Monday, September 13, 2010

2nd Hour: "Scarlet Ibis"

  • While we read "The Scarlet Ibis," we'll practice good questioning techniques. As you have a question, please post it to this blog. When another finds the answer to the question or has a follow-up question, or an idea that relates to the question, he/she will post those thoughts.
  • Please use the handout from the webpage to guide your thinking.
  • Be respectful and specific on this blog--use predictions, background knowledge, and inferences to come to your conclusions.

  • Link your ideas back to the text.

168 comments:

  1. i believe the ibis represents a very bright colorful bird that oversees everything and in the garden it is near a bleeding tree.Also that the ibis is in place of an old tree and represents something to the person looking out the window.

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  2. does this kid want to murder his brother?

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  3. What type of mood do you think the words "dead, bleeding, rotting, and empty cradle" communicate?
    What can you predict this story will be about?

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  4. Why is his name Doodle? Is that a nickname someone gave him?

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  5. does this kid really want to murder his brother?

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  6. i think those moods mean sorrow, and depression. i predict this story will be about a young boy who is not supposed to be alive.but then thinks turn around and he may end up fulfilling a wonderful life.

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  7. i think that this story is going to be about a bird (Ibis) that is like a watcher over this mans little brother. i also think that the little brother is going to get very angry with his older brother because of the high expectations he has for his little brother.

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  8. What does the narrator mean when he says "amid the purple phlox"?

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  9. I believe, Maddie, that Doodle is a nickname. If you notice later, they name him "william Armstrong which is like tying a big tail on a small kite. such a name sounds good only on a tombstone" (46). What does that metaphor tell us about Doodle's life?

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  10. what is the purple phlox?

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  11. Samantha,
    Great connection to the personal connection.

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  12. why did everyone think he was going to die? Why did they name him when he was three months old? What did they call him before that?

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  13. Will the old woman swamp play an important role in story??

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  15. I think it is a nickname he gave to his brother because the parents named him William Armstrong.

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  16. I think the words "dead, bleeding, rotting, and empty cradle" mean something on the lines of that the baby is delicate

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  17. Why is the part on the bottom of page 47 edited out?

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  18. Why are his parents mad about him teaching Doodle to walk?

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  19. Why would he want to kill his little brother?

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  20. Thoughtful ideas, everyone. Forgiveness, sadness, all are correct.
    Do you see the mood change at any point?

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  21. i think the mood is about helping people, and forgiving them for thinks that happend in the past.

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  22. Why is he the only nice one to his brother?

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  23. why was everyone so sure William Armstrong was going to die, what was his condition that made everyone so sure of his death.

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  24. i think that when he says that he wanted to smother him with a pillow i think its because he doesn't want to see his brother going through so much pain

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  25. Hwy did Aynt Nicey not like the nickname?

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  26. Absolutely, Sam. Andrew, keep looking for evidence in the story that might give you an idea about his disease.

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  27. I noticed that the story is about a kite and there family

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  28. i think that the nickname his brother named him was really sad because he should have said that as a brother he could do something. the mood is forgiveness i think

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  29. I don't think that is right for people to judge by what they are called.

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  30. I think the mood changes when he says "For the first time he became on of us" because it seems before his little brother knew how to crawl, he alienated him, and called him "invalid"

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  31. I think doodle is going to make his brother very crazy...

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  32. what if he was to hurt his brother by "accidentally flipping him over" when he went along with him. how would he explain that?

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  33. Doodle seems to have problems but he's learning how to crawl and smile at a very young age

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  34. I think that the mood is hope and forgiveness.

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  35. Doodle is dependent on his brother because it seems he is the only on who will take the time to help teach him things and spend time with him.

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  36. One motive in this story might be him wanting to kill doodle because when he is at school people will make fun of him and his brother.

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  37. The child wants to murder his brother because he was angry that his brother would not be able to play with him and he would be different.

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  38. I think that Doodle will grow up to live a happy life and he will accomplish great thing throughout his life.

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  39. I think he was considering killing his brother because he didn't want a brother if he couldn't play with him.

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  40. i think an ibis is like a look out for the diabled boy and he is like a god.

