“The Scarlet Ibis”
Plot: Doodle is born disabled and the brother
feels a responsibility to his family and to
Doodle.
Exposition: The brother wanted to kill Doodle
to save the family. He then sees that Doodle
can learn and sets out to make him a “regular”
boy.
Complication: The brother has higher hopes
than Doodle can master.
Rising Action: The bird dies under the Bleeding
tree.
Denouement: Doodle dies under the same tree
while trying to keep up with his brother.
Irony: Brother sees the value of Doodles life –
even though others may not have seen it.
Symbolism: The bleeding tree, the scarlet ibis,
flowers, graveyard
Quotes: Beginning descriptions, Doodles death.
The brother teaching him how to be a “regular”
kid – “you don’t want the others to make fun of
you”
Theme: Life is not so easy and does not
always bring you what you want.
Irony: Doodle’s death mirrors that of the
bird – also an example of foreshadowing –
where the author gives you hints as to what
is to come.
POV: 1st person – from the brother’s POV.
Additional Terms:
Sensory detail: using your senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, touch to interpret information.
From “The Scarlet Ibis” you can almost feel the rain and feel the pain of the brother as he
tries to find Doodle.
Character: the main character in a story: can be round and dynamic: the character goes
through changes and their mindset or behavior is changed through the story. Ex Rainsford
– he will probably no longer be a hunter.
Louise Mallard: goes through a huge change, experiences freedom for the first time and it
kills her to see it leave.
The Brother: learns to appreciate life a bit more and the brother he never really wanted.
Other characters may not go through a change – and therefore are static and flat:
The princess: she is still barbaric and cares for no one – at least that is what you can think
Montresor: the argument can be made that he doesn’t feel remorse for killing Fortunato.
Foreshadowing: when the author provides a hint of what is to happen later in the story:
Rainsford changing his ways about hunting, Doodle’s death.
Flashback: when the story is told not in order – but as a remembrance – Doodle’s brother says
“and I remember Doodle.”
Inference: when you make a guess as to what may happen in a story or what additional
meaning can be found.
Theme: when the author highlights human behavior and provides an example for the way
people act – good or bad.
Remember:
Test Next Class!
•
on short story terms
• Know “The Scarlet Ibis”
• Know “The Golden Kite, The Silver Wind” in textbook
pg. 365
• Be able to identify ALL the parts of Short Story in both
stories
• Come in with your own ideas – not a regurgitation of
notes I have given you.
• All questions will be short answer. Bring a pen.
• Yes, 100 point test.