-school literature textbook since the 1960s Hurst states that the three major characters of this story are Doodle, the narrator, and the setting When asked what this story is about, he stated, “that it comments on the tenacity and the splendor of the human spirit” (pg 607).

Setting During World War I On a Southern cotton farm

Theme Central idea or message in a work of fiction Often insight into life or human nature Is a statement made by the story “Love” is not a theme “Love is blind” would be a theme Pay attention to the main character because the theme often centers around he/she

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