A Worn Path By Eudora Welty: Summary

522 Words2 Pages

In the short story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, An old woman named Phoenix walks a long way town.While walking her skirt got caught on in a bush. She sits by a lake and when she does she imagines a boy giving her cake. She goes into a dead corn field and she sees a figure that she thinks is man but it turns out to be a scarecrow. She lays on the ground talking to herself when a hunter passes her. He drops a nickel and she take it. Once she reaches town she ask a women to tie her shoes. Once, the lady is done she goes into the building. The attendant ask Phoenix is there and she says to get medicine for her grandson.The lady gives Phoenix five cents. Phoenix says she going to use it to buy her son a windmill. Phoenix responses well to rudeness. On Phoenix’s journey, she meets a hunter with a dog. The hunter helps her off the ground; he asks her what's going to town for. The hunter seems very arrogant and obnoxious. When Phoenix points at the dog, he points the gun at the dog and shoots then “He laughed and lifted the gun and pointed it at Phoenix. She stood straight and faced him”(pg.64) after he puts his gun away and she acts as if her life wasn't in danger, a few moments ago. After, the hunter and …show more content…

She realizes her shoe is untied so she says "Please, missy, will you lace up my shoe?" Phoenix said. "What do you want, Grandma?" She put her packages down on the sidewalk beside her and laced and tied both shoes tightly. "Thank you, missy. I doesn't mind asking a nice lady to tie up my shoe, when I gets out on the street."(pg.65) Phoenix said” even if they lady is being rude Phoenix stills responds in a nice and calm matter. She doesn't get mad like how other usually get when someone is being rude to them. The lady with the presents walks away and ignore Phoenix showing of gratitude. Phoenix continues on her journey and reaches the place she been waiting to get

Show More
Related

  • America's Identy Crisis in Welty's A Worn Path

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...urtful act that should have caused guilt. Another instance was guilt, it was shown when the clinic attendant gave Phoenix another nickel; although it was kind this seems to be her way of compensating an earlier offensive statement “Are you deaf?” to Phoenix. What she chose to do was not coming from being kind buy because it was a sense of duty. The same can be said with the woman who tied Phoenix’s shoelaces—that she did it out of duty of Christmas season rather than genuine concern for the elderly.

    Read More

  • Pheonix Jackson

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    Phoenix Jackson was a tough woman for her age. Living only with her sick grandson, Phoenix had little company and no other companions. Therefore, she suffered from being lonely. Living far away from any services of a town, Phoenix would make the difficult journey to the closest town whenever her grandson ran out of his medicine. She was so determined to help her grandson that nothing else really mattered.

    Read More

  • Imagery In A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    “A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is a story of an elderly black woman’s journey into town for her grandson’s medicine. Using lots of imagery throughout the story, the narrator tells us that the woman, Phoenix Jackson takes this dangerous journey out of love for her grandson who is in need of medicine. Throughout her journey, she encounters many people who are of great importance to the story.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path Compare/Contrast Essay

    1140 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although it’s a long and treacherous route to Natchez, Phoenix has a wealth of previous experience. Every time she has done this though, she has faced great discouragement. The doctor who provides her with the medicine time and time again tries to demoralize Phoenix by claiming that the grandson’s sickness is “an obstinate case”. Although faced with hearing this dispiriting comment every time she visits the doctor, Phoenix stays determined and continues to make the journey for medicine as many times as needed. This inner determination is also what allows her to face the many obstacles and hardships found on the path itself. When she encounters animals in her way that cause her trouble, she firmly says, “Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!...Don’t let none of those running my direction. I got a long way.” These animals attempt to cause hardship for Phoenix, however she stands stronger than ever. The doctor and animals could have easily caused Phoenix to give up, but Phoenix’s love for her grandson as a true parent invigorates her determination letting her continue on this journey no matter setbacks are thrown at

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Courage In A Worn Path By Phoenix Jackson

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    “A Worn Path” told the story of an old woman named Phoenix Jackson. She had to make a long, adventurous journey to town in order to receive medicine for her grandson who had fallen ill. Phoenix Jackson was determined to reach her destination, and she did not let anything stand in her way. Throughout her voyage, she displayed characteristics of being brave, unselfish, and senile.

    Read More

  • Phoenix's Hardships and Racism in A Worn Path

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    “A Worn Path” tells of an elderly and frail black woman and of the hardships that she must overcome. Upon reading the story, you realize that there is more to the story than meets the eye. She faces many roadblocks along her way. Phoenix faces many dangerous obstacles along her way, for a person of her age. She faces racism from some of characters she meets along the way. Phoenix faces inferior treatment, as though she is nothing more than some insect to squash. This story is about not only her ‘journey’ to Natchez, but also about her journey through society and the struggle to overcome the dangers, being treated inferior, and the racism.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    Phoenix’s journey is a little long just by walking alone in the middle of the

    Read More

  • Common Themes In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is a short fictional story first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1941. Welty was an American short-story writer and novelist. Welty was a photographer before she started writing so her stories were as detailed as her photographs. Some reccurring themes she used in her literary pieces were social prejudice, isolation, and southern living. This short story includes these common themes she favored throughout her works. There are multiple themes in this fictional story. Some themes presented in this story include racism, family, and responsibility. The most prominent theme is the age and perseverance, because the protagonist is predisposed to failure given her age but her tenacity keeps her going.

    Read More

  • Theme of Determination in "A Worn Path"

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path' is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of the Phoenix is about a fabled sacred bird of ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from its ashes, young and beautiful. Phoenix, the women in the story, represents the myth of the bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Phoenix can hardly walk and uses a cane made of an old umbrella to aid her. Her skin is described as old and wrinkly, but yet with a golden color running beneath it 'Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath?(55). Her skin tone represents the golden feathers of the Phoenix and her grandson represents the next Phoenix that will be given life when she dies. The trip to the city to get the medicine represents the mythological trip that the Phoenix takes to the sun to die. Most likely this journey along a worn path through the woods, will be one of her last.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path Sacrifice

    306 Words  | 1 Pages

    After Phoenix takes the money, she goes to the store and buys a paper windmill for her grandson just to make him happy; however, this shows Phoenix’s sacrifice for her grandson because she could have used the money

    Read More

  • Life Struggles of Phoenix in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    "A Worn Path," by Eudora Welty is a heartbreaking story about the heroic trip of an old African American woman, Phoenix. The readers won't find out right away the plot of the story or why Phoenix won't give up her exhausting trip to town-the conflict of this story-especially on a very cold day. The title, "A Worn Path," indicates that Phoenix has obviously walked down this path many times before-also the fact that she can cross a creek with her eyes closed confirms the title's message.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path - Eudora Welty

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... ailment and she knows that "faith will heal the sick" (James 5:15). Phoenix is so confident in her faith that even while traveling through silent cornfields, crossing streams, and braving a swamp, she makes the journey with her eyes firmly clamped shut. For as it says in Scripture, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

    Read More

  • Welty’s A Worn Path: The Strength of Love

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Character of Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    'A Worn Path' is the tale of the unstoppable love and care of a grandmother for her grandchild. Phoenix Jackson is Eudora Welty's main character and protagonist in  A Worn Path.? Phoenix is an old, frail woman who attempts to proceed on a long and treacherous journey through the woods to Natchez. Phoenix strives forward despite frequent obstacles in her way that include her own failing health and her grandchild's slim chance of survival. As she takes this prolonged trek across the woods, many of her characteristics are revealed. Her tenacity, senility, and consideration that she displays throughout her long worn path emphasize her character.

    Read More

More about A Worn Path By Eudora Welty: Summary

Open Document