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  41. I think the kid wanted to murder his brother because his mom told him that he couldn't play with him or do the things that he does and did at the age he is at.

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  42. i think the mood is sad because their talking about how he almost died twice as a baby.

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  43. he is mean to his brother, but at the same time he is nice to him.

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  44. so far i have noticed that in the begining there is hopelessness because nobody believes doodle will be able to do anything but his brother doesn't give up on him and makes doodle do things and things become far more hopeful.

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  45. I think that Doodle will do something extraordinary and surprise the entire family and get really close to him and like Josh said Doodle is like the Ibis a shinning light.

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  46. It seems that this story takes place in the olden days because of the way the narrator talks. I wonder how old the older brother is in this story and if the brothers will ever be able to play by the barn like the narrator said

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  47. A bleeding tree is: A type of pine tree. That when cut, bleeds sap.

    GSeibert

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  48. The story will have a lot of sorrow and death based on what Mrs. Ackerman's comment.

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  49. i wonder if Doodle will learn to walk?

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  50. what is the meaning of the kite in this story?

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  51. They call him Doodle because his brother thought when he crawled backward he looked like a doodlebug. After a while, his parents thought it was a good idea, because they thought William Armstrong sounded formal, as if they were referring to one of their ancestors. He thought he was doing his brother a huge favor by renaming him, because he thought no one would expect much from a boy called Doodle.

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  52. i found out doodle got that nick name from his brother because he use to Crawl backwards, so he thought up that him crawling backwards made him look like a doodlebug!

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  53. I don't know why Doodle can't walk, but his brother considers him a burden in many ways because he has to lug him around everywhere he goes, because the doctor said it it not healthy for him to be unhappy in any way, and that he should be treated very gently.

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  54. Doodle talked a lot and crawled backwords

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  55. I believe that the Ibis is watching over Doodle and giving him the strength to live on a healthy life.

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  57. the meaning of the ibis changes through the story as the ibis protects the young boy more and more as the story progresses through time. The ibis becomes like a god parent guiding and watching him closely

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  58. I think the mood is forgiveness or sorrow because the nickname his brother gave him was kind of sad.

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  59. i think the older brother is the ibis.

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  60. what does the narrator mean when he says "Finally, I could see I was licked."?

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  61. What happened to doodle at the end of the book that was really wierd

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  62. The narrator is going to kill Doodle in the Old Woman Swamp.

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  63. he crawled backward that is iteretresting

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  64. Why does he just leave Doodle to suffer through the rain while he runs through it?

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  65. It seems like Doodle really loves his brother!!

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  66. Doodle talked so much that they just stopped listening to him all together

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  67. I think the Ibis symbolizes a unique yet beautiful and special creature. I believe the narrator is comparing Doodle to an Ibis because of those similar traits.

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  68. did this story actually happen is it true????????????

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  69. I like the connection of the brothers, he's encouraging his brother to walk and that few seconds that he stood was amazing

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  70. as i read further on i learned that the boys shamefulness of his disabled brother drove him to the extreme the extreme to letting him alone and forcing him to be normal when the poor boy isn't normal. As i read on i noticed that the mood was forgiveness and sadness tying to connect in the story.

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  71. is this story even a real story or is it made up

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  72. I think the narrator is becoming less embarrassed of Doodle, because he's starting to have hope in him (: the text says:
    "But all of us have something or someone to be proud of, and Doodle had become mine"

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  73. I think the reason why doodle can't walk is because he is scared to try or he just doesn't want to learn how to walk.

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  74. Where are wqe supposed to read on the bottom of page 47?

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  75. Like the ideas I see here! He should be treated gently.

    Johnathan, good thinking about the ibis; keep developing those ideas.

    Grant, I think the narrator is a grown man looking back on his childhood.

    I wonder if he may have cerebral palsy and that's why he can't walk?

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  76. Lexi, I think this possibly was based on a true story because the author stated that it brought back childhood memories like the bleeding tree and the graveyard flowers, but maybe he was just using that as detail. But that is a good question.

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  77. Doodle has stories about people having wings and having birds as pets. This may have something to do with the Ibis and Doodle together.

