The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay Example For Students

The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay Short Story Analysis In The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, the narrators brother Doodle is born physically handicapped and is expected to die yet lives. The narrator is forced to take Doodle everywhere in a go-cart. After much effort, he succeeds in making Doodle walk. Then, he is determined to teach Doodle more.. . Foreshadowing, symbolism, and image are all elements which compose style. All are very important; foreshadowing adds suspense, and symbolism contributes to interpretation. Image contributes visual aids which, also, aid interpretation. In this classic short story, foreshadowing, symbolism, and image combine to create a literary masterpiece. Foreshadowing is one of the elements of style which make The Scarlet Ibis great. We will write a custom essay on The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now For example, the author states, The last graveyard flowers were blooming, and their smell drifted through our house, speaking softly the names of our dead. This passage clearly foreshadows the death of Doodle. Also, Hurst comments on Doodles full name, William Armstrong, that such a name sounds good only on a tombstone, again foreshadowing Doodles death. Later, Doodles cries of Dont leave me! Dont leave me! are a parallel to the moment when the terrified little boy once again cries out, Dont leave me! when his older brother does actually leave him. Moreover, Aunt Nicey says that red dead birds are very bad luck, foreshadowing Doodles death again. Finally, the death of the scarlet ibis, which is so rare and wonderful, like Doodle, is the most important foreshadowing of the small boys death. Foreshadowing is definitely very important in this story, but two more elements also contribute to the distinction of its style. Symbolism is another important element in the style of The Scarlet Ibis. For example, in Doodles lies, the ten foot tail of the small peacock refers to the authors description of Doodles full name, William Armstrong, as a big tail on a small kite like the long fancy tail on the small bird. Also, the grindstone grinds away the years, revealing the brothers memories of doodle. Moreover, the mahogany coffin symbolizes Doodles death when his brother forces him to touch it. Furthermore, beautiful Old Woman Swamp symbolizes paradise for the two boys; there they spend their happiest days. Finally, the rare scarlet ibis symbolizes Doodle. Both are rare and wonderful, and both die the same day. Also, Doodles neck, red with blood, and legs, thin and stiffly jointed, liken him strongly to the ibis. Symbolism is unmistakably an important element in the style of this story, but one more factor helps to define the distinct style of this story. Image is the most important element in The Scarlet Ibis. To depict the summer of drought and misfortune James Hurst portrays the withered crops shriveling under the blistering gaze of the thirsty sun. The hurricane is likened to a bloodthirsty hawk at the entrails of a chicken. This creates a picture of ruin and destruction in the mind of the reader. Also, Old woman Swamp and the happy times the boys spent there are described in vivid, glowing terms. The honeysuckle and water lilies are woven into wreaths and crowns which transform the boys into youthful kings of this glorious, luxurious paradise beyond the reach of the everyday world. The slanted rays of the sun burn orange in the pines, and thus the fantastic day of splendor comes to an almost divine conclusion. This eloquent passage produces in the readers mind a brilliant image of peace, beauty, and happiness. Moreover, the opening scene is another example of an image used in this story. The yard is described with such terms as rank, rotting, empty cradle, and bleeding tree, creating in the readers mind a picture of degradation, and the phrase speaking softly the names of our dead also adds a black note of solemn, eerie doom. Finally, at the conclusion of the tale, the rain drips incessantly from the gray clouds onto Doodle, his thin neck gleaming sharply red, and the fallen elder brother sheltering his fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain. This heartrending passage calls forth an image of desolate grief that the lone brother feels for his lifeless sibling. Image is truly the most important element in the style of this story. Both Doodle and the ibis are out-of-place in the environment in which they live. .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .postImageUrl , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:hover , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:visited , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:active { border:0!important; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:active , .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790 .