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The importance of setting in a story
Importance of settings in literature
Examples of symbolism in “a worn path” by eudora welty
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Literary Essay - A Worn Path “Authors use setting to create meaning, just as painters use backgrounds and objects to render ideas.” - Literary Anthology. The setting of "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, takes place on a cold December morning during the 1940 's. In "A Worn Path", the setting allows readers to grasp a better understanding of various components which make up the story. The components are the character qualities, symbols and the mood and atmosphere. The path the main character, Phoenix, follows to the city and what she endures through her journey shows what kind of person Phoenix is and the true qualities of her character. The symbols found in the setting allow a deeper incite to the meaning of the story and why they are present. …show more content…
In "A Worn Path" there are location and materialistic symbols. For example, the Christmas holiday is fast approaching in this setting. Christmas can symbolize many things, such as a season for giving, connecting with your family or even death. Welty incorporated Christmas into this setting because it symbolizes everything about Phoenix 's character. She is trying to give her family life by retrieving the medicine for her grandson and giving him the ability of swallowing back. She is doing everything that she can do to try and save her last bit of family. December is also the last part of the year, therefore the setting of December can be symbolizing the last part of Phoenix 's life and the last time she can try to save her grandson. Some materialistic forms of symbolism could be the path itself and the inanimate objects she encounters along her journey. The title "A Worn Path" shows that the path has been walked on before, symbolizing Phoenix making multiple journeys back and forth for medicine. Welty supports this fact when she describes how Phoenix walks, "She walked slowly in the dark pine shadows , moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grandfather clock." (Welty, 341). In this quote, Phoenix represents the pendulum and the worn path is symbolized by the clock …show more content…
These components are the various components that make up a story. Character qualities are brought out after being faced with conflict and how they deal with their problems. This shows the true personality and characteristics of the characters. The symbols found in the setting of a story are used to show the author 's ideas. These symbols are usually emphasized because of their meaning to the story and because of how the author intends them to be read by the audience. The mood/atmosphere is the general impression given off from the setting. It constructs how the readers view the story. Eudora Welty amazingly captured the familial connection and love as well as the courage that Phoenix contains. The setting is crucial to the full understanding and meaning of a
In the short story "A Worn Path," the message that Eudora Welty sends to the readers is one of love, endurance, persistence, and perseverance. Old Phoenix Jackson walks a long way to town, through obstacles of every sort, but no obstacle is bad enough to stop her from her main goal. She may be old and almost blind, but she knows what she has to do and won't give up on it. Her grandson has swallowed lye, and she has a holy duty of making her way to town in order to get medicine for him. The wilderness of the path does not scare her off. She stumbles over and over, but she talks herself through every obstacle. Undoubtedly, the theme of perseverance is what Eudora Welty wants to point out to her readers. Just like the name Phoenix suggests
During the time period this story was written was in 1941 WWII had just begun, but not only that, but also of poverty that was a reality to many—particularly to blacks and people in rural areas. The title itself, “A Worn Path,” refers to life as the journey through a worn path. Obstacles that Phoenix Jackson faced shows the real-life hardships, lies, and aggressions, that minorities face. Despite its simplicity, Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” does show us some of the greatest of life’s realities. The writer starts the story using racial description and symbolism to describe Phoenix Jackson.
“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.
“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.
In “A Worn Path” Eudora Welty uses symbolism and characterization to show that utter determination and self-discipline enables Phoenix to accomplish her ultimate goal (get medication); and without these attributes, she almost certainly would have not accomplished it. In fact, Phoenix develops into a great example for people who face disrespect and degeneration of health, and perfectly illustrates the features needed to succeed when hindrances obstruct success.
The title, "A Worn Path," is not only the actual path Phoenix travels throughout the story, but it also stands for the road blacks have walked on in order to reach freedom. Slaves had to walk many paths in order to escape their owners and the paths led to the freedom away from their plantations. Many slaves escaped plantations by walking all day and all night in wretched
“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.
Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” emphasizes the unselfish love that inspires courage, sacrifice, and love through her use of symbolism.
... on foot and that alone is hard as it is. Eudora Welty shows her theme that with an adequate amount of determination and confidence we can tackle any problem or obstacle that is thrown our way and go the extra mile to reach our objective that we had set. Of course being restrained by time and age, Phoenix still fights and steps forward to a goal which is very significant to her heart; she doesn’t allow any barrier get in her way. Phoenix Jackson being the main character of “A Worn Path” is clear
For such a simple tale, "A Worn Path" is full of hidden symbols and allusions. By realizing that Phoenix Jackson is a biblical character as well as a Christ figure, Phoenix assumes a more human image. Rather than carrying the image of a gentle demigod, Phoenix's sin allows readers to relate to a concerned grandmother who is doing everything in her power to heal her ailing grandson. But, I am sure that most will agree with me that "all things have a fervent love for one another for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Peter 4:8).
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.
story is really about Phoenix, the main character, walks along a path to town that she has walked many times before. It's a worn path, hint the title. No secret code meaning, no little-known allusions, the title is what it means. This story is more that its title though, it’s the adventure of Phoenix on the worn path. This is where she meets all the characters the hunter, the attendant, the nurse. But in this there are define themes that should be looked at, such as, perseverance, versions of reality, old age, race, and contrasting regions. With a few twists, for one thing, Phoenix is old. And the “journey” of Phoenix’s is not exactly an extreme voyage across the world, but just a walk from her home to town to get medicine for her grandchild.
In “A Worn Path” colors are used to emphasize the depth and breadth of the story, and to reinforce the parallel images of the mythical phoenix and the protagonist Phoenix Jackson. Eudora Welty’s story is rich with references to colors that are both illustrative and perceptive, drawing us in to investigate an additional historical facet of the story.
'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.
In Eudora Welty’s, “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson went great lengths risking her own life for her grandson, who couldn’t help himself. On her worn path she faced the world with courage. Although she faced difficulty in her early life, her faith remained the same to help those who were dear to her heart. She walk a worn path relentlessly facing obstacles along the way with a mind that is diminishing overtime. Through the problems that she is faced with, she remains humble. She is admirable because considering her old age, weakness and loss of memory, she is determined. Welty’s details of character, symbolism, conflict and theme creates a compelling and fierce Phoenix Jackson. The moral message in this short story is to show the setting and characterizations