- 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.
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.
ReplyDeletedoes this kid want to murder his brother?
ReplyDeleteWhat type of mood do you think the words "dead, bleeding, rotting, and empty cradle" communicate?
ReplyDeleteWhat can you predict this story will be about?
Why is his name Doodle? Is that a nickname someone gave him?
ReplyDeletedoes this kid really want to murder his brother?
ReplyDeletei 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.
ReplyDeletei 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.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the narrator mean when he says "amid the purple phlox"?
ReplyDeletewhat is a doodlebug?
ReplyDeleteI 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?
ReplyDeletewhat is the purple phlox?
ReplyDeleteSamantha,
ReplyDeleteGreat connection to the personal connection.
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?
ReplyDeleteWill the old woman swamp play an important role in story??
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ReplyDeleteI think it is a nickname he gave to his brother because the parents named him William Armstrong.
ReplyDeleteI think the words "dead, bleeding, rotting, and empty cradle" mean something on the lines of that the baby is delicate
ReplyDeleteWhy is the part on the bottom of page 47 edited out?
ReplyDeleteWhy are his parents mad about him teaching Doodle to walk?
ReplyDeletei think the mood is forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he want to kill his little brother?
ReplyDeleteThoughtful ideas, everyone. Forgiveness, sadness, all are correct.
ReplyDeleteDo you see the mood change at any point?
i think the mood is about helping people, and forgiving them for thinks that happend in the past.
ReplyDeleteWhy is he the only nice one to his brother?
ReplyDeletewhy was everyone so sure William Armstrong was going to die, what was his condition that made everyone so sure of his death.
ReplyDeletei 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
ReplyDeletetrue why would he kill him
ReplyDeleteHwy did Aynt Nicey not like the nickname?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Sam. Andrew, keep looking for evidence in the story that might give you an idea about his disease.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the story is about a kite and there family
ReplyDeletei 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
ReplyDeleteI don't think that is right for people to judge by what they are called.
ReplyDeleteI 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"
ReplyDeleteI think doodle is going to make his brother very crazy...
ReplyDeletewhat if he was to hurt his brother by "accidentally flipping him over" when he went along with him. how would he explain that?
ReplyDeleteDoodle seems to have problems but he's learning how to crawl and smile at a very young age
ReplyDeleteI think that the mood is hope and forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteDoodle 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.
ReplyDeleteOne 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI think that Doodle will grow up to live a happy life and he will accomplish great thing throughout his life.
ReplyDeleteI think he was considering killing his brother because he didn't want a brother if he couldn't play with him.
ReplyDeletei think an ibis is like a look out for the diabled boy and he is like a god.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeletei think the mood is sad because their talking about how he almost died twice as a baby.
ReplyDeletehe is mean to his brother, but at the same time he is nice to him.
ReplyDeleteso 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeletewhat is an Ibis?
ReplyDeletewhat is a bleeding tree?
ReplyDeleteIt 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
ReplyDeleteA bleeding tree is: A type of pine tree. That when cut, bleeds sap.
ReplyDeleteGSeibert
The story will have a lot of sorrow and death based on what Mrs. Ackerman's comment.
ReplyDeletei wonder if Doodle will learn to walk?
ReplyDeletewhat is the meaning of the kite in this story?
ReplyDeleteThey 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.
ReplyDeletewhy cant Doodle walk?
ReplyDeletei 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!
ReplyDeleteIs the narrator now a grown man?
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteDoodle talked a lot and crawled backwords
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Ibis is watching over Doodle and giving him the strength to live on a healthy life.
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ReplyDeletethe 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
ReplyDeleteI think the mood is forgiveness or sorrow because the nickname his brother gave him was kind of sad.
ReplyDeletei think the older brother is the ibis.
ReplyDeletewhat does the narrator mean when he says "Finally, I could see I was licked."?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to doodle at the end of the book that was really wierd
ReplyDeleteIs this a true story?
ReplyDeleteWhat is a caul?
ReplyDeleteThe narrator is going to kill Doodle in the Old Woman Swamp.
ReplyDeletehe crawled backward that is iteretresting
ReplyDeleteDo they live by the ocean?
ReplyDeleteWhy does he just leave Doodle to suffer through the rain while he runs through it?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Doodle really loves his brother!!
ReplyDeleteDoodle talked so much that they just stopped listening to him all together
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeletedid this story actually happen is it true????????????
ReplyDeleteI like the connection of the brothers, he's encouraging his brother to walk and that few seconds that he stood was amazing
ReplyDeleteas 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.
