Symbolism is used in stories to strengthen themes and enhance main ideas. Common symbols are recurring images, characters or objects that represent ideas beyond their literal meaning. In The Scarlet Ibis, the scarlet ibis bird represents the frail character of Doodle, as hinted by the author's description of Doodle in relation to the ibis. The color red is also used symbolically to represent emotions and paint images that enhance the reader's understanding of characters and themes in the story.

1. Symbolism When a symbol (a person, place, thing, or idea) represents something beyond itself

2. What Symbols Do You Recognize? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3. The Role of Symbolism Strengthens the stories theme Enhances the main idea How can you tell if it’s a symbol? Pictures…if the authors paints the image in your mind through his/her description Repetition…an image used continuously is often a symbol that will appear later in the story Similarities between main ideas and other things in the story (characters, colors, objects)

4. Symbolism in the Scarlet Ibis Without looking at the story write down as many symbols as you can think of for this story Can you list three symbols in the story the scarlet ibis? Hint…what compares to the character Doodle?

5. Colors as Symbols What emotions can you relate to the color red? How does “The Scarlet Ibis” use red to enhance your understanding of the characters and story? What images are painted in your head of the character Doodle in relation to the scarlet ibis in the story? What other colors can be used as symbols? Black, Yellow, Green, Purple, etc.