“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
“The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind” by Ray Bradbury
Name______Date______
Writing About the Big Question
The Big Question: Is conflict necessary?
Big Question Vocabulary
amicably antagonize appreciate argument articulate
compete competition controversy cooperate differences
equity grievance issue mediate survival
war battle
A. Use one or more words from the list above to complete each sentence. There may be more than one right answer.
1. It is important to ______an argument’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. If you carefully______your argument, you are likely to be better understood.
3. Resolving a(n)______before it escalates can lead to a more positive outcome.
4. Some governments see no other resolution to a conflict than______.
B. Follow the directions in responding to each item below.
5. Write about a conflict in a story you have read. Use at least two of the Big Question vocabulary words.
6. Explain how the conflict was resolved. Use at least two of the Big Question vocabulary words.
C. In both of these stories, competitiveness leads to conflict. Complete the sentences below. Then, write a sentence in which you connect this experience to the Big Question.
7. Some people like to compete because . . .
To prevent a competition from turning into a conflict, you might . . .
Vocabulary Builder
Word List
imminent infallibility precariously ravenous spurn
A. DIRECTIONS: Revise each sentence so that the underlined vocabulary word is used logically. Be sure not to change the vocabulary word.
1. A thunderstorm appears to be imminent, so we have decided to stay in the pool.
2. Josh made so many errors on the math test that we marveled at his infallibility.
3. A baby spider monkey is dangling precariously from the top of that tall tree, so we are not worried about its safety.
4. That tiger ate so little meat! It must have been ravenous.
5. To spurn a fellow guest at a party is a good way to make a new friend.
B. DIRECTIONS: Write the letter of the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the Word List word.
____ 6. precariously
a. / dangerously / b. / securely / c. / insecurely / d. / ridiculously____ 7. infallibility
a. / inablility / b. / futility / c. / imperfection / d. / impossibility____ 8. ravenous
a. / polite / b. / full / c. / nervous / d. / pleasant____ 9. spurn
a. / accept / b. / dodge / c. / introduce / d. / defyLiterary Analysis: Symbolism and Allegory
A symbol is a person, a place, a thing, or an event that represents both itself and a larger idea or feeling. Symbolism is the use of symbols in literature. For example, a writer might use a journey as a symbol for the life of a human being.
An allegory is a poem or story that has parallel literal and symbolic meanings. On the literal level, the story appears simply as it is told. On the symbolic level, however, every element in the story—including the characters, events, descriptions, and features of the setting—has a symbolic meaning. While an allegory can be understood on the literal level, its full meaning is clear only on the symbolic level. Often, allegories may seem less realistic than nonallegorical works, and they may shed light on current events.
DIRECTIONS: After you have read the selections, think about which of each work’s details and events may be symbolic or allegorical. Then, read these key passages from the stories, and answer the questions that follow.
“The Scarlet Ibis”
1. That summer, the summer of 1918, was blighted. In May and June there was no rain and
the crops withered, curled up, then died under the thirsty sun.
What is symbolic about the weather in this passage?
2. For a long, long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis
from the heresy of rain.
How is the symbolism in this passage related to a central theme or insight in the story?
“The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind”
3. And on every night of the year the inhabitants of the Town of the Kite could hear the good
clear wind sustaining them. And those in the Town of the Wind could hear the kite singing,
whispering, rising, and beautifying them.
How does this outcome suggest the moral lesson to be drawn from the allegory in this story?
The Scarlet Ibis
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
Critical Thinking
Analyze: Why does the narrator cry when everyone congratulates him for teaching Doodle to walk?
Analyze: What do the narrator’s tears reveal about his conflicted, or mixed, feelings?
Compare and Contrast: How does Doodle’s reaction to the dead bird compare to those of his family members? Support your answer with details from the text.
As a child, the narrator sets demanding competitive goals for Doodle. Why do you think Doodle strives for these goals even though he does not have a competitive nature?
Symbolism and Allegory: How are the details about the blood as well as Doodle’s position beneath the bush similar to what happened to the ibis?
Symbolism: What references/clues throughout the story suggest that the story may be ending tragically for Doodle?
Imagery: This story feels real and is full of images that are easy to see and feel. Directly quote one scene from the story that is so vivid that you can “see” it happening.
The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
Symbolism and Allegory: What qualities do the people believe the image of a pig symbolizes?
Plot: What stage of the plot does the paragraph beginning “Sickness spread . . .” represent? Explain your answer.
Connecting to the Big Question: What command does the voice behind the screen finally utter? Why is it necessary in a conflict to know when to stop struggling? Explain.
Analyze Cause and Effect: How does the competition between the towns affect the people’s health and well-being? Explain.
Draw Conclusions: What lesson does this story teach for today’s world?
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: To end their conflict, what must the Mandarins realize is more important than this competition? Explain your answer.
Craft and Structure: Based on your analysis of the symbolism in “The Scarlet Ibis” and this story, which one is allegory? Explain.
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Grade 9, Unit 2