The Scarlet Ibis - 5323 Words

The Scarlet Ibis JAMES HURST Adapted from: Elements of Literature: Third Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2003. It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born, that the ibis lit in the bleeding tree.1 The flower garden was strained with rotting brown magnolia petals and ironweeds grew rank2 amid the purple phlox. The five oclocks by the chimney still marked time, but the oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle. The last graveyard flowers were blooming, and their smell drifted across the cotton field and through every room of our house, speaking softy the names of our dead. Its strange that all this is still so clear to me, now that summer has†¦show more content†¦Crawling backward made him look like a doodlebug,7 so I began to call him Doodle, and in time even Mama and Daddy thought it was a better name than William Armstrong. Only Aunt Nicey disagreed. She said caul babies should be treated with special respect since they might turn out to be saints. Renaming my brother was perhaps the kindest thing I ever did for him, because nobody expects much from someone called Doodle. Although Doodle learned to crawl, he showed no signs of walking, but he wasnt idle. He talked so much that we all quit listening to what he said. It was about this time that Daddy built him a go-cart and I had to pull him around. At first I just paraded him up and down the piazza,8 but then he started crying to be taken out into the yard, and it ended up by my having to lug him wherever I went. If I so much as picked up my cap, hed start crying to go with me and Mama would call from where she was, Take Doodle with you. He was a burden in many ways. The doctor had said that he mustnt get too excited, too hot, too cold, or too tired and that he must always be treated gently. A long list of donts went with him, all of which I ignored once we got out of the house. To discourage his coming with me, Id run with him across the ends of the cotton rows and careen him around corners on two wheels. Sometimes I accidentally t urned him over, but he never told Mama. His skin was very sensitive, and he had to wear a big straw hat whenever he went out.Show MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Ibis Quotes729 Words   |  3 Pagesother? Well, in the story â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†, the main character had the same dilemma. He went through phases of being cruel and kind to his brother, Doodle. Doodle was born a weak baby and was not thought to survive for very long. He did, but because of his disadvantages as a child, he was very offbeat from other kids. James Hurst uses Doodle’s brother to exhibit how he is both cruel and kind towards his younger brother, Doodle, in his short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Doodle’s brother decided thatRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Analysis1001 Words   |  5 Pagesentitled â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis† is a short story about two brothers; one brother is healthy, while the other is physically handicapped. The short story is centered on the idea that the older, healthier brother’s selfishness and pride ultimately led to the death of his younger brother, Doodle. Numerous quotes throughout the story demonstrate Hurst’s use of symbolism and foreshadowing to portray and predict Doodle’s untimely and heartbreaking death. The Scarlet Ibis bird symbolizesRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst967 Words   |  4 PagesThe story of a miracle unfolding and a brother motivating is one named,† The scarlet Ibis.† This story is written by James Hurst. In â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†, one will find, two brothers; one with the desire to run and play, named Doodle, and the other with the desire to have someone to run and play with, the narrator. Doodle had a desire to be a normal child but was born handicapped. He was a child who no one thought would live more than 2 days. However, he lived longer than that and it was soon discoveredRead More The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay711 Words   |  3 PagesThe Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Foreshadowing, symbolism, and image are all elements which compose style.   All are very important; foreshadowing adds suspense, and symbolism contributes to interpretation.   Image contributes visual aids which, also, aid interpretation.   In this classic short story, The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, foreshadowing, symbolism, and image combine to create a true literary masterpiece. Foreshadowing is one of the elements of style which make The ScarletRead MoreThe Theme Of Love In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst1123 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual is given the ability to love, however not all have the strength and courage to embrace it. Love is the most important aspect of life, but not all can accept an individuals differences. James Hurst expresses this hardship in his story â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Hurst displays the importance of acceptance between two brothers, Brother and Doodle. Doodle is born with a disability that sets him apart from other children his age. Brother cannot accept the fact that his little brother is different, causingRead MoreScarlet Ibis868 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Hailey M. Camper Mrs. Lauren Owen English 9 Honors 17 September 2013 The Scarlet Ibis: A Literary Analysis There are multiple literary elements that combine together to create the theme and mood of a story. In the short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis,† the author, James Hurst, demonstrates the use of literary elements and the importance of vital life lessons. The mood in this short story is deeply nostalgic and melancholy. The narrator faces the difficult obstacle of his pride vs. Himself (whichRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis5205 Words   |  21 PagesIn The Scarlet Ibis, what evidence does the narrarator use to support his claim that Doodle was a burden in many ways? Doodle was a burden because he really couldnt do a whole lot for himself.   He was very weak and very dependent.   The narrator had to take him with him wherever he went and he had to be careful with him at all times.   He had a lot of restrictions when taking Doodle around with him.   To a young boy, lugging his brother around with him wherever he went would become a nuisance.DaddyRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Analysis1415 Words   |  6 Pagesthreatened by responsibility, which is dreaded because there is an unpredictable world of adulthood waiting with no guarantees. James Hurst demonstrates the journey of growing up through life experiences everyone goes through in the short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Throughout his use of mood, setting, and symbolism, Hurst shows that maturing requires reflecting on past experiences and losing innocence, which then can transform one’s outlook on life. Hurst uses the mood of the story to convey the characters’Read MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Analysis959 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual is given the ability to love, however not all have the strength and courage to embrace it. Love is the most important aspect of life, but not all can accept an individuals differences. James Hurst expresses this hardship in his story â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Hurst displays the importance of acceptance between two brothers, Brother and Doodle. Doodle is born with a disability that sets him apart from other children his age. Brother cannot accept the fact that his little brother is different, causingRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Theme804 Words   |  4 PagesJames Hurst is a very significant and prominent author. He sends important messages through his writing. Many different messages are conveyed in his story â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis,† but it is how he conveys the message that is most important. James Hurst uses events in the plot, imagery , and characterization to convey that everyone is special in their own way and should be cherished before they are gone. James Hurst uses events in the plot to convey the message that everyone is special in their own