The Scarlet Ibis pg. 343-354 by James Hurst

Please take out a piece of paper. After reading the story: Symbolism practice. (15 minutes) Symbol Chart: In the first column are passages from the story. Locate a symbol from each passage, and write it in the second column. Then, write the meaning of the symbol in the third column. Story Passage Symbol Meaning “That winter we didn’t make much progress, for what I was in school and Doodle suffered from one bad cold after another. But when spring came, rich and warm, we raised our sights again” (Hurst 349). “When Peter was ready to go to sleep, the peacock spread his magnificent tail, enfolding the boy gently like a closing go-to sleep flower, burying him in the gloriously iridescent, rustling vortex” (Hurst 349). “Sadly, we all looked back at the bird. A scarlet ibis! How many miles had it traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree” (Hurst 352). Cite a symbolic story passage that you find on your own. spring New start; rebirth

Post reading practice: On the back of your symbol chart, title your paper “Post Reading Questions.” Number your paper from 1-3 with a few spaces in between. Respond to the questions on the following slide; using the question response format provided.

Post reading practice: Respond to the questions below; following the response format provided. 1) Before reading, what did you predict about the ibis in the story? Was your prediction accurate? Why or why not? Before I read the story, I predicted __________. My prediction was/ was not accurate, because ____________. 2) What details about Doodle and the ibis show they are alike? Doodle and the ibis are alike because _________. For example, ________. Also, _______. This means, ___________. 3) On page 347, the narrator says, “Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.” What wonderful thing does pride drive the narrator to do? What terrible thing does pride drive him to do? The narrator does a wonderful deed when _____________. The narrator does a terrible deed when ___________. The narrator’s statement reveals how pride ________________.

Allegory Practice Please take out a piece of paper and title it “Allegory Practice.” Please take Cornell notes (this includes a summary), on the following slides:

Concept Development: Allegory An Allegory is a story in which characters, settings and actions stand for something beyond themselves. In some types of Allegories, the characters and setting represent abstract ideas of moral qualities. In other types, characters and situations stand for historical figures and events. Allegories can be read and interpreted on two levels: as a story that stands on its own, or as an allegory giving us lessons on life.

Allegory continued: An Allegory can be read on one level for its literal or straightforward meaning An allegory can be read for its symbolic, or allegorical meaning Allegories are sometimes written to teach lessons.

Allegorical example from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz/ Copy down the following example of an allegory. In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy meets characters who want certain things: Literal meaning: Scarecrow wants a brain. Tinman wants a heart. Cowardly lion wants courage. Symbolic meaning: Dorothy learns the value of wisdom, compassion, and bravery.

Allegory continued (this does not have to be in your notes)… In a old English play called Everyman, the main character is named Everyman ( he stands for exactly what his name indicates.) One day Everyman is summoned by death to give an accounting of his life. Everyman asks his friends Fellowship, Beauty, Strength and Good Deeds to go with him to tell death that he has led a good life. Only Good Deeds stays with him until the end. Pair/Share: What do you think the lesson is from this story? The lesson of the story could be how every man (mankind) should live and how one could save his/ her soul.

Symbols and Allegory in past stories we have read… Copy down the following information about past stories we read. Write down what you think each example stands for. The Most Dangerous Game: Zaroff: Allegory for _______________ Thank you Ma’am: Shoes: Symbol for ________________ The Casks of Amontillado: Fortunato: Symbol/Allegory for ___________ Possible response: Zaroff could represent mankind’s desire to have total control and freedom. Possible responses: -Sometimes we want something we can’t have. -Sometimes we make poor choices when we really want something. Possible response: Pride (Fortunado’s pride that he is an expert regarding wine) can lead to one’s downfall.