Why are there both positive and negative comparisons? Where do they occur in the first two paragraphs in "The Scarlet Ibis?"

By using both positive and negative comparisons in the first two paragraphs of “The Scarlet Ibis,” James Hurst marks the time close to when Doodle died and after some time has passed.

In the first paragraph, he describes the scene in the garden when the Scarlet Ibis first came to the yard. He describes the season as being after summer but before autumn has fully arrived. Some of the summer flowers are dying while others...

By using both positive and negative comparisons in the first two paragraphs of “The Scarlet Ibis,” James Hurst marks the time close to when Doodle died and after some time has passed.

In the first paragraph, he describes the scene in the garden when the Scarlet Ibis first came to the yard. He describes the season as being after summer but before autumn has fully arrived. Some of the summer flowers are dying while others are still in bloom. “The five o'clocks by the chimney still marked time, but the oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle.” He goes on to explain that the graveyard flowers are still in bloom but they remind the family of their dead.

Once again in the second paragraph, the author uses both positive and negative images. He portrays the emotions brother feels. Although the oriole still sings in the tree, its song floats away like dust, the yard and fences are neat but do not indicate what lies within. The bleeding tree has been replaced by a grindstone but the sound of that grindstone reminds Brother of Doodle. On the surface, time has passed, but within Brother, the normal things bring back the memory of his little brother.