The symbols of the story is most commonly about racism because the path represents the slavery path when black folks escaped from their owners and most of all their hiding place so they wont find them . Also the woods represents they same symbols as the path because they ran through there in order to lose their own owners. In this story of “A Worn Path” is about a grown up woman who goes into town to get her grandson some medication. Phoenix risks her life by walking in the empty woods through path she already knows very well but that path is a symbol having to do with slavery because back in the days slaves escaped through the woods and would get away from the white people who had these colored folks working for them. Before Phoenix left pigeons were out in the morning making noise and that describes that the pigeons are trying to tell phoenix not to go on the journey because it will be dangerous. While Phoenix is walking she just around the woods and it brings her flash backs from the time periods where slavery was tough and was no freedom for black folks. Phoenix’s journey is a little long just by walking alone in the middle of the woods just to go to town to retrieve the medication Phoenix will do anything just to keep her grandson alive and healthy. During this time its in the month of December which also symbolizes that in this weather and time slaves struggled through colds and abuses but also some died of illness. Phoenix is bundled up very well that will keep her warm during her journey into town. While Phoenix walked through out the woods she faced her self face to face to a angry mutt that ... ... middle of paper ... ... somewhat a flash back when she used to be through areas similar like this and struggled for a while to be in a better place to find peace and happiness and make her future better for her and her siblings. Works Cited Cummings, Michael J. “ ‘A Worn Path’ Study Guide” Cummings Study Guide . N.P., 2011.17 Mar 2014. Writing Rock, Editors. “ ‘A Worn Path’ Analysis Research Paper” Writing Rock. N.P.,n.d.. Web.17 Mar 2014. Schnaila. “Symbolism ‘A Worn Path’”. College Essay Help and Ideas. N.P., 5 Mar 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014 .Garcia, Abv. “Symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty”. Scribd. N.P., n.d Web. 17 Mar 2014 Noelle M. “Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’” Study mode N.P., Oct 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014. Word Press editor. “An Analysis of Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’”. Word press. N.P., April 12,2013. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
It’s December when Phoenix starts on her journey to Natchez and it is a journey she has taken many times before. This journey is no journey an elderly and weaken person should have to make by themselves, yet Phoenix does. She does not allow her age or her condition to keep her from it. Deep through the pines, the path takes her, and her first task would be to make it over a hill that seems to take all her energy and strength. “Seems like there is chains around my feet, time I get this far…” (Welty 5), here the reader can tell Phoenix does not have the strength that she really needs to make it up the hill. Yet somewhere she finds the will to keep pushing on and moving forward. This same type of spirit that allows Phoenix to keep pushing forward in society, and not to back down. Showing the younger generation that you have to fight your way through to a brighter day. It is later down the path that Phoenix comes to a creek and the only way to get across, is by walking on a log. Phoenix walks across this log with her eyes close. Once across she opens her eyes and says, “I wasn’t as old as I ...
“A Worn Path,” written by Eudora Welty, is a story about an old lady, Phoenix Jackson who faces obstacles of a poor life during the most repressed era of American History - The Great Depression. Poor colored people of the south “like Phoenix, they endured an endless struggle, if not against scurrying hogs, then against the thorny bush” explains what life is life during a racial charged time living in the south (Sykes 151). Phoenix Jackson overcomes negativity, difficulty, and impatience; yet, never loses sight of the importance of her biannual worn path to get medicine for her sick grandson.
“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in “A Worn Path” is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determined to get to Natchez, in order to get medicine for her grandson; she does not let any obstacles get in her way. The theme of determination is shown in many ways throughout this short story.
Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. 142-49.
Her trip is full of obstacles, from bushes of thorns that get caught in her dress, to her crossing of a creek. These elements complicate the conflict and increase the readers' curiosity about the plot. Phoenix can't trust her eyes, choosing instead to walk along with her eyes closed and sense her way with the help of her cane. While needed rest forces her to stop for a while, she has a vision of a little boy handing her a slice of marble cake. So many questions arise in the minds of the readers. Who was the little boy? Is she halluci...
Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” emphasizes the unselfish love that inspires courage, sacrifice, and love through her use of symbolism.
