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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Spot Metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis - Begin the Quiz

Think you can master scarlet ibis metaphors? Challenge yourself now.

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for metaphors quiz on The Scarlet Ibis features open book cutout quill pen on coral background

Use this quiz to practice finding metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis so you can spot figurative language in key lines. Answer bite-size questions, get a score to check gaps before class, and try a related practice set or compare with another Scarlet Ibis quiz when you're done.

In the final scene the narrator compares Doodle's body to the scarlet ibis. What does this metaphor primarily emphasize?
Doodle's wealth
Doodle's fragility and unique beauty
Doodle's anger
Doodle's resilience
This metaphor emphasizes Doodle's fragility and unique beauty by likening his delicate body to the exotic scarlet ibis. It underlines the tragic parallel between the bird's death and Doodle's demise, reinforcing the story's themes of innocence and vulnerability. The comparison also evokes a sense of pathos and loss at the story's close.
Which sentence from The Scarlet Ibis contains a metaphor describing the fallen bird?
"It lay still on the ground."
"The bird was a drop of red blood on the earth."
"The scarlet bloom lay across the grass like a wound."
"It hit the ground with a thud like a slab of meat."
The phrase "The bird was a drop of red blood on the earth" directly equates the fallen ibis to blood without using "like" or "as," making it a metaphor. It powerfully conveys the violence and tragedy of the bird's fall. By fusing the bird's vivid color with the imagery of blood, the author underscores the story's motif of sacrifice.
When the narrator calls the storm "a hungry beast," what aspect of the storm is he emphasizing?
Its beauty
Its unpredictability
Its size
Its destructive hunger
By comparing the storm to "a hungry beast," the narrator emphasizes its voracious and uncontrollable nature, suggesting it consumes everything in its path. This metaphor evokes fear and highlights the storm's potential for destruction. It also deepens the ominous mood leading up to the story's climax.
In the story Doodle's shame is described as a "millstone around his neck." What does this metaphor imply?
Shame is ancient
Shame is musical
Shame is colorful
Shame weighs heavily on him
The metaphor of shame as "a millstone around his neck" implies a great burden that hinders movement and joy. In the text, this reflects Doodle's constant awareness of his disabilities and perceived shortcomings. The heavy imagery underscores the emotional weight he carries.
The narrator refers to the heat as "an angry child." What aspect does this metaphor highlight?
The heat's nurturing quality
The heat's unpredictability and tantrum-like nature
The heat's softness
The heat's sweetness
Describing the heat as "an angry child" personifies it with erratic and intense behavior, suggesting sudden outbursts and discomfort. This metaphor conveys how oppressive and changeable the weather feels to the characters. It also enhances the story's tense atmosphere.
In The Scarlet Ibis, the family home is metaphorically described as a "cage." What does this suggest?
The home is confining and isolating
The home is joyful
The home is spacious
The home is protective
Calling the family home a "cage" metaphorically suggests confinement and restriction rather than security. It hints at the emotional and social limitations the characters experience there. This metaphor deepens our understanding of their sense of entrapment.
What does the metaphor of the storm as "a closed fist" communicate about the environment?
It's nurturing
It's playful
It's freezing
It's oppressive and suffocating
Describing the storm as "a closed fist" likens it to an object that squeezes and constricts, emphasizing its suffocating, overwhelming force. This metaphor intensifies the reader's sense of dread and impending danger. It also mirrors the narrator's own internal pressure.
The phrase "the grass was stained red" after the ibis's death acts as a metaphor for what?
A rare flower blooming
The bloodshed and sacrifice of the ibis
Joy returning to nature
A harmless spill
Here, the grass being "stained red" metaphorically represents the bloodshed and sacrifice of the scarlet ibis. The vivid color contrast underscores the violence of the bird's death. It also foreshadows the tragic end for Doodle.
What does the metaphor of the "crimson tide" in reference to the dying ibis foreshadow?
A sudden flood
Summer's end
Doodle's fate and blood
A battle scene
The term "crimson tide" metaphorically links the ibis's blood to a rising tide, foreshadowing Doodle's own tragic end. This looming image of blood underscores the story's recurring motif of sacrifice. It also parallels the narrator's guilt-ridden emotions.
The scarlet ibis is a metaphor for Doodle. Which quality does this comparison NOT highlight?
Invincibility
Fragility
Otherness
Exoticism
The scarlet ibis metaphor emphasizes Doodle's exoticness, fragility, and otherness but not invincibility. In fact, the comparison underscores his vulnerability. The bird's ultimate death parallels Doodle's inability to overcome physical limitations.
When the dead ibis is described as "a stained blot on the green pastures," what is implied by this metaphor?
Clarity
Beauty
Intrusion of death and unnatural presence
Restoration
Calling the ibis "a stained blot" on the pasture implies that its death disrupts the natural beauty of the scene. The metaphor heightens the shock and sense of loss. It draws the reader's attention to the violence of mortality.
The narrator describes Doodle's heart as "a pulse of iron." How does this metaphor affect interpretation?
