"The Scarlet Ibis" - Symbolism
Reflection
Organization could have improved my essay significantly. Starting with my introductory paragraph, I should have introduced the multiple symbols in a list, then had the complete explanations for each symbol in the body paragraphs. Instead i explained each symbol in my introductory paragraph and then went into more depth in my body paragraphs. I believe with this change, my essay would have been more concise and direct. The reason I am rewriting this essay is because I also found myself summarizing instead of analyzing the text. With more analysis and less summary, my essay would have contained a higher quality of writing and would have better supported my knowledge of The Scarlet Ibis. I was slightly disappointing in my writing after reading this and believe that there is significant room for improvement.
Artifact
Chandler Corley
Mrs. Carter
10/6/13
AP Lit and Comp
The Scarlet Ibis: Symbolism
James Hurst constructs The Scarlet Ibis by using many literary devices such as symbolism. The main symbol that Hurst uses during the short story is the Scarlet Ibis itself; it resembles Doodle in many ways. The bird, Scarlet Ibis, is not the only symbol that is portrayed throughout this story, but the color red is referred to countless of times during The Scarlet Ibis and symbolizes death.
The Scarlet Ibis is a bird that Doodle finds lying on the ground dead beside the bleeding tree. It was not a common bird where they lived so it must have traveled a great distance before dying. This is a symbol in many ways that illustrates Doodle. Just as a Scarlet Ibis traveling a great deal of distance, Doodle also accomplishes a great amount of things, and both Doodle and the bird’s life were shorted then expected.
Throughout the story Hurst makes references to the color red which not only symbolizes death but also foreshadows the upcoming death of Doodle. The first encounter with this tragic color can be found in the second paragraph when Hurst describes Doodle after being born as a “tiny body which was red,” (page 1). Later on in the story Hurst uses the Scarlet Ibis which is a red bird, and this bird dies at the feet of the bleeding tree which also resembles red and symbolizes death. The last occasion in the story that Hurst uses the color red to symbolize death is at the end when Doodle dies. “He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red,” (page 6). Hurst uses this last symbolic phrase to describe Doodles death but instead of describing the color red as terrible but as brilliant. He does this to relate the Scarlet Ibis’ graceful, beautiful death to the death of Doodle.
Symbolism can be the success or the failure of a story. James Hurst was very successful because the plot of his short story revolved around a symbolic meaning between the Scarlet Ibis and Doodle. Although this was not the only symbolism that Hurst used, he used the color red to symbolize death throughout the story. These two, and many more symbols created a short story that evokes a variety of emotions from the reader which is exactly what Hurst was planning to do when he fabricated The Scarlet Ibis.
Mrs. Carter
10/6/13
AP Lit and Comp
The Scarlet Ibis: Symbolism
James Hurst constructs The Scarlet Ibis by using many literary devices such as symbolism. The main symbol that Hurst uses during the short story is the Scarlet Ibis itself; it resembles Doodle in many ways. The bird, Scarlet Ibis, is not the only symbol that is portrayed throughout this story, but the color red is referred to countless of times during The Scarlet Ibis and symbolizes death.
The Scarlet Ibis is a bird that Doodle finds lying on the ground dead beside the bleeding tree. It was not a common bird where they lived so it must have traveled a great distance before dying. This is a symbol in many ways that illustrates Doodle. Just as a Scarlet Ibis traveling a great deal of distance, Doodle also accomplishes a great amount of things, and both Doodle and the bird’s life were shorted then expected.
Throughout the story Hurst makes references to the color red which not only symbolizes death but also foreshadows the upcoming death of Doodle. The first encounter with this tragic color can be found in the second paragraph when Hurst describes Doodle after being born as a “tiny body which was red,” (page 1). Later on in the story Hurst uses the Scarlet Ibis which is a red bird, and this bird dies at the feet of the bleeding tree which also resembles red and symbolizes death. The last occasion in the story that Hurst uses the color red to symbolize death is at the end when Doodle dies. “He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red,” (page 6). Hurst uses this last symbolic phrase to describe Doodles death but instead of describing the color red as terrible but as brilliant. He does this to relate the Scarlet Ibis’ graceful, beautiful death to the death of Doodle.
