Transcript The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst

The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
Class notes
Review of key concepts
What is meant by a symbol?
• The practice or art of using an object or a word
to represent an abstract idea.
• An action, person, place, word, or object can all
have a symbolic meaning.
• When an author wants to suggest a certain
mood or emotion, he can also use symbolism to
hint at it, rather than just blatantly saying it.
Reflection
• Did you like the story?
• What was your favourite part of the story and
why?
• What didn’t you like about the story?
Metaphors As Symbolism
• A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses
symbolism.
• It compares two things that are not similar
and shows that they actually do have
something in common.
• In a metaphor, there is an additional meaning
to a word. This makes it an example of
symbolism.
Examples
• Life is a roller-coaster:
This is symbolic because it indicates that there
will be ups and downs in life that you have to
deal with.
• He is a rock:
This is symbolic because it signifies that he is
strong and dependable.
Simile
• What is a simile?
It makes a comparison between two otherwise
unalike objects or ideas by connecting them with
the words "like" or "as."
Example:
but the oriole nest in the elm was untenanted
and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle.
What images do you think the author is trying to
create?
• What do you think the author meant by the following?
• They named him William Armstrong, which was like
tying a big tail on a small kite.
The simile suggests that the narrator thinks the name
“William Armstrong” is too weighty and importantsounding for a child as physically weak as his brother.
• He might not, she sobbed, even be “all there.”
• Why is it so important to the narrator that his brother
is “all there” (lines 54-55)?
• Trembling, he’d push himself up, turning first
red, then a soft purple, and finally collapse
back onto the bed like an old worn out doll.
• What does the description in lines 59-61 tell
you about Doodle?
• When he crawled, he crawled backward, as if
he were in reverse and couldn’t change gears.
Foreshadow
This is where there is a clue or indication of a
future event that will happen in the story.
• Pause at line 144. Why do you think the
narrator shows Doodle the coffin? What might
this event foreshadow?
• it was spring and the sick-sweet smell of bay
flowers hung everywhere like a mournful
song.
• He collapsed onto the grass like a half-empty
flour sack. It was as if he had no bones in his
little legs.
• Promise hung about us like leaves,
• Re-read lines 346-351. In what ways does the
bird remind you of Doodle?
Task
• Read the last few paragraphs again and continue
the story....
I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in
red before me looked very familiar. “Doodle!” I
screamed above the pounding storm, and threw
my body to the earth above his. For a long,
long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying,
sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of
rain.
References:
•
•
•
http://zameroskiwebpage.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/3/2/13324979/the_scarlet_ibi
s_questions.pdf
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-symbolism.html
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm#s