The Scarlet Ibis Group

Question:

danieladam95
danieladam95
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "The Scarlet Ibis," why do you think the narrator chooses not to return to the present at the end of the story?

 

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Posted by danieladam95 on Sunday July 12, 2009 at 3:46 PM and tagged with conclusion, plot, style.

Answers:

  1. grouchysgirl
    grouchysgirl Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    There are two reasons why the author stays in the flashback.   The first reason is because the story 'dies' with Doodle. Everything ends under that tree: Doodle's life, the author's innocence and our glimpse into their life.  And it's a powerful ending because as the reader you're left with the image of Doodle under the tree.

    That's the second reason for the story ending in the flashback.  You understand fully that this is the image the author has carried with him his whole life.  This knowledge makes the story more sad and delivers the 'pride can be evil' theme more powerfully.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/scarlet-ibis/themes

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    Posted by grouchysgirl on Sunday July 12, 2009 at 4:15 PM