Short Story Author: James Hurst “The Scarlet Ibis” Short Story Author: James Hurst

Characters Narrator Doodle (William Armstrong) Telling the story about his brother Pushes his brother too hard to be “normal” Mean to Doodle (his brother) Doodle (William Armstrong) The narrator’s younger brother Not expected to live Physically disabled and therefore a disappointment to his older brother Had courage and determination

Setting A cotton farm in coastal North Carolina World War I era (early 1900s) Theme: disappointment, pushing the limits, determination, pride

Plot Introduction: Rising Action: Changing of the season William Armstrong (Doodle) is born Narrator takes Doodle to Old Woman Swamp Narrator shows Doodle his coffin

Narrator makes Doodle learn how to walk because: He is tired of hauling Doodle around He is embarrassed that his 5-year-old brother cannot walk He wants to be proud that he taught him how to walk

Narrator develops a goal to have Doodle run, swim, climb trees, and fight within a year (When Doodle begins school) Scarlet Ibis arrives only to fall out of tree and die Doodle is very effected by the bird’s death and buries it

The boys go to Horsehead Landing They hurry home to beat the storm Doodle cannot keep up Narrator is angry because he was not able to reach his goal and runs ahead of Doodle Narrator goes back to get Doodle

Climax: Falling Action: Denouement: Narrator finds Doodle dead Narrator compares Doodle to the Ibis The narrator stays with Doodle as the rain pours down Denouement: Doodle is dead