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4b2dd86eee923ee587d5466d65e74790:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Economics Essay Each is exotic and fragile. Each is too weak to cope with the normal world, and each of them represents the strength and dignity of the handicapped. The scarlet wings of the ibis and the red of Doodles blood symbolize the courage that . The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay Example For Students The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay Short Story AnalysisIn The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, the narrators brother Doodleis born physically handicapped and is expected to die yet lives. Thenarrator is forced to take Doodle everywhere in a go-cart. After mucheffort, he succeeds in making Doodle walk. Then, he is determined to teachDoodle more Foreshadowing, symbolism, and image are all elements which composestyle. All are very important; foreshadowing adds suspense, and symbolismcontributes to interpretation. Image contributes visual aids which,also, aid interpretation. In this classic short story, foreshadowing,symbolism, and image combine to create a literary masterpiece. Foreshadowing is one of the elements of style which make The ScarletIbis great. For example, the author states, The last graveyard flowerswere blooming, and their smell drifted through our house, speaking softlythe names of our dead. This passage clearly foreshadows the death ofDoodle. Also, Hurst comments on Doodles full name, William Armstrong,that such a name sounds good only on a tombstone, again foreshadowingDoodles death. Later, Doodles cries of Dont leave me! Dont leaveme! are a parallel to the moment when the terrified little boy once againcries out, Dont leave me! when his older brother does actually leavehim. Moreover, Aunt Nicey says that red dead birds are very bad luck,foreshadowing Doodles death again. Finally, the death of the scarletibis, which is so rare and wonderful, like Doodle, is the most importantforeshadowing of the small boys death. Foreshadowing is definitely veryimportant in this story, but two more elements also contribute to thedistinction of its style. We will write a custom essay on The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Symbolism is another important element in the style of The ScarletIbis. For example, in Doodles lies, the ten foot tail of the smallpeacock refers to the authors description of Doodles full name, WilliamArmstrong, as a big tail on a small kite like the long fancy tail on thesmall bird. Also, the grindstone grinds away the years, revealing thebrothers memories of doodle. Moreover, the mahogany coffin symbolizesDoodles death when his brother forces him to touch it. Furthermore,beautiful Old Woman Swamp symbolizes paradise for the two boys; there theyspend their happiest days. Finally, the rare scarlet ibis symbolizesDoodle. Both are rare and wonderful, and both die the same day. Also,Doodles neck, red with blood, and legs, thin and stiffly jointed, likenhim strongly to the ibis. Symbolism is unmistakably an important elementin the style of this story, but one more factor helps to define thedistinct style of this story. Image is the most important element in The Scarlet Ibis. To depictthe summer of drought and misfortune James Hurst portrays the witheredcrops shriveling under the blistering gaze of the thirsty sun. Thehurricane is likened to a bloodthirsty hawk at the entrails of achicken. This creates a picture of ruin and destruction in the mind ofthe reader. Also, Old woman Swamp and the happy times the boys spent thereare described in vivid, glowing terms. The honeysuckle and water liliesare woven into wreaths and crowns which transform the boys into youthfulkings of this glorious, luxurious paradise beyond the reach of theeveryday world. The slanted rays of the sun burn orange in the pines,and thus the fantastic day of splendor comes to an almost divineconclusion. This eloquent passage produces in the readers mind abrilliant image of peace, beauty, and happiness. Moreover, the openingscene is another example of an image used in this story. The yard isdescribed with such terms as rank, rotting, empty cradle, andbleeding tree, creating in the readers mind a picture of degradation,and the phrase speaking softly the names of our dead also adds a blacknote of solemn, eerie doom. Finally, at the conclusion of the tale, therain drips incessantly from the gray clouds onto Doodle, his thin neckgleaming sharply red, and the fallen elder brother sheltering his fallenscarlet ibis from the heresy of rain. This heartrending passage callsforth an image of desolate grief that the lone brother feels for hislifeless sibling. Image is truly the most important element in the styleof this story. .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .postImageUrl , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:hover , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:visited , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:active { border:0!important; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:active , .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue501f2c17fadb2c24d15d8f1167d214e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Dress codes EssayBoth Doodle and the ibis are out-of-place in the environment in whichthey live. Each is exotic and fragile. Each is too weak to cope with thenormal world, and each of them represents the strength and dignity of thehandicapped. The scarlet wings of the ibis and the red of Doodles bloodsymbolize the courage that it takes to be weak in a harsh world. pic