“The Scarlet Ibis” By James Hurst

“The Scarlet Ibis”  A story about two brothers –The Narrator – Older brother –“Doodle” – Younger brother that has a severe physical disability  What is an Ibis? –A long-legged water bird related to the heron, crane, and stork. Ibises eat plants, small shellfish, and mollusks. Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sacred Ibis of Northern Africa, a relative of the scarlet ibis in this story. Altogether, there are about 20 different species of Ibis.

“The Scarlet Ibis” By James Hurst

Brother He is not given a name, but is referred to by Doodle, his brother, only as "Brother." He is six years old when Doodle is born and grows ashamed of Doodle's limitations and regularly taunts him. Though Brother loves Doodle, the love is tainted with cruelty and embarrassment. Brother, who is determined that Doodle will not shame him by being seen as different when school starts, pushes Doodle to do more and more strenuous activities. Doodle Doodle is the physically challenged younger brother of the narrator. His family initially calls him by his given name, William Armstrong, but Brother nicknames him Doodle (after a doodle-bug, because of his habit of crawling backwards). In the beginning, Doodle is a disappointment to his brother and everyone expects him to die. Doodle defies them all and survives, becoming a loving boy with a strong attachment to Brother. Brother teaches Doodle to walk but this achievement seems more important to Brother than it does to Doodle.

Daddy Daddy, the father of Brother's family, has a coffin built for Doodle soon after his birth, in the belief that he will die. When Doodle survives, Daddy builds a go-cart for Doodle so that Brother can pull him around. Mama Mama, the mother in Brother's family, despairs of Doodle's future from the beginning. She tearfully predicts that Doodle will never run or climb with Brother and believes that he will not be normal. Aunt Nicey Aunt Nicey is aunt to Brother and Doodle. She delivers Doodle and is the only person who believes that he will live. She has a religious nature, giving thanks to God when Doodle shows everyone that he can walk.

Rising Action Conflicts and Complications Falling Action Climax Resolution Exposition Narrator is embarrassed of new born brother. 1.Doodle is born 2.Doodle goes everywhere with narrator – on cart 3.Visit Old Women Swamp When pushed too far by his brother, Doodle's worsening condition gets the best of him and he dies. Brother finds his little brother dead like the scarlet ibis, and he breaks down crying. He shelters his fallen little brother from the rain and regrets pushing Doodle so far. Basic Plot Diagram “Brother, Brother don’t leave me” - Doodle Doodle is left behind in storm 4. Narrator embarrassed of brother 5. Threatens to leave Doodle with coffin 6.Teaches Doodle to walk Narrator goes back to find Doodle 7. Teaches Doodle to swim, climb, fight 8. Ibis in tree falls to ground and dies. 9. Doodle buries Ibis in yard

The Scarlet Ibis Notes 1.______________ are the names of the main characters. 2.Brother’s family thought Doodle was going to die except for _____________. 3.Doodle's real name is ____________. 4.______________ builds a coffin for Doodle. 5.Brother and Doodle enjoy playing in ________________.

The Scarlet Ibis Notes 6.When Doodle began to _________, he became one of the family. 7.Brother gave his little brother the nickname of Doodle because he looked like a ____________. 8.___________ built a go-cart for Doodle so he could be pulled around. 9.The ________ stated that Doodle mustn’t get too excited, too hot, too cold …. 10.Brother took Doodle up to the barn loft and showed him his ____________. 11.Doodle was _______ yrs. old when brother started to teach him how to walk.

The Scarlet Ibis Notes 12. After Doodle _______ alone for a few seconds, they knew Doodle could walk. 13. Doodle and brother decided to show everyone that Doodle could walk on his ______ birthday. 14. Brother danced with __________ after Doodle walked over to the dinner table for the first time. 15. Why was brother crying after Doodle walked for the first time in front of his parents and Aunt Nicey?

The Scarlet Ibis Notes 16. Doodle liked to lie about a boy named _______. 17. Doodle was being taught to swim at ____________. 18. One morning in July a __________ came out of the east and tipped over trees. 19. Why did brother want Doodle to learn how to swim and row a boat? 20. What did the family see perched in a tree?

The Scarlet Ibis Notes 21. _______ wanted to bury the Scarlet Ibis. 22. Who stated that dead birds are bad luck? ____________. 23. What happened when Doodle said “Brother, Brother, don’t leave me!”? 24. What happened when Brother went back to look for Doodle?