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Quizzes > Books & Literature

The Scarlet Ibis quiz: How well do you know the story?

Quick, free Scarlet Ibis story quiz. Instant results with brief explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Aditya BhatiUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of scarlet ibis resting on branches alongside quiz headline on sky blue background

This The Scarlet Ibis quiz helps you check what you remember about the story's plot, setting, and symbols. You'll get instant feedback and a quick boost before class or a reread. When you're done, try The Lottery quiz, the most dangerous game quiz, or the necklace quiz to compare themes and test your close reading.

What is the narrator's relationship to Doodle in The Scarlet Ibis?
Younger cousin
Older brother
Father
Uncle
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What is Doodle's given birth name in the story?
Robert Armstrong
Charles Henry
William Armstrong
James Doodle Hurst
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Why does the narrator start calling his brother 'Doodle'?
Because it was the doctor's suggestion
Because he liked to draw doodles
Because he crawled backward like a doodlebug
Because Aunt Nicey chose the nickname
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The family keeps a small coffin in the loft for Doodle early in his life.
False
True
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What place do the brothers discover that becomes their secret paradise?
Cranberry Bog
Old Woman Swamp
Horsehead Landing
Bleeding Tree Grove
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Aunt Nicey says that being born in a caul is a sign of good luck or even sainthood.
True
False
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What motivates the narrator to teach Doodle to walk?
Aunt Nicey's promise of a reward
His pride and shame about having a disabled brother
A bet with his friends
Doctor's strict orders
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The story is set primarily in which U.S. state?
Virginia
Florida
North Carolina
Georgia
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What unusual natural event introduces the scarlet ibis into the story?
A storm blows it off course
A forest fire forces migration
A drought drives it north
An earthquake disorients it
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Which object in the yard is referred to as the 'bleeding tree'?
A maple tree with red leaves year-round
A pine tree scarred by lightning
A tree that oozes red sap where the ibis lands
A magnolia tree with crimson blossoms
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The narrator and Doodle often visit Old Woman Swamp to weave flower crowns and imagine a home there.
True
False
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At roughly what historical time is the story set?
During the Civil War
During the Great Depression
During World War II
Around World War I
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Which person most strongly insists Doodle should not be overexerted?
The father
The narrator
The doctor
The mother
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Where does the story's climactic storm chase take place?
At Horsehead Landing and along the path home
Deep in Old Woman Swamp
Inside the barn loft
Across the cotton gin yard
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The grindstone in the present replaces the old bleeding tree from the past in the same spot.
False
True
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Doodle proudly shows his parents he can walk on his second birthday.
True
False
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Which best captures Aunt Nicey's reaction to the ibis's death?
She blames the father for shooting it
She wants to cook the bird for soup
She ignores the omen
She says it's bad luck, especially for dead red birds
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What image does the narrator use to describe Doodle's fragile body when he is born?
A porcelain doll
A little old man
A featherless bird
A withered leaf
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The brothers give the ibis a formal funeral with a small coffin from the loft.
False
True
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What daily practice do the brothers undertake in secret while teaching Doodle to walk?
They pray with Aunt Nicey each morning
They lift weights in the attic
They keep a written training log for the doctor
They practice behind the barn so the family will be surprised
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify the Story's Setting -

    Understand the precise time period and geographic location that define the setting of The Scarlet Ibis.

  2. Analyze Setting's Role -

    Examine how the swampy landscape and historical context influence plot development and reinforce core themes.

  3. Interpret Symbolic Details -

    Decode metaphors like the "big tail on a small kite" to uncover their deeper meaning within the story.

  4. Recall Key Story Elements -

    Strengthen your mastery of Scarlet Ibis short story questions by reviewing major plot points, character relationships, and narrative twists.

  5. Connect Trivia to Insight -

    Apply James Hurst trivia to enrich your understanding of authorial choices and boost your performance on The Scarlet Ibis quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Geographic and Cultural Setting -

    The Scarlet Ibis unfolds in the rural American South, likely coastal North Carolina, where humid summers and lush swamps underscore themes of isolation and belonging. University of North Carolina literature guides highlight how this locale shapes Brother's sense of pride and responsibility.

  2. Historical Context: Post-Reconstruction Era -

    James Hurst places the story after the Civil War but before World War I, a period of rebuilding and social change in the South. Purdue University's literary timeline notes that this era's tensions mirror the brothers' struggles, especially in matters of honor and appearance.

  3. Symbolic Weather and Atmosphere -

    Storms, oppressive heat, and sudden downpours in the Scarlet Ibis short story questions often signal Doodle's vulnerability and foreshadow tragedy. JSTOR articles on Hurst's use of weather point out how oppressive skies reflect internal conflicts.

  4. "Big Tail on a Small Kite" Mnemonic -

    Remember the phrase "big tail on a small kite" to recall Doodle's frailty against Brother's ambitions - a core Scarlet Ibis quiz point. This catchy line mirrors the bird's crimson wings: beautiful but at odds with its environment, as noted by MLA's symbolism analyses.

  5. Natural Imagery and Foreshadowing -

    The arrival of the scarlet ibis - a bird far from its tropical home - foreshadows Doodle's fate, emphasizing themes of displacement. According to Oxford's critical essays on James Hurst trivia, nature not only frames the plot but also cements the emotional climax.

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