illustration of a scarlet ibis cradling a boy's body

The Scarlet Ibis

by James Hurst

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The Scarlet Ibis Questions on Doodle

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," foreshadowing examples include the death of the ibis and Doodle's coffin, which hint at Doodle's tragic fate. The ibis's death symbolizes Doodle's fragility, while the coffin...

9 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis," the bleeding tree and red imagery symbolize the deaths of the ibis and Doodle. The bleeding tree, losing sap like blood, foreshadows death, paralleling Doodle's...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The quote "They named him William Armstrong which was like tying a big tail on a small kite" from "The Scarlet Ibis" highlights the disparity between Doodle's frail, sickly nature and the strong,...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis," the titular bird symbolizes Doodle, both being fragile, beautiful, and out of place in their environments. The ibis's struggle and death foreshadow Doodle's own...

21 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst explores themes of pride, regret, and the fragility of life. Key discussion questions include examining the symbolism of the scarlet ibis and its connection to...

6 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," Doodle lies about fantastical stories where he and others can fly, reflecting his desire to transcend his disabilities. His ideal future involves living in Old Woman Swamp with...

5 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Examples of the narrator's cruelty towards Doodle in "The Scarlet Ibis" include forcing Doodle to touch his own coffin, making him row a boat despite his weak condition, and pushing him to physical...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," Brother is often seen as the protagonist, with Doodle as the antagonist due to his physical disabilities that challenge Brother's desires. Alternatively, the antagonist could...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The resolution of "The Scarlet Ibis" is marked by Doodle's tragic death, which mirrors the fate of the scarlet ibis earlier in the story. The narrator, Doodle's brother, reflects on his pride and...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The exposition of "The Scarlet Ibis" involves the narrator reflecting on his memories of his younger brother, Doodle. Born with physical limitations, Doodle defied expectations by learning to walk,...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's disability in "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst is primarily physical. He is born with a frail body and weak heart, which prevent him from walking or engaging in typical childhood...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst is a poignant story about the complex relationship between two brothers. The older brother, motivated by pride and shame, dedicates himself to teaching his disabled...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's appearance as a baby in "The Scarlet Ibis" is described as unusual and frail. He was born with a "caul," which some saw as a sign of specialness, but his brother saw him as a...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," Brother is the protagonist and a dynamic character, as he undergoes significant change through his realization of his own pride and selfishness. He also serves as his own...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's brother in "The Scarlet Ibis" is characterized as protective yet prideful. His real name is never revealed in the story, symbolizing his role as a representative figure rather than an...

6 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's reaction to the scarlet ibis' death reveals his empathy and sensitivity. Despite warnings, he is deeply moved by the bird's demise and insists on giving it a proper burial, demonstrating his...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

The ibis and Doodle share symbolic connections in "The Scarlet Ibis." Both are unique and fragile, with the ibis's arrival triggering Brother's memory of Doodle. Doodle's physical frailty parallels...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis" offers several outside connections through its themes of perseverance, pride, and being different. Perseverance is highlighted by Brother's and Doodle's relentless efforts,...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," emotional reactions are deeply tied to the relationship between the narrator and his disabled brother, Doodle. The narrator's initial pride leads to a rigorous training regimen...

7 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The narrator initially reacts negatively to his brother's birth, seeing him as a disappointment due to his frail appearance and health issues. He even considers killing him to relieve the family of...

4 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The reader likely pities Brother more at the end of "The Scarlet Ibis." As an adult, Brother reflects on his past actions and the guilt he carries for pushing Doodle too hard, leading to his death....

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

The narrator wanted a brother that was like other boys, who could run and play and do active things with him. The brother he got, Doodle, was quite different.

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The scarlet ibis symbolizes fragility and death, foreshadowing the story's tragic conclusion. The bird's death parallels the fate of Doodle, highlighting his vulnerability and the inevitability of...

3 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis" is popular and memorable due to its exploration of universal themes like difference, acceptance, and brotherly love. The story evokes feelings of sympathy and helplessness as it...

3 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," the characters react with varying degrees of concern to the ibis's death. Doodle is deeply affected, showing empathy and a desire to bury the bird, while the rest of the family...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

The coffin built for Doodle in "The Scarlet Ibis" symbolizes the family's expectation that he would die young due to his frail health. It also foreshadows Doodle's tragic fate, highlighting the...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

The narrator, Brother, feels that Doodle's real name, William Armstrong, is ill-suited for him, comparing it to "tying a big tail on a small kite," suggesting that Doodle cannot live up to such a...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

When the narrator calls Doodle a "terrible liar" in "The Scarlet Ibis," he refers to Doodle's imaginative storytelling, not deceitfulness. Doodle's stories are fantastical and creative, featuring...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's caring nature in "The Scarlet Ibis" is shown through his reaction to beauty and his empathy for life. When his brother takes him to Old Woman Swamp, Doodle is moved to tears by its beauty,...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle is most fearful of being abandoned by his brother. His dependency stems from being constantly urged by his brother to achieve physical feats, despite his frailty. Doodle clings to his brother,...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," Doodle's lies reveal his imaginative nature and his desire to escape his limitations by creating fantastical stories. Brother's actions, such as showing Doodle the coffin and...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle was considered a disappointment at birth due to his physical disabilities and developmental delays, which led his family to expect him to die. His condition earned him the nickname "Doodle,"...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Aunt Nicey's opinion of Doodle differed from the rest of the family in that she believed he would survive, as he was born with a caul, which she saw as a sign of good luck. While the family doubted...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Readers might believe that Brother, who has a sensitive conscience, feels a great deal of guilt and responsibility for Doodle's death, even though it is perhaps not entirely his fault.

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's characteristics that enable him to learn to walk include his persistence, innocence, and imaginative dreaming, which allow him to envision doing things his brother can do. Additionally, his...

2 educator answers

The Scarlet Ibis

In "The Scarlet Ibis," Doodle defies expectations by living beyond infancy and learning to walk, despite his physical limitations. Additionally, he accomplishes rowing a boat and running, driven by...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Brother considers Doodle crazy due to the fact that he's physically disabled and develops differently from other children.

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle becomes "part of the family" after surviving past infancy, defying expectations that he would die. Initially, he wasn't named, and a casket was prepared for him. After three months, his...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

The narrator secretly plans to teach Doodle to run, swim, climb trees, and fight after successfully teaching him to walk. He aims for Doodle to achieve these skills before starting school, keeping...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's parents delayed naming him for three months because he was born sickly and weak, with a disproportionate body that suggested he might not survive. They initially expected him to die and even...

1 educator answer

The Scarlet Ibis

Nature in "The Scarlet Ibis" symbolizes the bond between the brothers, highlighting their emotional connection and shared appreciation for beauty. Doodle's love for Old Woman Swamp signifies his deep...

1 educator answer