Scarlet Ibis Symbolism

The flower garden was stained with rotting brown magnolia petals and ironweeds grew rank amid the purple phlox.​

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What do the rotting magnolia petals and plants symbolize?

• They don't take care of their flowers.

• Beautiful turning into ugly.

• It has not been raining.

But sometimes (like right now), as I sit in the cool, green-draped parlour, the grindstone begins to turn, and time with all its changes is ground away--and I remember Doodle.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What does the grindstone symbolize?

• someone is trying to fix their tools

• doodle's efforts and brother's guilt

• brother working hard to take his mind off of things

​

"When he crawled, he crawled backwards, as if he were in reverse and couldn't change gears."

Hurst | Symbolism

Multiple Choice

What does this symbolize?

• Doodle couldn't be changed.

• Doodle had been working hard.

• Doodle wasn't trying hard enough.

​His hand, trembling, reached out, and when he touched the casket he screamed. A screech owl flapped out of the box into our faces, scaring us and covering us with Paris green. Doodle was paralyzed, so I put him on my shoulder and carried him down the ladder, and even when we were outside in the bright sunshine, he clung to me, crying.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What does "paris green" symbolize?

• plants and nature

• death and poison

• travel to Paris

So we came to that clove of seasons. School was only a few weeks away, and Doodle was far behind schedule​.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What does "clove of seasons" mean?

• A separation of time

• The beginning of something good

​"It's a scarlet ibis," he said, pointing to a picture. "It lives in the tropics--South America to Florida. A storm must have brought it here." Sadly, we all looked back at the bird. A scarlet ibis! How many miles it had travelled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree. "

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What does the bird's journey symbolize?

• Doodle; he has been pushed too hard and is lonely

• Doodle's family has moved around a lot.

• It symbolizes Doodle's family has done a lot.

​""Dead birds is bad luck," said Aunt Nicey, poking her head from the kitchen door. "Specially red dead birds!"

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

Doodle touches a dead bird, what does the red dead bird symbolize?

• regret; Doodle touched the bird when it is considered bad luck

• bravery; Doodle bravely touched a dead bird

• love; Doodle loved birds

​The lightening was near now, and from fear he walked so close behind me he kept stepping on my heels. The faster I walked, the faster he walked, so I began to run. The rain was coming, roaring through the pines, and then, like a bursting Roman candle, a gum tree ahead of us was shattered by a bolt of lightening.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

What does this storm symbolize?

• Good thing are coming afterward.

• They live in a natural disaster prone area.

• The consequences of pride and Doodle's impending death

​He didn't answer, so I placed my hand on his forehead and lifted his head. Limply, he fell backwards onto the earth. He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

The color red is presented throughout the entire story, what does it stand for?

• Hurst likes the color red

• A warning of death and sacrifice

• Being brave and standing up for yourself

​For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.

Hurst | Symbolism​

Multiple Choice

Who is the Scarlet Ibis?

• Doodle

• Brother

• Aunt Nicey