BOA for “The Scarlet Ibis”
Bell ringer: Disability race (Patrick Henry Hughes)
Objectives: Understand and use new words (review synonym and
antonyms)
Read and interpret the story
Monitor comprehension
Identify and interpret symbols/symbolism and theme
Express understanding through creative writing
Agenda: Bell ringer
Vocabulary power-point (Completion of “Words to Own”
worksheet)
Review reading comprehension questions
Begin reading “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst (PAGE 333 in purple
book)
Homework: Words to Own-Write original sentences for the 5
words and complete the ANTONYM section.
Prewriting
“The Scarlet Ibis” (DAY 2)
Bell Ringer: Team Hoyt (augmentative communication device)
EXIT SLIP:
Venn diagram for similarities and differences
Objectives: Understand and use new words
Read and interpret the story (PAGE 337-END)
Monitor comprehension
Agenda: Bell Ringer (PowerPoint review)
Comprehension questions #1-10 due tomorrow.
Finish reading the story
Closure: complete the VENN diagram for your exit slip!
HOMEWORK: complete questions
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized
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“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
Bell Ringer: Think of a symbol and be ready to discuss what it
represents. http://my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=9780030958427 POWERNOTES for Collection 4
Objectives:
Monitor comprehension/Class discussion
Identify and interpret symbols/symbolism and theme
Express understanding through creative writing
Agenda:
Discussion of the comprehension questions
http://my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=9780030958427
Symbolism- Skillsmaster 16
Theme- Skillsmaster 13 and 10-A
Journal- “The Scarlet Ibis”-Full page
Discussion Questions: (In your group discuss all of the questions and be prepared to answer your assigned #.)
1. A. Why does the narrator teach Doodle to walk?
B. Why does he cry when his family congratulates him for his efforts?
2. How does Doodle respond to the scarlet ibis and to its death?
3. After Doodle has learned to walk, what does his brother try to teach him to prepare him
for school? What is the narrator’s motivation?
4. A. Why does Doodle die?
B. To what extent do you think his brother is responsible?
C. By the end of the story, whom do you pity more- the narrator or Doodle?
5. A. What is the narrator’s internal conflict?
B. Is it ever resolved? If yes, how do you know?
6. A. In what ways does the scarlet ibis resemble Doodle?
B. How are their death similar-both in appearance and cause?
7. What incidents from life could illustrate the good and bad effects of human pride?
1.
A. Why does the narrator teach Doodle to walk? “I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age (5)
who couldn’t walk.”
B. Why does he cry when his family congratulates him for his efforts? He was ashamed of his motive
(pride).
2. How does Doodle respond to the scarlet ibis and to its death? He undergoes such lengths to bury it, because he
may have felt a kinship (connection) with the bird. Both Doodle and the bird are tired, sick, fragile, “different”, out
of place…
3. After Doodle has learned to walk, what does his brother try to teach him to prepare him for school? What is
the narrator’s motivation? “I would teach him to run, to swim, to climb trees, and to fight.”
4. A. Why does Doodle die? Overexertion, weak heart, internal bleeding… too much exertion (exercise) and
excitement (lightning) after being sick (fevers, nightmares)
(NOT): Struck by lightning, tree fell on him, ‘heart break’-“he feels like he has failed (?), broken neck
B. To what extent do you think his brother is responsible? Isn’t he willing to help Doodle work hard? at teaching
and helping Doodle accomplish things?
C. By the end of the story, whom do you pity more- the narrator or Doodle?
5. A. What is the narrator’s internal conflict? Did he cause Doodle’s death?
B. Is it ever resolved? If yes, how do you know? He realizes what he has lost, and he knows that his own pride,
shame, and cruelty played a part in his brother’s death. The narrator resolves his feelings of guilt by trying to
understand the insensitivity that drove him to hurt Doodle. *One way to cope with guilt (guilty conscience) is to
discuss the situation with a friend or write about it.
6. A. In what ways does the scarlet ibis resemble Doodle? “He looks tired…or maybe sick.”
B. How are their deaths similar-both in appearance and cause? The ibis dies under a “bleeding tree”/its long
graceful neck jerks into an S and then straightens and its feet are curved.
