“The Scarlet Ibis” Plot: Doodle is born disabled and the brother feels a responsibility to his family and to Doodle. Exposition: The brother wanted to kill Doodle to save the family. He then sees that Doodle can learn and sets out to make him a “regular” boy. Complication: The brother has higher hopes than Doodle can master. Rising Action: The bird dies under the Bleeding tree. Denouement: Doodle dies under the same tree while trying to keep up with his brother. Irony: Brother sees the value of Doodles life – even though others may not have seen it. Symbolism: The bleeding tree, the scarlet ibis, flowers, graveyard Quotes: Beginning descriptions, Doodles death. The brother teaching him how to be a “regular” kid – “you don’t want the others to make fun of you” Theme: Life is not so easy and does not always bring you what you want. Irony: Doodle’s death mirrors that of the bird – also an example of foreshadowing – where the author gives you hints as to what is to come. POV: 1 st person – from the brother’s POV.

Additional Terms: Sensory detail: using your senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, touch to interpret information. From “The Scarlet Ibis” you can almost feel the rain and feel the pain of the brother as he tries to find Doodle. Character: the main character in a story: can be round and dynamic: the character goes through changes and their mindset or behavior is changed through the story. Ex Rainsford – he will probably no longer be a hunter. Louise Mallard: goes through a huge change, experiences freedom for the first time and it kills her to see it leave. The Brother: learns to appreciate life a bit more and the brother he never really wanted. Other characters may not go through a change – and therefore are static and flat: The princess: she is still barbaric and cares for no one – at least that is what you can think Montresor: the argument can be made that he doesn’t feel remorse for killing Fortunato. Foreshadowing: when the author provides a hint of what is to happen later in the story: Rainsford changing his ways about hunting, Doodle’s death. Flashback: when the story is told not in order – but as a remembrance – Doodle’s brother says “and I remember Doodle.” Inference: when you make a guess as to what may happen in a story or what additional meaning can be found. Theme: when the author highlights human behavior and provides an example for the way people act – good or bad.

Remember: Test Next Class! on short story terms Know “The Scarlet Ibis” Know “The Golden Kite, The Silver Wind” in textbook pg. 365 Be able to identify ALL the parts of Short Story in both stories Come in with your own ideas – not a regurgitation of notes I have given you. All questions will be short answer. Bring a pen. Yes, 100 point test.