The literature “a worn path” by Eudora Welty is a story about family love and dedication, also the author uses characterization, imagery, and does not reveal the initial conflict until the end of the story. The initial idea of the novel is an old lady named Phoenix Jackson trying to find her way to town for an unknown reason. During this journey she encounters different people and different situations. She even forgets her purpose of the journey at the end, but rediscovers the endgame of her quest, she seems to have vision problems and sometimes her mind might wander. The story as a whole and how an old lady does these frequent but far walks to town are heartwarming. In this story there is an abundance of imagery as there
In Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”, we encounter a determined and courageous elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson. In this story, she is traveling a long path in order to obtain medicine for her sick grandson, though she travels this path frequently we see Phoenix come up against many obstacles and challenges. Despite Phoenix being surrounded by obstacles, she overcomes each of them and reaches her destination successfully. In “A Worn Path”, Eudora Welty uses symbolism to create a very vivid image of a courageous elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson who teaches the readers to never give up, no matter what we may encounter on our path of life.
During Eudora Welty's lifespan, through the story of "The Worn Path" one will see how this Modernism movement influenced Eudora Welty in creating this story since that was the era she grew up in. According to James Walter he quotes from Eudora Welty saying "One day I saw a solitary old woman like Phoenix. She was walking; I saw her, at middle distance, in a winter country landscape, and watched her slowly make her way across my line of vision. The site of her made me write the story...." This quote shows that after observing that woman, Eudora Welty was inspired to write the "The Worn Path". Eudora Welty grew up in Mississippi and during her time she saw many racial tensions in the south from segregation. The story's setting is based on the Natchez Trace trail which is located in Tennessee and is also part of the Trail of tears. Though there are other aspects, one can
Sometimes, journey becomes the epitome of certain abstract ideas such as determination, boldness, and heroism. The story, “The Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is such a story of the journey of an African-American elderly woman, who is resolute in obtaining the medicine for her grandson, suffering from the swallowed lye in his throat (Kathleen 14). Eudora Welty has designed a story with an aim to show grandma’s persistence in perilous settings such as fear of animals, settings of woods, rivers, hills, rocky path and her journey towards the city on the cold winter day, far from her village and as a final point, her success to get a medicine from
In A Worn Path, Eudora Welty implements alliteration and imagery to create a specific setting that she can build the characters and their actions off of. An example of alliteration in this novel is “She smelled wood-smoke, and smelled the river, and she saw a steeple and the cabins on their steep steps.” (Welty 4). The repetition of the s sound to mimic the wind and smoke. This is just a way to build the setting rather than just simply describing or stating the setting. Imagery is seen further into the short story “On she went. The woods were deep and still. The sun made the pine needles almost too bright to look at, up where the wind rocked. The cones dropped a light as feathers.” (Welty 3). Welty utilizes imagery to give her audience a clear view of the picture she is attempting to portray. This description helps the reader to see how difficult of a journey this was for Phoenix and possibly give the reader and opportunity to relate to Phoenix. There are more examples of imagery in her other works as well such as in The Robber Bridegroom. “As his foot touched the shore, the sun sank into the river the color of blood, and at once a wind sprang up and covered the sky with black, yellow, and green clouds the size of whales, which moved across the face of the moon.” (Welty 2). Another important literary device used is diction that indicates southern dialect especially on the part of the African Americans. This dialect is indicative of the time period because African Americans spoke much differently than whites due to the fact that they were uneducated and therefore were not on the same level of intellect as there counterparts were. “‘Miss Ellen. Partheny send for you. Say please come…Say please Miss Ellen come. Not me stay with her, Mr. Troy git me” (Welty 85). In this excerpt from Delta Wedding, African
People often face many roadblocks on their way to success that deter them from believing that they can reach their goal. They allow trials to get in the way of the real end goal, and thus, stop short of achieving. In the short story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, the main character Phoenix Jackson provides an example to people on how they should not allow trials to hold them back. Welty's use of character, symbolism, and similes help to reveal the theme that with patience and determination, people can achieve anything.
In the story A Worn Path, Eudora Welty shows an old woman living in a time period where racial prejudice is rampant and out of control. Phoenix Jackson is a grandmother whose only motivation for living is to nurture her grandson back to health. The strength of love may make people do or say unusual and implausible things. The central idea of this story is that love can empower someone to over come many life-threatening obstacles. The idea is shown when an old woman conquers all odds against her to show her everlasting love for her grandson. Throughout the story Phoenix Jackson has to overcome many types of obstacles that hinder her in her devotion to help her grandson.
“A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, follows Phoenix Jackson on her trek into town. Throughout her journey, Mrs. Jackson faces many obstacles involving her age and her race as a woman of color. However, though these obstacles may slow Mrs. Jackson down, they do not keep her down. Through determination, perseverance, and a little bit of witty charm, Mrs. Jackson reaches her destination and leaves readers with a lesson in compassion.
Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 4th Compact Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008, pp. 95-100.