Name: _______________________________________ Mods:______________ Date:_______________
Short Stories Applied Notes
Story Title:__
“The Scarlet Ibis”________________________
Author:____ James Hurst ______________
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition First paragraph
Complication Doodle is a disappointment; born ill and weak, unable to play with Brother
Rising Action Brother sees Doodle smile for the first time
Climax The lightning strikes the gum tree; Doodle chases Brother and dies of exhaustion
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) Brother covers Doodle’s body from the rain.
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Flashback – Almost the entire story, from the third paragraph on.
Foreshadowing The ibis dies.
Epiphany Brother realizes that Doodle is “all there”. The family sees Doodle walk. Brother realizes that pride made him help his brother.
Turning point
C. Conflict
Character vs. Character x
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self xxx
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms protagonist – Brother antagonist – no one dynamic We could argue that Brother and Doodle are each dynamic. An argument could also be made that neither has a basic personality change. This would be a good essay topic. static family; Aunt Nicey
B. Characterization – Give one example of each type of characterization. Include full sentence and page #.
Direct – Physical descriptions of Doodle

Indirect –
Brother’s determination in teaching Doodle
.
Doodle’s childlike simplicity. Aunt Nicey is religious and superstitious.
Identify major traits of Doodle and Brother. Give evidence from story, including page number.
Character Trait Proof Page
Brother
Doodle
III. SETTING
Time 1918
Place American rural area
IV. POINT OF VIEW ___ x __ 1 st
Person _____ 3 rd
Person Limited _____ 3 rd
Person Omniscient
V. THEME People often hurt those whom they love.
Literary devices – Give the number of examples indicated. Write the page number.
Simile Ibis lies like a broken vase of red flowers. Doodle falls like a half empty flour sack.
1. The oriole nest was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle.
2. Hope perched like a cardinal.
3. Doodle falls after exerting himself “like an old, worn-out doll.”
Metaphor Pride is a seed that bears two vines, life and death.
Armada of fiddler crabs.
Know of cruelty born by the stream of love.
Imagery

Irony Brother expects a great deal from Doodle, although he gives him a name that suggests people shouldn’t expect much from him.
Allusion historical: names of French towns in WWI; biblical: the Resurrection; fairy tale: we had left no crumbs behind.
Personification Hope no longer hid in the palmetto bush but perched like a cardinal.
The breeze “whispered softly the names of our dead.”
Symbolism
How does the ibis symbolize Doodle?
1. red, uncoordinated, fragile
2.
3. out of natural habitat dies
What things are red in the story? ibis, bleeding tree, nightshade bush, Doodle’s blood, Doodle’s complexion as a baby when he exerts himself, cardinal
What might this color symbolize? Life, love, death
Alliteration
1. the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers
2.
Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Brother lifted Doodle to his feet to try to make him stand 100 times each afternoon.
Editorializing