Symbolism in the Scarlet Ibis

Literary Analysis # 5  It’s nice to be proud of the people we care about, but pride can be harmful to them if we push them into doing things that are not in their best interest.  Brother’s pride becomes a destructive force in his life.  His pride is closely linked with shame and embarrassment over younger brother’s physical limitations.  It’s nice to be proud of the people we care about, but pride can be harmful to them if we push them into doing things that are not in their best interest.  Brother’s pride becomes a destructive force in his life.  His pride is closely linked with shame and embarrassment over younger brother’s physical limitations.

Literary Analysis # 5 (cont’d)  His pride is closely linked with shame and embarrassment over younger brother’s physical limitations.  This emotion has tragic results which will stay with Brother for life.  Pride is wonderful in that Brother teaches Doodle to walk.  Pride is terrible in that Brother teaches Doodle to walk for selfish reasons.  His pride is closely linked with shame and embarrassment over younger brother’s physical limitations.  This emotion has tragic results which will stay with Brother for life.  Pride is wonderful in that Brother teaches Doodle to walk.  Pride is terrible in that Brother teaches Doodle to walk for selfish reasons.

Literary Analysis # 6  Peacock “entombs” the boy for sleep  “going-to-sleep flower – euphemism for death  “vortex” – both storms in the story  “burying” him in his tail  Peacock “entombs” the boy for sleep  “going-to-sleep flower – euphemism for death  “vortex” – both storms in the story  “burying” him in his tail

Literary Analysis # 7  Blighted – (plant pathology) 1) –the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting death of plant tissues. 2) any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin (what’s going to happen to Doodle and the Scarlet Ibis), frustration (how Brother feels).

Literary Analysis # 9  Something ominous, inevitable.  Black represents emptiness.  It could also foreshadow the sorrow and mourning to come with Doodle’s death.  Something ominous, inevitable.  Black represents emptiness.  It could also foreshadow the sorrow and mourning to come with Doodle’s death.

Symbolism # 11 - Red  Implies pain or death  Emotionally charged color  Associated with war (possibly internal/external conflict)  Anger, blood-lust, vengeance, fire, and the masculine  It can also mean love, passion, and health  Implies pain or death  Emotionally charged color  Associated with war (possibly internal/external conflict)  Anger, blood-lust, vengeance, fire, and the masculine  It can also mean love, passion, and health

Symbolism # 12 – Scarlet Ibis  Symbol of Doodle (even though they are not exactly alike  The ibis is a way for Brother to cope with the pain and guilt of Doodle’s death  “exotic beauty”  Symbol of Doodle (even though they are not exactly alike  The ibis is a way for Brother to cope with the pain and guilt of Doodle’s death  “exotic beauty”

Symbolism # 13 – Grindstone  Only mentioned at the beginning  IMPORTANT – Brother sees a parallel between the ibis dying in the bleeding tree and Doodle dying “beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road.”  Since the tree used to be “just outside the kitchen door” it would have reminded Brother of Doodle.  Only mentioned at the beginning  IMPORTANT – Brother sees a parallel between the ibis dying in the bleeding tree and Doodle dying “beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road.”  Since the tree used to be “just outside the kitchen door” it would have reminded Brother of Doodle.

Symbolism # 13 – Grindstone (cont’d) Since the tree used to be “just outside the kitchen door” it would have reminded Brother of Doodle. The grindstone doesn’t simply take the tree’s physical place, but also its function as a reminder of Doodle. Brother’s mind as grindstone = grief Since the tree used to be “just outside the kitchen door” it would have reminded Brother of Doodle. The grindstone doesn’t simply take the tree’s physical place, but also its function as a reminder of Doodle. Brother’s mind as grindstone = grief

Symbolism # 14 – Barn Loft  Reflects the minds of the characters  Trapped, small, cramped, confining, and dark  A piece of Brother will always remain trapped in the barn loft being mean to Doodle.  Reflects the minds of the characters  Trapped, small, cramped, confining, and dark  A piece of Brother will always remain trapped in the barn loft being mean to Doodle.

Symbolism # 15 The Clove of the Seasons  Clove (as used here) means split  Doodle and the ibis die “in the clove”/no- season season  The clove is symbolically compatible with the way Brother feels about Doodle’s death  Clove (as used here) means split  Doodle and the ibis die “in the clove”/no- season season  The clove is symbolically compatible with the way Brother feels about Doodle’s death