The Scarlet Ibis Group at eNotes

I think that the image of the color red is more supportive to your...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:22:48 PST

I think that the image of the color red is more supportive to your essay. In the begining, the narrator gives us an image that forshadows Doodle's destiny, and one of the images that he uses is the bleeding tree (red).

It depends on how you interpret the brother's motivations for wanting to...

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:46:26 PST

It depends on how you interpret the brother's motivations for wanting to teach Doodle these skills. The narrator admits that he wants to be proud of his younger brother, so the desire to teach Doodle the physical skills is a selfish one. When Doodle shows that he can't perform these skills to the narrator's liking, the narrator abandons Doodle to the rain storm and eventually, death. Therefore, I would conclude that the narrator was not a...

The narrator, Brother, is a good brother to Doodle. Consider that...

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:46:26 PST

The narrator, Brother, is a good brother to Doodle. Consider that Brother could have simply ignored his handicapped brother and never paid any attention to him, even though his parents required him to take Doodle along. He could have just dragged the handicapped boy around, never really caring about him.In fact, Brother pushes Doodle to fulfill his expectations for a normal brother, even though his motivation might be shame, he still puts...

The passage of time was what the narrator needed in order to speak once...

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:30:47 PST

The passage of time was what the narrator needed in order to speak once again of his days with Doodle. Although time often heals, it doesn't "fix things" altogether. Time allowed the narrator to muster the strength to discuss what horrible things his pride created, and the wonderful person it destroyed.It takes life experiences for us to learn. We mostly learn from our mistakes. The narrator didn't realize how far his pride...

How does the passage of time change people and their feelings about past...

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:43:06 PST

How does the passage of time change people and their feelings about past events in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

Was the narrator/brother in "The Scarlet Ibis" a good brother to Doodle?

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:38:44 PST

Was the narrator/brother in "The Scarlet Ibis" a good brother to Doodle?

Despite the narrator's guilt over the situation, he is not to blame for...

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:28:57 PST

Despite the narrator's guilt over the situation, he is not to blame for his brother's death. He may have treated him with indifference and occasional malice, both of which are displayed by his words and actions in the story, but in the end, those words and actions were not the primary cause of Doodle's death.We as readers know that his condition is what eventually led to his certain death, and that from the very beginning, Doodle was supposed...

Now, of course, this is an opinion question, so the answer is up to you,...

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:04:46 PST

Now, of course, this is an opinion question, so the answer is up to you, as well as the evidence to support that answer.In my opinion, however, the narrator is not at all responsible for Doodle's death. Although, of course, he feels terribly to blame.Doodle was destined to die. To use this course of reasoning, you really have to argue that fate has a huge role in this story. This is evident in the scarlet ibis's presence, which was a...

Do you think that the narrator is to blame for Doodle's death? Why or...

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:15:24 PST

Do you think that the narrator is to blame for Doodle's death? Why or why not?

Man vs. Man - Brother vs Doodle Brother wanted a healthy little...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:14:18 PST

Man vs. Man - Brother vs Doodle Brother wanted a healthy little brother to play with, not the handicapped Doodle.Man vs. Himself - Brother struggles with himself, especially at the end when he is stricken with grief over his brother's death.Man vs. Nature - The Scarlet Ibis dies and only Doodle cares enough to want to bury it. Man vs. Fate - Doodle is born handicapped, not by choice but by a stroke of fate.Man vs. Fate - Mother and Father...

What are some examples of the different conflicts in the story "The...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:31:31 PST

What are some examples of the different conflicts in the story "The Scarlet Ibis"?

The scarlet ibis's death is a foreshadowing of Doodle's. Doodle is a...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:45:55 PST

The scarlet ibis's death is a foreshadowing of Doodle's. Doodle is a very special individual. He is different. He is a brilliant streak of color in an otherwise mundane universe. The scarlet ibis was a literal streak of color against the backdrop of an otherwise mundane farm existence. He brought a flash of beauty to the world, as Doodle did.When the scarlet ibis died, so did that flash of brilliance, that moment of light on the earth....

How does the appearance of the scarlet ibis hint at the outcome of the...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:10:52 PST

How does the appearance of the scarlet ibis hint at the outcome of the story?

The climax is the highest point of excitement or tension and the turning...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:16:06 PST

The climax is the highest point of excitement or tension and the turning point of the story. In "The Scarlet Ibis," the climax is actually when the narrator goes back during the storm to find whatever happened to Doodle. As the reader, we are unsure what has happened. He has been pushed too far, and we can't imagine what has happened to him in this threatening storm. That is the climax.The resolution then is when the narrator...

Does the story The Scarlet Ibis have a resolution? I'm pretty sure the...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:38:26 PST

Does the story The Scarlet Ibis have a resolution? I'm pretty sure the climax is when Doodle learns to walk. What could resolve this story?

Brother is characterized as a typical boy who really wanted a normal...

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:09:37 PST

Brother is characterized as a typical boy who really wanted a normal brother to play with, instead, he gets Doodle, a name he gives his handicapped brother, because he can only crawl backwards.Brother is cast in a harsh light, considering that he taunts Doodle, showing him the coffin that their father has made ready, since Doodle is not expected to live very long. But Brother also has a very positive impact on Doodle. Even though his...

How does the author James Hurst characterize Doodle's brother in...

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:01:21 PST

How does the author James Hurst characterize Doodle's brother in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

Neither the Scarlet Ibis nor Doodle are usual or regular. They both are...

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:06:12 PST

Neither the Scarlet Ibis nor Doodle are usual or regular. They both are "abnormal" in some way -- Doodle, due to the perception of his disability by others, and the ibis, due to its alien nature. The lives of each parallel one another throughout the story, and as it draws to a close, both the ibis and Doodle die, nearly moments apart from each other.The ibis's beauty is a metaphor for the life and existence of Doodle; despite his...

How is Doodle like the Scarlet Ibis?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:20:25 PST

How is Doodle like the Scarlet Ibis?

Doodle's personality emerges through the strength of his determination...

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:22:36 PST

Doodle's personality emerges through the strength of his determination to live against all odds. Although Doodle can only crawl backwards, which is how he gets the name Doodle, which is given to him by Brother. He acquires the ability to walk to please Brother. His real distinction, his gentle spirit is expressed, especially through his attention to the Scarlet Ibis."He is the first to notice the visiting ibis and honors the bird...