Doodle dies under a red nightshade bush; when his head falls back, his “neck appears unusually long and slim” and
his legs are “bent sharply at the knees.” Doodles neck and shirt are covered with blood, reminding the reader of
the redness (vermillion) of the scarlet ibis.
7. What incidents from life could illustrate the good and bad effects of human pride?
Bad pride- When people are afraid of shame or failure, they often hold their efforts or feelings in check.
Good pride- Pride can also be a great energizer and unifier, as when you excel in academics or sports.
. http://my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=9780030958427
http://my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=9780030958427
A symbol is anything that stands for or represents something else.
A symbol is an object, a person, or an event that functions as itself, but
also stands for something more that itself.
Symbols in literature may have different shades of meaning for each of us.
SwastikaThe Oldest Known Symbol
The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years. (That even predates the
ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh!) Artifacts such as pottery and coins from ancient Troy show that
the swastika was a commonly used symbol as far back as 1000 BCE.
During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika was used by many cultures around the
world, including in China, Japan, India, and southern Europe. Though it is not known for exactly how
long, Native Americans also have long used the symbol of the swastika.
The Original Meaning
The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be,"
and "ka" as a suffix.
Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000
years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.
Diploma-symbol of – success in school
Fancy car can be a status symbol suggesting wealth and importance.
What is a symbol found in this story? What does it represent or stand
for in the story?
Bleeding/red (COLOR)-danger/love/courage/death
Cardinal (OBJECT)-bird of hope (p. 319 1st column)
Summer (SEASON)-blighted fields (death)
Storms (EVENT)-Doodle’s life
Scarlet Ibis (OBJECT)-Doodle’s life (weak, lost, sick, tired)
Death of the scarlet ibis bird (event)-Doodle’s death
THEME
The theme of a story is its main idea, or the meaning behind it. As you
read the following mini-story, see if you can identify its theme.
Darlene sat alone in her bedroom. Only hours before she’d learned she’d been elected
student council president.
In many ways she felt happy-happier than she had ever felt in her life. At the same time, deep
inside she felt afraid and alone and confused.
During the many weeks of the campaign all she thought about was getting elected-and how
happy that would make her. But now that her dream had come true, all she could see were the
enormous responsibilities that were suddenly on her shoulders. There would be speeches to make,
meetings to conduct, and a thousand other things to do.
Sitting down at her desk, Darlene took out a piece of paper and tried to think of what she
might say in her acceptance speech. Maybe I should start by telling them I’m scared to death, she
thought. For an instant a half smile appeared on her face, then quickly disappeared as she picked up a
pen and began to think seriously about what she would say at the assembly on Friday.
The THEME of a story is very easy to confuse with its plot or its moral.
PLOT-(Pattern of events): A girl has worked hard to be elected student council president. Suddenly,
just when she should feel happy, she is frightened by all the responsibilities she has taken on. But then
she settles down and starts to write her speech.
MORAL- (Rule to live by): When you reach for success, be prepared to accept the responsibilities that
go with it.
THEME- (Main Idea): After reaching an important goal, a person might find that unexpected burdens are
also involved.
Theme is the story’s main idea, or the meaning behind the story.
Plot-pattern of events
Moral-Rule to live by
How would you state the theme of this story? What truth about our lives do the story’s events
reveal to you? Find passages from the story to support your response.
1. No human emotion (Love, Pride) is entirely pure; our lives are
shaped by conflicting emotion.
“There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a
knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love.” (page 318)
2. Pride can be both good and bad.
“Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life
and death.” (page 318)
Author’s words: Think of how the war raging among “brothers” in
Europe (WWI or Iraq) is related to the conflict between Doodle and his
brother.
“Perhaps…people always suffer when others try to make them
over in their own image.” (example-The Swan TV show)
Bonus Question: What is the machine (method) used to supplement or
replace speech or writing for those with impairments in speech or
writing? (Fill in the missing letters!)
A-g-e-t-t-v- C-m-u-i-a-i-n D-v-c-
Bonus Answer: Augmentative Communication Device
Augmentative-serving to augment (augment verb (used with object))
1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent