The Scarlet Ibis pg. 343-354 by James Hurst

Symbolism Poster Assignment You will make a poster with the following: An image that shows something used as a symbol in The Scarlet Ibis. Choose one symbol to draw. Copy the information down. The Scarlet Ibis symbolizes Doodle. Screech owl symbolizes death. Casket-symbolizes death. Wreaths- symbolize death. Bleeding tree-represents death, blood, etc. The color red-death, blood, The storms symbolize fear and chaos. Make it pretty and colorful. Then, on the poster, you will write a paragraph with the following details: A paragraph telling what the symbol is, how it is used, and what it stands for in the story. Make sure you explain the author’s purpose for using the symbol, and tie it in to the theme. Provide the title and author in your topic sentence and use two concrete details from the story that show the symbolism. Neatness, capitalization, and punctuation matters! Use the Jane Schaffer color coding format: Blue-Topic Sentence (TS) and concluding sentence (CS). Red- concrete details (CD). Green- commentary (CM). Use the paragraph format on the following slide:

Paragraph format: Topic Sentence: In the story “The Scarlet Ibis,” James Hurst uses the symbol of a ____________ (subject) to show (your opinion) __________________________________. 2) For example, … _______________________________ ________________________________ (page #)(concrete detail ) 3) This means ________________________________________ ___________________________Commentary –what does sentence #2 mean?) 4) This matters, because _______________________________ _______________________________________(Commentary– how does sentence #2 matter?) 5) In addition, … ___________________________ (page #)(CD). 6) This means __________________________________ __________________________ (commentary –what does sentence #5 mean?) 7) This matters, because _______________________________ ________________________________(commentary– how does sentence #5 matter?) 8) In conclusion, (a closing thought that ties your thoughts together). _______________________________________________________.  

Grindstone: a round stone used to grind grain into flour (also called a millstone) “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 New International Version (Bible)

Example Paragraph: Please note: You are not allowed to choose the grindstone for your paragraph. In the story “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst uses the symbol of the grindstone to show how causing his brother’s death has changed the narrator forever. For example, in the opening paragraph, the narrator focuses on a grindstone that is next to a bleeding tree (344). This means the grindstone which is also known as a millstone, is a Biblical allusion in which the passage explains the Biblical punishment for harming a child. This matters, because Hurst uses this symbol to indicate that the narrator is guilty for the death of Doodle. In addition, the grindstone is the catalyst for the narrator’s memory, and the narrator goes back in time and thinks of Doodle as he looks at the grindstone (344). This means the image of the grindstone is what reminds the narrator, now an adult, of his actions and blame for Doodle’s death. This matters, because the author uses this image to symbolize a punishment that lasts the narrator for years. In conclusion, his shame reflects the mistakes he made in pushing his brother too hard.