1. Third Person Pronouns (singular) Third Person Pronouns (plural)
1st Person Pronouns
2nd Person Pronouns
Third Person Pronouns (singular)
Third Person Pronouns (plural)
I, me, my, mine
We, us, our, ours
You, your, yours
He, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
They, them, their, theirs

2. Look at the first paragraph in the story
Look at the first paragraph in the story. What mood is created at the beginning of this story? Write down two pieces of text that help set this mood.
The mood is somber or grave. There’s a lot of dark/gloomy phrasing and imagery, as the narrator talks about “the bleeding tree,” “rotting” and “rank” vegetation, and “an empty cradle.” These all create a sense of foreboding as we move into the story.

3. How old was Brother, our narrator, when Doodle was born
How old was Brother, our narrator, when Doodle was born? At this time, Brother briefly considers killing his infant brother, Doodle. Is this a real threat? Explain the irony of this part of the story now that we know the sad tale’s ending.
He was 6 years old.
Not really. Brother has a child’s view of ending the misery of his little brother, whom he feared “was not all there.” Children often have irrational/impulsive thoughts and ideas.
The irony is that Brother was planning on ending Doodle’s life when he was young. At the end of the story, Brother believes he is responsible for pushing Doodle too hard, causing his death. The plan, it seems, is finally played out in the final scene.

4. We don’t know the narrator’s name and refer to him only as “Brother
We don’t know the narrator’s name and refer to him only as “Brother.” Why, do you suppose, the author chose to leave his narrator unnamed? How does this impact the reader’s experience?
It’s reasonable to argue that Hurst leaves the narrator unnamed so that all of us can relate more to the story. All readers feel an affection for Doodle and, by not having a named narrator, it makes it easier for the reader to imagine himself/herself in the older brother role. This technique makes the death of Doodle even more poignant.

5. When Doodle finally walks, Brother waltzes Aunt Nicey around the room for a brief joyful moment. Look at the line. What happens to end their joyful dance? Symbolically, what’s interesting about this supposedly light-hearted moment?
Aunt Nicey accidentally stomps on Brother’s foot, hurting him “so badly [he] thought [he] was crippled for life.”
Even in a moment of joy, there’s a heaviness about this story that weighs down on Brother. It’s almost as if the universe is sending a message to him that life will stomp on him, quickly ending his brief moments of joy and causing him pain. As an adult, his remembrance of his little brother evokes the same bittersweet memories of brief love and heavy, tragic loss.

6. Symbolically connect Doodle to the Scarlet Ibis
Symbolically connect Doodle to the Scarlet Ibis. First, give three specific similarities that prove the author wanted us to see a connection between the boy and the bird. Then, explain the message of the writer. What larger point was he trying to make to the reader?
Both Doodle and the Ibis don’t really fit into their surroundings. Both are very fragile. Both could have easily died, either as a frail infant or during the tropical storm. When both of them do die, they are in the same broken position; Doodle is even covered in blood, evoking the same red image as the Ibis’ body. It’s clear that the bird and the boy are connected; one represents the other. This connection underscores the idea that rare things are the most beautiful – and the most fragile. Without proper tender care, those rare and wonderful things cannot last in our harsh world.

7. Hurst doesn’t clearly state the cause of Doodle’s death
Hurst doesn’t clearly state the cause of Doodle’s death. Given the events that occur toward the end of the story, what do you suppose actually caused Doodle’s death? What role, if any, do you think Brother played in Doodle’s demise?
Argue your point of view!

8. In the story, Brother tells us, “There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears the seed of our destruction, and at times I was mean to Doodle.” In your own words, explain what Hurst means by this. Then, describe a time when you didn’t treat a family member as well as you should have. Why do we sometimes treat strangers better than we treat our own loved ones? Explain.
Hurst is saying that we are often cruel to the people we love most. The line about the blood could also refer to damaging thoughts or even physical cells, like cancer, that poison us from the inside-out. Think about a time you mistreated your sibling(s) and/or your parent(s). We tend to take our family members for granted because we believe they will always love us, no matter how horrible we behave. There’s also some truth to the old adage, familiarity breeds contempt. It’s the people we know best that also get on our nerves the most. Siblings have the added drama of competing for their parents’ attention/affection. This competition (sibling rivalry) can turn quite sour.