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  78. Good ideas about the ibis--unique and beautiful, but fragile. You are right to notice the similarities between Doodle and the ibis!

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  79. I think Doodle is physically disabled and not mentally because he seems very intelligent.

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  80. The kite is comparing Doodle with his name. If there is a big tail on a small kite it looks kind of weird so, he is saying that his name didn't match doodles personality.

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  81. i think that doodles brother is very pushy with him trying to walk. i think he should be happy that he has a brother that loves him, and cares for him. i think that if doodle cant walk then he should leave it that way, not push him.

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  82. whhy would the brother be enbareced he has nothing to be embareced about

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  83. you can tell that even though in the beginning it talked about the fact they didn't really get along too well but as u progress through the story u see how much they actually love one another

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  84. why does he run and just leave his poor brother alone in the rain why does he insist on making doodle normal why can't he admit that he's brother is different why?????

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  85. seems to me that doodle and his brother are getting along now. their talking about that they might live together. they both say they want to live in Old Woman Swamp.

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  86. Why did they keep the baby sized coffin?

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  87. Mrs Ackerman reminds me of a scrarlet ibis!!! (That a connection)

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  89. why do they call it "Old Woman Swamp"?

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  90. Is what aunt nicey's comment about dead red birds being bad luck going to play a later part in the story?

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  91. i think it is nice that doodle's brother is trying to help him walk but it also can be a little selfish of him because he is embarreced about that

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  92. Why do they think the bird looks sick? Does the bird always look like that?

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  93. Yes; this is a story about brotherly love and the danger and power of high expectations.
    Are there people in all our lives whose expectations of us are well intentioned but could be hurtful?

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  94. I think a skiff is a boat or a raft

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  95. I like the quote that the narrator says that states "I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.
    I think is is sad that he is realizing his brother will probably never learn to walk, and he is losing faith thinking he can each Doodle to be what is considered to some people as normal.

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  96. Is Doodle being over worked since he isn't supposed to do almost everything his brother is teaching him to do because he has a weak heart and wont this eventually end up killing him?

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  97. I am like the ibis--hmmm. Thanks?
    A skiff, Erin, is a small boat. And Josh, the bird is struggling to fly. He has been on a long journey, but he wouldn't normally look like that.

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  98. Lie discovered a big red bird in the tree

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  99. Why did he leave Doodle to die? Also is Doodle apart of the ibis because that is how he treats Doodle. In the story the author writes,"I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of the rain."

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  100. Bailey and Colin--great ideas. Good predictions and interpretations. Having pride in someone or something can be positive, but can also hurt the other person because of your expectations.

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  101. so wait why does doodles brother cry when doodle learns how to walk and everyone hugs doodles brother?

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  102. I wonder if Doodles family will like that he might walk?? i wonder if they wont?

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  103. I think it's kind of funny how the text says:
    "and to help pass the time, we took up lying. From the beginning Doodle was a terrible liar and he got me in the habit." they treat it like it's a hobby or something.

    (Yes Mrs. Ackerman, your YOUNG and HIP (: )

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  104. i think that doodles brother has finally realized that not only is he happy that he can walk but he is also happy that he can hang out with his brother walk right next to him, have fun play tag and go to friends houses and do all of it with his brother walking next to him! I also think that doodle realized that he doesn't want him to just be his slave but in other words not crippled!

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  105. the Ibus is not scared of the people it will just sit there in the tree and not move it will churp but not move

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  106. in the end of the story did doodle die?

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  107. what does the term mean "cotton-picking time"?

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  109. i think doodle did die at the end of this story :(

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  110. why is Aunt Nicey so grumpy all the time?

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  111. I like when doodle just walks himself to the dinner table and his brother now knows that after teaching him how to walk that he can teach him anything and the possibilities are endless.

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  112. It sounds to me like Aunt Nicey isn't very nice(y). She seems hard to impress.

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  113. Wow very sad ending...is doodle really dead?

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  114. The brother's expectations were definitely too high. Like on the bottom of page 49 where he is making Doddle do too much work and he can't do it anymore

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  115. how could he just leave doodle in the rain, to suffer! thats terrible

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  116. I think there is a theme to the story; to let people know that it is okay to be different as long as your being yourself.