It suggests silence
It suggests strength and perseverance
It suggests sickness
It suggests weakness
By comparing Doodle's heartbeat to iron, the metaphor conveys strong resilience and determination despite his frail condition. It reflects his inner strength and unwillingness to give up. This image contrasts sharply with his physical vulnerability.
In a later passage, the storm is metaphorically called "an army at the gates." What is the effect of this metaphor?
It makes the storm friendly
It indicates the storm is far away
It suggests the storm is small
It conveys the storm's threatening power
Describing the storm as "an army at the gates" instills a sense of impending invasion and danger. It amplifies the threat level and tension in the narrative. This metaphor sets the stage for the climax by portraying nature as an organized force.
The metaphor "time was a tease" in the story hints at:
Time's blindness
Time's speed
Time's playful and delaying nature
Time's kindness
By calling time "a tease," the narrator suggests it toys with the characters by delaying progress or relief. This metaphor evokes frustration and impatience. It also underscores the tension between hope and inevitability in the story.
The fading of the scarlet ibis is described as "a candle guttering in the wind." This metaphor highlights:
The bird's warmth
The bird's fading life force and imminent extinction
The bird's singing
The bird's nest
Comparing the ibis's final moments to a candle guttering in the wind conveys its struggle to survive and the fragility of its life. The image evokes a delicate flame about to be extinguished. This metaphor poignantly foreshadows tragedy.
Analyze the metaphor of the "shadow that stalks the yard" following Doodle's death. What does this likely represent?
Future tragedy
The narrator's overwhelming guilt
The house at night
Doodle's spirit returning
The "shadow that stalks the yard" metaphorically embodies the narrator's lingering guilt and remorse after Doodle's death. It suggests an ever-present burden that haunts him. This image reinforces the story's exploration of pride and its destructive consequences.
The story refers to "blood-red lilies" by the window. As a metaphor, what theme does this imagery reinforce?
Renewal
Innocence
Passion
Mortality and the intertwining of beauty and death
Blood-red lilies metaphorically merge vibrant beauty with the color of blood, reinforcing themes of mortality and the close relationship between life and death. The image foreshadows the tragic events to come. It underscores the story's somber mood.
The narrator describes Doodle's eyes as "dark pools." As a metaphor, this suggests:
They hold deep secrets or sorrow
They are bright
They are shallow
They reflect joy
Describing Doodle's eyes as "dark pools" metaphorically implies depth, hidden sorrow, and untold emotions. It emphasizes his introspective nature and the sadness he carries. This image deepens the reader's empathy for him.
In a critical passage, the summer heat is called "a closed fist." What does this metaphor communicate about the environment?
It's oppressive and suffocating
It's playful
It's nurturing
It's freezing
The storm's heat as "a closed fist" evokes a sense of relentless pressure and constriction. This metaphor intensifies the atmosphere's hostility. It mirrors the emotional tension and antagonistic forces at play.
The broken tree limb that fell near Doodle after the storm is described as "an executioner's axe." This metaphor primarily conveys:
Harvest time
A tool for pruning
The inevitability and severity of death
Random chance
Calling the limb "an executioner's axe" equates the tree's branch to a deadly instrument, underscoring the lethal outcome awaiting Doodle. This metaphor conveys the cruel inevitability and gravity of death. It heightens the story's tragic climax.
The metaphor "the sky was a bruise" in the aftermath of the storm suggests:
A gardener's influence
Calm weather
Lingering pain and damage
A fresh morning
Describing the sky as a bruise metaphorically conveys residual trauma and damage after the storm. It suggests that the environment itself bears the marks of violence. This image deepens the story's somber, wounded atmosphere.
How does the metaphor of the scarlet ibis as a "martyr" enhance the narrative's message?
It indicates wealth
It emphasizes sacrifice and innocence
It shows victory
It shows humor
Labeling the scarlet ibis a "martyr" highlights its sacrificial death and purity, paralleling Doodle's own fate. This metaphor deepens the theme of innocence wronged by pride. It reinforces the story's moral about the cost of ambition.
Consider the layered metaphor of the ibis and Doodle. What critical literary function does this extended metaphor serve?
It simplifies the narrative structure
It intertwines theme and character to underscore tragic consequences of pride
It creates comedic relief
It provides historical context
The extended metaphor linking the ibis to Doodle weaves together character development and theme, illustrating how pride can lead to devastating results. It creates a poignant symmetry between bird and boy across the narrative. This deepens the emotional impact and moral resonance of the story.
Analyze how the metaphorical contrast between the "vibrant scarlet" and Doodle's "ashen face" serves as a commentary on:
Seasonal changes
Political unrest
The correlation between vitality and appearance
Socioeconomic status
By contrasting the bird's vivid scarlet hue with Doodle's pale, ashen face, the metaphor comments on the connection between outer appearance and inner vitality. It highlights the tragic irony that pure strength of spirit often goes unnoticed until it's extinguished. This deepens the reader's insight into the story's exploration of life and death.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Metaphors -

