Passage 1: "The Scarlet Ibis: by James Hurst

How do the similarities in the character of Doodle and the symbol of the ibis advance the plot in Passage 1?

• The similarities in their physical ailments creates a sense of unease and inevitable doom.

• The similarities in the way they both persevere creates empathy without advancing the plot.

• Both are seen as different and beautiful in their own way, which causes the other characters to recognize their significance.

• Both seem to be out of place and disrespected by the family, which creates a sense of compassion within Doodle and the reader.

1. The next two questions go together. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. 

Part A

Read the following excerpt from Passage 1, paragraphs 86-88:

How does the narrator’s perspective, as expressed by the flashback, create irony in these paragraphs?

• By describing his movements, the narrator illustrates how his actions contradict his emotions.

• By illustrating his emotions, the narrator makes the surprising revelation that he loved Doodle.

• By placing his younger self in a memory, the narrator alludes to how this experience has shaped his life.

• By maintaining a reflective tone, the narrator illustrates how he began to recognize the beauty of his brother through the ibis.

1. Part B

Which quote best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Doodle! Doodle!” I cried, shaking him, but there was no answer but the rain.

• I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar.

• He lay very awkwardly, with his head thrown far back, making his vermilion neck appear unusually long and slim.

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

In Passage 1, how does Brother’s interaction with Doodle advance the development of Brother’s character?

• The physical activities that Doodle accomplishes make Brother’s selfish pride change to one of love.

• The accolades that Doodle passes on to his brother cause Brother to examine his motivations.

• The attention that Doodle receives creates a feeling of resentment towards his family, especially Doodle.

• The revelation of Doodle’s accomplishments results in Brother’s determination to continue to help him.

Which THREE of the following quotes from Passage 1 best develop the universal themes in the story?

• “There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears the seed of our destruction, and at times I was mean to Doodle.”

• “She said caul babies should be treated with special respect since they might turn out to be saints.”

• “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.”

• "He, too, now believed in my infallibility, so we set the deadline for these accomplishments less than a year away, when, it had been decided, Doodle could start school.

• “Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty.”