Literary Devices In A Worn Path

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” there are several literary elements used to reveal the theme, such as setting, image, and characterization. In the first two paragraphs alone, there is an abundance of literary devices to paint the scene for the reader. Throughout the excerpt, we are given great detail about the setting which helps us get to our central theme. The passage starts with “a bright frozen day in the early morning. Far out in the country,” this image helps us understand the setting to understand what the main character, Phoenix Jackson, “a very old, and small,” “negro woman,” undergoes on her journey. “The woods were deep and still,” this helps us envision the setting around her as she is walking along the path in the “dark pine shadows.” “The oath ran up a hill.” “She mounted a log and shut her eyes.” These all help paint the environment around her as she walks.

We learn many things about our main character throughout this passage. “An old negro woman,” “Her Name was Phoenix Jackson. She was very old and small and she walked slowly.” Throughout the passage there is a repetition of ‘old’ which amplifies the fact that she is elderly. “The path ran up a hill. ‘Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far,” “trembling all over, she stood free, and after a moment dared to stoop for her cane.” “But she sat down to rest.” Through the use of characterization, we understand how hard this journey is for this elderly woman who undergoes several struggles along the