1. The Scarlet Ibis

2. The Scarlet Ibis Background James Hurst published in the July 1960
Author
Publication
Influence
James Hurst
published in the July 1960
"The Scarlet Ibis" was the first and only work of Hurst's to achieve widespread success.

3. The Scarlet Ibis Background, Con’t:
The Bird Itself
Native of the South American tropics
The scarlet ibis is vivid red, but loses its color if it doesn’t eat the proper diet
It needs a particular habitat in order to thrive
The scarlet ibis is an endangered species which has not bred successfully in its natural habitat since the 1960s.

4. The Scarlet Ibis Background, Con’t:
The Story
Explores the conflicts between love and pride and draws attention to the effects of familial and societal expectations on those who are handicapped.
Draws a powerful symbolic connection between the handicapped child Doodle and the beautiful and rare Scarlet Ibis

5. Literary Focus
Symbols
The Scarlet Ibis
Connections Between The Scarlet Ibis and Doodle
In the course of the story, Doodle becomes symbolically identified with a rare and beautiful Scarlet Ibis
1a.The Scarlet ibis, an exotic bird that does not belong in the narrator's region, land in their backyard
1b.Doodle is forced to do things that he should not have to try to do and is forced out of his element
2a.The red bird falls from the tree it is in, and lands dead at the feet of Doodle’s family
2b.Forces of out of his element Doodle loses his color (as a Scarlet Ibis would) and his health declines
The shaded area of the map highlights the region populated by the Scarlet Ibis

6. Symbols, Con’t:
Coffin and Go-Cart
Weather
Representative of both the expectations of Doodle’s family and Doodle’s ability to overcome those expectations (that he is going to die as an infant and that he will never walk)
Reflects the mood of the story—the weather often mirrors if good or bad things are happening in the story

7. Expectations and Limitations Brotherly Love Beauty Found in the Unique
Literary Focus
Themes and Conflicts
Love
Pride
Disabilities
Expectations and Limitations
Brotherly Love
Beauty Found in the Unique
Age and Experience

8. Hurst frequently uses foreshadowing to suggest an upcoming event.
Literary Focus
Foreshadowing
Hurst frequently uses foreshadowing to suggest an upcoming event.
In “The Scarlet Ibis” this most clearly used to hint at death coming:
Doctor's warning about Doodle's weak heart, to foreshadow the death of Doodle
The changing of seasons being described in terms of “death” and rebirth

9. Literary Focus Point of View Irony
The story is told as a first-person reminiscence by Brother
This is noteworthy because Brother is looking back on events from his childhood with the maturity of an adult.
The narration is would suggest that the story would be told with sympathy for Brother, but because of the honesty of the narrative, Doodle is the more sympathetic character
Furthermore, Brother’s attempts to help Doodle are ultimately harmful to him