“The Scarlet Ibis” Literary Elements Symbolism: Symbol Literal Representation Figurative Representation Doodle’s lies: the ten fool tail of the small peacock Doodle’s imaginative stories Refers to the author’s description of doodle’s full name “William Armstrong,” as a “big tail on a small kite The grindstone grinds away the years Time passes by The brother’s memories of doodle The mahogany coffin Dad has this made shortly after Doodle is born when he believes that he will die shortly. The coffin is a wooden box that symbolizes Doodles approaching death Mahogany- reddish brown wood-death imagery The go-cart Dad makes this for Doodle when they find out that he will live. He expects brother to pull him around because he will be immobile. Dad’s love for Doodle, but more so his desire to confine his disabilities. Beautiful old woman swamp The boys spend their happiest days here Paradise for the two boys – perhaps, heaven The scarlet Ibis A beautiful bird that Doodle comes to love in the story Doodle- both are rare and wonderful and both die on the same day The Scarlet Ibis’ Beauty The beauty of the bird is obvious to Doodle and the reader. Doodle's beauty of spirit is hidden inside an unattractive exterior; thus, the bird externalizes Doodle's inner nature. The connection between Doodle and the “winged” Ibis. The bird is literally a winged creature. Because of the relationship between Doodle and the Ibis, and the ibis is literally winged, they both come to be associates with winged and divine beings Take a closer look at symbolism in the relationship between an actual scarlet ibis and Doodle… The Scarlet Ibis The scarlet ibis is vivid red. Its color derives from the shrimps that form the bulk of its diet. If there are no shrimps it looses its color. It needs a particular in order to thrive as it only feeds in shallow waters along the coast, in mud flats and lagoons. Scarlet ibises are colonial nesters, meaning that they nest in large flocks; they rely on the presence of other birds of their own species. Foreshadowing Passage "The last graveyard flowers were blooming, and their smell drifted [through] our house, speaking softly the names of our dead." Hurst comments on Doodle's full name, "William Armstrong," that "such a name sounds good only on a tombstone," Doodle's cries of "Don't leave me! Don't leave me Aunt Nicey says that red dead birds are very bad luck. The death of the scarlet ibis "I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing." Doodle Doodle being small (a shrimp) – the Ibis will loses its color without Doodle Like the ibis, he does not thrive in the environment in which he finds himself: he is delicate, sickly, and fragile Doodle relies on the presence and help of others to survive. Brother teaches him to walk. When left alone, Doodle dies. What it foreshadows Doodle’s death Doodle’s death Parallel to the moment when the terrified little boy once again cries out, "Don't leave me!" when his older brother does actually leave him Doodle’s death Doodle’s death Pride is a wonderful thing because of the undoubted progress that Doodle makes under Brother’s demanding tutelage. However, it is a terrible thing because of the fate of Doodle. Imagery_ Image “withered crops shriveling under the blistering gaze of the thirsty sun.” The hurricane is compared to a bloodthirsty "hawk at the entrails of a chicken." Old woman Swamp and the happy times the boys spent there are described in vivid, glowing terms. - "beyond the reach of the everyday world." - - "The slanted rays of the sun burn orange in the pines" The yard is described with such terms as "rank," "rotting," "empty cradle," and "bleeding tree.” The phrase "speaking softly the names of our dead" Rain drips incessantly from the gray clouds onto Doodle, his thin neck gleaming sharply red, and the fallen elder brother sheltering his "fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain." What it depicts summer of drought and misfortune creates a picture of ruin and destruction in the mind of the reader produces an image of peace, beauty, and happiness in the reader’s mind bringing to the reader's mind a picture of degradation a black note of solemn, eerie doom calls forth an image of desolate grief that the lone brother feels for his lifeless sibling Theme______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Conflict between Love and Pride: explores the conflict between love and pride in Brother's relationship with his physically and mentally disabled brother, Doodle. The brothers fantasize about living in Old Woman Swamp and Brother is overwhelmed by the beauty of the images that Doodle conjures up. Love OR Pride? Brother feels embarrassed and ashamed of Doodle's limitations and obvious differences from other people. Love OR Pride? He decides to make Doodle do all the things that other people do in spite of the fact that Doodle himself sees no need to conform. Love OR Pride? Brother's family congratulates him on his success, he cries with shame, because he knows that he acted not out of love but out of pride, "whose slave [he] was." Brother continues to push Doodle to harder physical feats in spite of Doodle's obviously declining health. Love OR Pride? In the end, Doodle's heart fails under the strain, a victim of Brother's insistence. 