A Worn Path By Eudora Welty: Summary

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

Phoenix part ways, she continues on her way as if nothing happened.

Phoenix makes her way into town and encounters a lady with a boxes of presents in her hand.

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

to.

Phoenix goes inside the building and meets a comes upon a attendant. As Phoenix walks in, the attendant says
"A charity case, I suppose"(pg.65) Phoenix did not even glance at her, she just looked at the ceiling. When the author says ” There was sweat on her face, the wrinkles in her skin shone like a bright net.”(pg.65) she says this because she chooses to ignore the comment that the attendant makes and looks at the ceiling because and the authors explain what her face looks like glistening in the light. The attendant asks her question about her grandson and Phoenix loses her memory for a seconds. The attendant and Phoenix converses then she gives Phoenix before Phoenix five cents and Phoenix is off on her way.