ReplyDeleteis this story even a real story or is it made up
ReplyDeleteI think the narrator is becoming less embarrassed of Doodle, because he's starting to have hope in him (: the text says:
ReplyDelete"But all of us have something or someone to be proud of, and Doodle had become mine"
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.
ReplyDeleteWhere are wqe supposed to read on the bottom of page 47?
ReplyDeleteLike the ideas I see here! He should be treated gently.
ReplyDeleteJohnathan, 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?
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.
ReplyDeleteDoodle has stories about people having wings and having birds as pets. This may have something to do with the Ibis and Doodle together.
ReplyDeletei think Doodle can walk now
ReplyDeleteGood ideas about the ibis--unique and beautiful, but fragile. You are right to notice the similarities between Doodle and the ibis!
ReplyDeleteI think Doodle is physically disabled and not mentally because he seems very intelligent.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeletei 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.
ReplyDeletewhhy would the brother be enbareced he has nothing to be embareced about
ReplyDeleteyou 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
ReplyDeletewhy 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?????
ReplyDeleteseems 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.
ReplyDeleteWhy did they keep the baby sized coffin?
ReplyDeleteMrs Ackerman reminds me of a scrarlet ibis!!! (That a connection)
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ReplyDeletewhy do they call it "Old Woman Swamp"?
ReplyDeleteIs what aunt nicey's comment about dead red birds being bad luck going to play a later part in the story?
ReplyDeletei 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
ReplyDeleteWhy do they think the bird looks sick? Does the bird always look like that?
ReplyDeletewhat is a skiff?
ReplyDeleteYes; this is a story about brotherly love and the danger and power of high expectations.
ReplyDeleteAre there people in all our lives whose expectations of us are well intentioned but could be hurtful?
I think a skiff is a boat or a raft
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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?
ReplyDeleteI am like the ibis--hmmm. Thanks?
ReplyDeleteA 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.
Lie discovered a big red bird in the tree
ReplyDeleteWhy 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."
ReplyDeleteBailey 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.
ReplyDeleteso wait why does doodles brother cry when doodle learns how to walk and everyone hugs doodles brother?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Doodles family will like that he might walk?? i wonder if they wont?
ReplyDeletewhat is a caul?
ReplyDeleteI think it's kind of funny how the text says:
ReplyDelete"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 (: )
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!
ReplyDeletethe Ibus is not scared of the people it will just sit there in the tree and not move it will churp but not move
ReplyDeletein the end of the story did doodle die?
ReplyDeletewhat does the term mean "cotton-picking time"?
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ReplyDeletei think doodle did die at the end of this story :(
ReplyDeletewhy is Aunt Nicey so grumpy all the time?
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like Aunt Nicey isn't very nice(y). She seems hard to impress.
ReplyDeleteWow very sad ending...is doodle really dead?
ReplyDeleteThe 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
ReplyDeletethe ibus is dead
ReplyDeletehow could he just leave doodle in the rain, to suffer! thats terrible
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI think that Aunt Nicey will be mad that the narrator is trying to teach Doodle how to walk.
ReplyDeleteWait does his parents know that he knows how to walk?? I'm confused...
ReplyDeleteWhy didnt doodles aunt like his nick name?
ReplyDeleteIn 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.
ReplyDeletei 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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ReplyDeletei 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!
ReplyDeleteits 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
ReplyDeleteDog tongue?
ReplyDeleteI 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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ReplyDeletePoor Birdie!!
ReplyDeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeletethe 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!
ReplyDeleteI think the Scarlet Ibis is a symbol of Doodle
ReplyDeleteWowza, 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.
ReplyDeleteAndrew's question is valid--it seems that the human spirit is sometimes stronger than science, huh?
I like the analogy "Success lay at the end of the summer like a pot of gold.
ReplyDeleteHis 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.
ReplyDeletei 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
ReplyDeletei 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 :)
ReplyDeletethis story can teach you that because of that you can get thought any thing and acomplish it to
i think in the end of the story doodle dies;(
ReplyDeletewhy do they call story telling lying? there not lying to get out of trouble.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very sad ending
ReplyDeleteI didn't like in this story how the author never gave the narrator a name.
ReplyDeletedo you think in the end doodle will walk? i am thinkin yes
ReplyDeletei think that doodle and scarlet ibis are alot alike in the way that the could be representing each other, and how they each feel
ReplyDeleteDog tongue is a plant?
ReplyDeletewhat the heck is dog tongue?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeletewhat 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteahhhhhhhh!!! WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THAT?!:(
ReplyDelete''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)
ReplyDeletei wonder what would happen if doodle touched the bird and berried it
ReplyDeleteare they democrats? "...he began cursing the weather and the republican party."(Hurst 49)
ReplyDeletewow, 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. ):
ReplyDelete