2. The Desire to Make over Others in One's Own Image: All of the family, except Brother, accepts Doodle as he is. However, their acceptance is not portrayed as entirely positive, as it comes with a heavy dose of resignation and hopelessness about Doodle's prospects. Brother's impatience with Doodle's limitations is ambiguous. Brother's attitude is dangerous. It forces change on a body that is not equipped to deal with it and on a mind that does not desire it. Brother's success in re-making Doodle in his own image is greeted as wonderful progress by everyone except Doodle When Brother tells him that he must learn to walk, Doodle asks, "'Why?'" Doodle does not understand why he should struggle to avoid being different from everybody else at school. Because the story is told from the point of view of Brother and not Doodle, it is not clear how much Doodle's life is improved by his new skills. After the initial success of the walking project, Brother's attempts to push Doodle further are destructive to Doodle's health and eventually contribute to his death. Characterization Passage I skipped through the rooms, down the echoing halls, shouting “Mama, he smiled. He’s all there! He’s all there!” And he was. (163) Question What can you tell about the narrator based on his actions and words? After that day Doodle and I often went down into Old Woman Swamp. (164) How has the narrator changed? And even when we were outside in the bright sunshine he clung to me (165) He, too, now believed in my infallibility, so we set the deadline for these accomplishments less than a year away, (167) We were frightened, and Doodle slipped his hand into mine (169) “I did,” declared Doodle. “Down in the swamp.” (169) How do the narrator’s words and actions reveal the two sides of his personality? How has Doodle changed since the beginning of the story? Doodle’s hands were clasped at his throat, and I had never seen him and stand still so long. (170) What do Doodle’s actions show about him? ”I’m going to bury him.” (170) What does this action reveal about Doodle and his relationship with his older brother? What might Doodle’s words show about his character? Has Doodle changed? Answer He’s thrilled to have a brother who will not embarrass him. His level of excitement shows that he was worried about his brother and didn’t really want to harm him. The narrator has accepted the idea that he is stuck with his brother and willingly takes Doodle to a place that they can both enjoy. The narrator’s mean streak is revealed through his words, but his actions reveal his love. In addition to having learned to walk, Doodle now has confidence that his brother can succeed in teaching him. Doodle a reached out to his brother for comfort and protection. He may be in tune with nature. Some students may say he is lying. His earlier lies are fanciful. This one is not. Doodle is greatly upset by what he sees. Perhaps he feels sympathy for the bird or views it as some kind of sign. This is the first time in the story that he takes the initiative. I knew he was watching me, watching for a sign of mercy. (172) What fundamental difference between the brothers has not changed? The narrator is still in control; he can still be insensitive and cruel; Doodle still looks to his brother for encouragement and approval. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us. How the narrator’s response to Doodle does’s cry compare with his response to a similar cry earlier in the story? When the boys were in the loft, Doodle begged hid brother not to leave him, and the narrator carried him down the ladder. Here, however the narrator runs away from him. The narrator’s pride and frustration have derailed his caring for his brother. Comparing and Contrasting Characters *decide whether each passage is an example of direct or indirect characterization by marking the box with “dc” or “ic” Passage What it says about Doodle What it says about Brother He was born when I was six. (162) Doodle is six years younger than brother. Brother is six years older than Doodle. Even if William Armstrong lived, he would Even if Doodle lives, he will never be able The narrator likes to run, jump and climb. never do those things with me. (163) to do “boy” things. “It is,” I said. “And before I’ll help you down Doodle will have to touch the coffin if he Brother is cruelly going to make Doodle touch from the loft, you’re going to have to touch it. wants to get down from the loft. his own coffin or else he will leave him in the loft. (164) “Yes, yes,” I cried, and he cried it too, and the Doodle and Brother are united by the thrill Doodle and Brother are united by the thrill and grass beneath us was soft and the smell of and joy of success. They keenly feel the joy of success. They keenly feel the significance the swamp was sweet. (166) significance of the moment. of the moment. “Doodle could beat me lying. (167) Doodle has more of a need of a fictional Brother can exist in the real world without world and he has difficulties in the real needing to have an imagination. world. Also, because doodle could not walk yet, he could literally beat him lying down. “Does it make any difference?” It certainly Doodle does not care about his disabilities. Brother cares about Doodle’s disabilities. does,” I said. Now, come on,” (169) “I’m not hungry,” he said. Doodle is moved by the death of the ibis Brother is less sensitive. and cannot eat, while the family is eating with great enthusiasm.