    Pinpoint prominent metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis text, including comparisons that enhance the narrative's emotional depth.

  2. Analyze Figurative Language -

    Examine how Hurst employs metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis to convey themes of pride, loss, and resilience.

  3. Interpret Symbolic Meaning -

    Uncover the deeper significance of scarlet ibis metaphors and relate them to the story's emotional and thematic arcs.

  4. Differentiate Literary Devices -

    Distinguish metaphors from other figurative language in The Scarlet Ibis, such as similes, personification, and symbolism.

  5. Apply Analytical Techniques -

    Use quiz feedback to sharpen your ability to analyze metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis and support your interpretations with evidence.

  6. Enhance Critical Reading -

    Strengthen your overall understanding of scarlet ibis metaphors to boost literary analysis skills across diverse texts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Scarlet Ibis as a Reflective Symbol -

    In the scarlet ibis metaphors, the wounded bird mirrors Doodle's frailty and impending doom, inviting readers to see how nature highlights human vulnerability. Academic analyses from university lit departments emphasize that this bird's appearance at the story's climax solidifies the central metaphor for loss and empathy. Visualize Doodle's condition each time you recall the ibis's crimson plumage to reinforce this symbolic link.

  2. Color Imagery as Foreshadowing -

    Hurst's use of vibrant red throughout the story employs color as a metaphor for blood, danger, and death in The Scarlet Ibis, subtly warning readers before tragedy strikes. According to research on figurative language in the scarlet ibis, repeated mentions of red heighten suspense and foreshadow Doodle's fate. Remember "Red Means End" as a mnemonic to recall how color signals the story's emotional high points.

  3. Flight Motif and Metaphorical Wings -

    Analyzing metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis reveals how flight imagery conveys hope and failure as Doodle strives to "fly" like his bird counterpart. Critical essays from reputable journals explain that each attempt at flight underscores themes of ambition, pride, and the human spirit's limits. Picture Doodle's imagined wings every time you read about the ibis to anchor this recurring motif.

  4. Character Metaphors Reveal Relationships -

    Scarlet ibis literary devices include direct comparisons - Doodle is called a "rat" and the ibis a "bright red bird" - to expose his brother's conflicted feelings of love and shame. University literature guides note that these character metaphors deepen our understanding of guilt and familial pressure. Use a simple phrase like "Metaphor Mirrors Motive" to remember how character-based comparisons drive emotional depth.

  5. Dual Metaphors for Theme Integration -

    The interplay of the ibis metaphor and Doodle's physical decline showcases Hurst's talent for layering metaphors in The Scarlet Ibis to explore pride, redemption, and mortality. Academic sources from English departments highlight how Doodle's death and the bird's demise form a cohesive thematic tapestry. To study effectively, draw a Venn diagram linking the ibis, Doodle, and core themes of loss and compassion.

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