Literary Device: Symbolism

Symbolism occurs when one object or entity within a literary work represents another object or entity completely separate from itself.

Example: “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a

mockingbird.” – Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

After examining the quote above, what do you think that the mockingbird could represent within Harper Lee’s work?

[In the story excerpted below, a little boy nick-named Doodle struggles to be a regular active child roaming the outdoor world despite the physical handicaps threatening to keep him home-bound. During his period of strenuous training conducted by his able-bodied brother (who is ashamed of Doodle‘s shortcomings), a physically weak bird arrives at the family home. Pushed out of its natural habitat by a tropical storm, the scarlet ibis dies due to its weakened state. At the end of the short story, Doodle is also pushed too hard and collapses in death due to exhaustion.]

At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud. Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still…Its legs were crossed and its clawlike feet were delicately curved at rest. 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…

from “The Scarlet Ibis”James Hurst

from “The Scarlet Ibis”James Hurst

I stopped and waited for Doodle. The sound of rain was everywhere, but the wind had died…As I waited, I peered through the downpour, but no one came. Finally I went back and found him huddled beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road. He was sitting on the ground, his face buried in his arms, which were resting on his drawn-up knees. “Let‘s go, Doodle,” I said. He didn‘t answer…Limply, he fell backward onto the earth. He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red. 

“Doodle! Doodle!” I cried, shaking him, but there was no answer…He lay very awkwardly, with his head thrown back, making his vermilion neck appear unusually long and slim. His little legs, bent sharply at the knees, had never before seemed so fragile, so thin. I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar…For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.

from “The Scarlet Ibis”James Hurst

“The Scarlet Ibis” – Author’s Purpose• Examine the various uses of red in connection with

Doodle, the scarlet ibis, and other objects? (Hint: What is the meaning of the word vermillion?)

Doodle The Scarlet Ibis Other Objects

He had been bleeding from the mouth…

…his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red.

…his vermilion neck…

The scarlet color of the ibis… …like a broken vase of red flowers…

…the bleeding tree…

…a red nightshade bush…

…the tear-blurred vision in red…

…my fallen scarlet ibis…

• What does the following simile suggest about the nature of the scarlet ibis: “for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers”?_________________________________________

_________________________________________ • Within the selections from the short story above, what

other ways are Doodle and the scarlet ibis similarly described in terms of their physical appearance?

“The Scarlet Ibis” – Author’s Purpose

Doodle The Scarlet Ibis

This simile underscores both the beautiful and the fragile nature of this creature who is out of its natural element.

Its long, graceful neck… ...making his vermilion neck appear unusually long and slim…

…its clawlike feet…curved at rest….

His little legs, bent sharply at the knees…

• What is the full significance of the closing line of the short story: “I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain”? (Hint: Focus on the meaning and implication of the word heresy.)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“The Scarlet Ibis” – Author’s Purpose

The main character realizes (too late) the special nature of his brother’s character that he failed to protect. Much like the scarlet ibis, Doodle was a weak creature too exotic for his surroundings - like the rain’s blasphemous attack on Doodle’s dead figure, the speaker’s challenges for his weakened brother were a sacrilege.

Answer the essay question below:• In Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis”, the scarlet ibis directly

operates as a symbol for the fallen Doodle. Write a well-organized response, with direct text evidence and relevant commentary, outlining how the author utilizes both the color red and other physical similarities to establish this sense of symbolism. Be sure to include in your answer how this symbolism links with the narrator‘s final understanding of his brother Doodle.

Red – Major Writing Task

Blue – Minor Insights/Instructions