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Ms. DeVelvis- English 7“The Scarlet Ibis”

“The Scarlet Ibis” Unit Activity Packet

“Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death”

  1. Vocabulary:

Fill in the part of speech, denotation and connotation for each of the following vocabulary words.

Word / Part of speech / definition / synonym
Invalid
Imminent
Caul
Vermilion
Heresy
Bleeding Tree
Exotic
Marquisette
Untenanted
Infallibility
  1. Figurative Language:

Search text for 1 example for each of the following:

Alliteration
Oxymoron
Simile
Personification
  1. Plot:

Respond to the following questions using text evidence

Why is “Doodle” first named William Armstrong? / The narrator says, “Renaming my brother was perhaps the kindest thing I ever did for him.” Explain why.
Who expects great things of “Doodle”? / What types of things did Doodle and the narrator do while in Old Woman Swamp?
Why did the narrator teach Doodle to walk? / Give an example of when the narrator was mean to Doodle.
“There is within me (and in sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love…” Explain this quote / “They did not know that I did it for myself; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices…” Explain this quote.
Describe Doodles favorite lie. / Infer-How did the scarlet ibis die?
Explain how Doodle died. / How is the narrator feeling after Doodle dies?
  1. Setting: utilize text evidence to support your responses

Geographical place
Historical year
Local Area
Atmosphere
World events
  1. Extending the setting:

The narrator describes a place full of life:plants, flowers, insects, birds and warm sunny weather. There are several passages where he creates strong imagery. Find several and complete the table with as many examples of the life he describes.

Plants/Flowers / Insects / Birds / Weather
  1. Point of View: utilize text evidence to support your responses

What point of view is the story narrated in?

How old is the narrator when he tells this story?

  1. Character:

There are only two main characters in this story-the narrator and his brother, Doodle (William Armstrong). Using text evidence, respond to the following questions.

How old was the narrator when Doodle was born?
What is wrong with Doodle?
Describe Doodle’s appearance as a baby.
Describe the narrator’s reaction to his new brother.
What kind of brother does the narrator want?
What is Doodle’s reaction to seeing Old woman Swamp for the first time?
Why does the narrator cry when everyone congratulates him for teaching Doodle how to walk?
The narrator says that sometimes he is cruel to his brother: give two examples to show this is true.

A dynamic character is one who changes by the end of the story. He is one who learns something important that changes him, makes him more mature or gives him insight into himself or others. Is the narrator a dynamic character? How do you think he changed and what is it he learned?

VIII Mood:

Mood is theemotional atmosphere of the story.

What is the mood of the opening paragraph of the story?

Give five examples (directly from the first paragraph) that reinforces the

mood.

IX Simile and Metaphor:

The writer utilizes similes and metaphors throughout “The Scarlet Ibis”.

Identify FOUR similes/metaphors.

X Symbol:

A symbol is a thing or idea that stands for something else. Authors use

symbols to enhance the theme or give the readers a greater understanding

of a key idea in the story. The main symbol in the story is the scarlet ibis.

Explain how the author implies that the bird is like Doodle.

To get the reader ready for this symbol, the author “paints” his story red.

Skim the text and find as many things, images and ideas that are red and

document them below.

4.

XI Imagery:

Images are pictures the author creates to define setting, reveal character

reinforce theme or mood. Images can be visual (sight), auditory (hearing),

olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), tactile (touch) and even kinesthetic

(movement).

Skim and find examples of death images throughout the text.

XII Theme:

Theme is the central idea the author reveals to the reader throughout a

story. The central idea helps us understand ourselves as human beings who

are connected to other human beings in this world. Themes are often related

to life, death, love, friendship, family, or courage. Stories may not always

present people in their best light, but by reading the stories, we can

understand a better way for all people to live and behave towards each other.

To create a theme sentence for this story, think about the important idea or

truth we can learn from the narrator’s struggle to get a brother he could be

proud of and the price he paid for the struggle.

Create a theme statement for this story that reveals a truth about human

behavior.

Example: Too much pride can make us treat those we love in cruel ways.

XIII LiteraryResponse:

Write a paragraph telling your reaction to any of the following: Doodle’s love

for his brother, the narrator’s treatment of his brother, or Doodle’s

courage.