Symbolism can be the success or the failure of a story. James Hurst was very successful because the plot of his short story revolved around a symbolic meaning between the Scarlet Ibis and Doodle. Although this was not the only symbolism that Hurst used, he used the color red to symbolize death throughout the story. These two, and many more symbols created a short story that evokes a variety of emotions from the reader which is exactly what Hurst was planning to do when he fabricated The Scarlet Ibis.
Revised Type Essay
Chandler Corley “The Scarlet Ibis”: Symbolism May 4, 2014
James Hurst constructs The Scarlet Ibis by using many literary devices such as symbolism. The Scarlet Ibis and the Color red are the main symbol that Hurst uses during his short story.
The Scarlet Ibis is a bird that Doodle finds lying on the ground dead beside the bleeding tree. It was not a common bird where they lived, so it must have traveled a great distance before dying. This is a symbol in many ways that illustrates Doodle. Just as a Scarlet Ibis traveling a great distance, Doodle also accomplishes a great amount of things including surviving birth against all odds, and learning how to walk when the doctor said that he would never be able to. Along with this, both Doodle and the bird’s life were shorter then expected.
Throughout the story Hurst makes references to the color red which not only symbolizes death but also foreshadows Doodle’s Death. The first encounter with this tragic color can be found in the second paragraph when Hurst describes Doodle after being born as a “tiny body which was red.” Hurst uses this symbolism to warn the reader of doodle’s upcoming death. Later, Hurst uses the Scarlet Ibis, a red bird, which dies at the feet of the bleeding tree. The last occasion in the story that Hurst uses the color red to symbolize death is at the end when Doodle dies. “He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red,” (page 6). Hurst uses this last symbolic phrase to describe Doodles death but instead of illustrating the color red as terrible he described it as brilliant. He does this to relate the Scarlet Ibis’ graceful, beautiful death to Doodle’s Death.
The plot of James Hurst’s short story revolved around a symbolic meaning between the Scarlet Ibis and Doodle. Although this was not the only symbolism that Hurst used, he used the color red to symbolize death throughout the story. These two, and many more symbols created a short story that evoke particular emotions which is exactly what Hurst was planning to do when he sculpted The Scarlet Ibis.
James Hurst constructs The Scarlet Ibis by using many literary devices such as symbolism. The Scarlet Ibis and the Color red are the main symbol that Hurst uses during his short story.
The Scarlet Ibis is a bird that Doodle finds lying on the ground dead beside the bleeding tree. It was not a common bird where they lived, so it must have traveled a great distance before dying. This is a symbol in many ways that illustrates Doodle. Just as a Scarlet Ibis traveling a great distance, Doodle also accomplishes a great amount of things including surviving birth against all odds, and learning how to walk when the doctor said that he would never be able to. Along with this, both Doodle and the bird’s life were shorter then expected.
Throughout the story Hurst makes references to the color red which not only symbolizes death but also foreshadows Doodle’s Death. The first encounter with this tragic color can be found in the second paragraph when Hurst describes Doodle after being born as a “tiny body which was red.” Hurst uses this symbolism to warn the reader of doodle’s upcoming death. Later, Hurst uses the Scarlet Ibis, a red bird, which dies at the feet of the bleeding tree. The last occasion in the story that Hurst uses the color red to symbolize death is at the end when Doodle dies. “He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red,” (page 6). Hurst uses this last symbolic phrase to describe Doodles death but instead of illustrating the color red as terrible he described it as brilliant. He does this to relate the Scarlet Ibis’ graceful, beautiful death to Doodle’s Death.
The plot of James Hurst’s short story revolved around a symbolic meaning between the Scarlet Ibis and Doodle. Although this was not the only symbolism that Hurst used, he used the color red to symbolize death throughout the story. These two, and many more symbols created a short story that evoke particular emotions which is exactly what Hurst was planning to do when he sculpted The Scarlet Ibis.