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  117. I think that Aunt Nicey will be mad that the narrator is trying to teach Doodle how to walk.

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  118. Wait does his parents know that he knows how to walk?? I'm confused...

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  119. Why didnt doodles aunt like his nick name?

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  120. In the story it talks about have an amount of time for Doodle to be able to catch up with the boys in school he's like pushing him beyond his limits. He's training Doodle in a way to be the brother he always wanted. But in the end Doodle can't take it and all the pressure.

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  121. i wonder why the kid is pushing doodle so hard. making him swim everyday until he turns blue and row a boat until he cant lift another oar? i mean i understand where he's coming from; trying to find their pot of gold but why is he working him so hard?

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  123. i think that he is pushing doodle to much and he needs to except that that is his brother and if he doesn't change then he doesn't change he should be happy that he even taught him to walk!

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  124. its strange how in many stories the doctor will say how someone will never walk again or something like that but the person overcomes their disability and do what everyone else said they couldn't do. and this is the case in this story as well

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  125. I realized that during the seasons, Doodle got sick and started having nightmares. Doodle was also feeling feverish, so this may be a sign saying he was not maintaining good health and might be in harm's way.

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  127. What the scarlet ibis represented was doodle and when the scarlet ibis died so did doodle soon after and how doodle was read the scarlets ibis's feathers were to. That is what it represented DOODLE.

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  128. The narrator describes the scarlet ibis as it came all those miles to here and it died in the storm. Doodle had gone from not being able to walk to rowing and running, but went all that way...just like scarlet ibis delicate and beautiful.

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  129. the ibus was like something really special to him something that he new would always be there for him but when it died Doodle lost his heart!

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  130. I think the Scarlet Ibis is a symbol of Doodle

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  131. Wowza, 2nd hour, really great ideas! You have really grasped the conflict in the story about high expectations and wanting good things for people but that being a negative because they can't really achieve those heights.
    Andrew's question is valid--it seems that the human spirit is sometimes stronger than science, huh?

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  132. I like the analogy "Success lay at the end of the summer like a pot of gold.

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  133. His brothers selfishness let him run and leave his brother in the rain. The expectations he set for doodle i don't think where to high he just wasn't prepared for his brother to fail, he wasn't being realistic. But he definitely had faith in his brother.

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  134. i think that he is working doodle to hard and something bad will happen to doodle because of all the overworking he is doing. and you can tell because it says when doodle is becoming feverish and sick you know something bad is going to happen

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  135. i think that this story is really touching because it shows that you can acomplish any thing as long as you put your mind to it and you can also get thought any thing to as long as you are willing to get thought :)
    this story can teach you that because of that you can get thought any thing and acomplish it to

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  136. i think in the end of the story doodle dies;(

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  137. why do they call story telling lying? there not lying to get out of trouble.

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  138. The Older brother believed to much in Doodle and he thought he could make it back so he did not help him but Doodle was not strong enough.

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  139. I believe that doodle's brother had such high expectations of him that he lost sight of what he could and couldn't do and that is why he left him there thinking he could get up. I think his pride and expectations killed doodle.

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  140. I didn't like in this story how the author never gave the narrator a name.

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  141. do you think in the end doodle will walk? i am thinkin yes

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  142. i think that doodle and scarlet ibis are alot alike in the way that the could be representing each other, and how they each feel

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  143. what the heck is dog tongue?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

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  144. what do they mean with what the brothers says''what are the words that can solder cracked pride''??? I think that doodle accomplished a lot even though he was different he had flown a long way just like the ibis.

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  145. I think his bones will be to weak and he will not be able to accomplish most of the tasks the narrator is setting for him.

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  146. ahhhhhhhh!!! WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THAT?!:(

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  147. ''what are the words that can solder cracked pride'' means that he is wondering what he could say to heal his pride (solder is a way to connect things)

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  148. i wonder what would happen if doodle touched the bird and berried it

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  149. are they democrats? "...he began cursing the weather and the republican party."(Hurst 49)

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  150. wow, that was very sad. I don't understand why the brother would keep running if Doodle fell down and was crying for him. I'm sure if he hadn't kept running Doodle would have survived. ):

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