“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst Quiz and Close Reading Bundle

For many high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst is a story about overcoming obstacles, family pressures, the unintended consequences of one’s actions, and more. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Scarlet Ibis,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
• Discern the function of a particular paragraph
• Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, idiom, personification, dramatic irony, hubris, and more
• Determine the tone of a particular excerpt
• Conduct brief research online to make sense of setting and an allusion
• Interpret the intended effect of a given passage on the audience
• List several similarities between Doodle and the scarlet ibis
• Infer Doodle’s attitude toward mortality based on his treatment of the dead bird
• Examine a passage to identify several narrative techniques used to intensify suspense
• Explore the traditional symbolism associated with rain in order to make sense of the phrase “heresy of rain” as it is used in the story
• Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision