Symbolism in “a worn path”

747 Words2 Pages

Eudora Welty uses symbolism in a worn by using objects or people to symbolize objects and ideas, for example the main character in a worn path is named phoenix Jackson which symbolizes the Arabian mythological bird that lives a very long time and dies in a fire but comes back to life out of the ashes. A web site called 123 help me says that phoenix Jackson symbolizes a sign of strength because she stands her ground “as the hunter taunts her with his gun” this shows that she is stronger than the hunter thinks she is.
Another great example that a website named writing rock gave was that “ racism is still prevalent in the south at the time and it is clearly evident throughout the story” (writing rock) the white hunter mocks Phoenix by making it seem that he is superior by pointing a gun at her. This is an example of symbolism because the white hunter represents racism and how the blacks were treated at that time. Another character that has a symbolic meaning is phoenix’s grandson because “ when phoenix dies, her spirit of the phoenix will live on in her grandson who will most likely live a long, happy life. (123 help me) he will be the rebirth of the phoenix.
In the short story a worn path there is also objects that symbolize things like the many birds that phoenix saw through her journey. The editors of 123helpme say that ”the buzzards represent death, but the old woman made her way through… and left death”(123helpme). this represents how death is near for phoenix and how this was a very dangerous path for this old woman and how she overcame this great journey that not even nature that she would and despite the odds against her. Another bird that she encountered was the black crow that the website 123helpme says that they also r...

... middle of paper ...

...e 1940’s. she overcame many great obstacles that most elderly women of her background wouldn’t be able to do because she a strong black independent woman she had to be strong for herself and her little grandchild who she loved very much and he was very vulnerable because he had swallowed lye which is a very toxic poison which burned his throat and left him scared for life that is the reason she makes that great path every time he needs his medication.

Works Cited

123helpme Editor. “Symbolize in ‘A Won Path’.” 123helpme.N.p., h.d.web.17 Mar 2014.
Beller, Michele. “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty:Symbols and Themes.Yahoo! voice.Yahooinc, 29th Nov. 2008.Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Noelle M. “Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s “S Worn Path.” StudymodeN.p., Oct 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Writing Rock, Editor.“’A Worn Path’ Analysis Research Paper.”Writing Rock.N.p., n.d.web. 17 Mar 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. 142-49.

    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

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

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path Sacrifice

    306 Words  | 1 Pages

    Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” emphasizes the unselfish love that inspires courage, sacrifice, and love through her use of symbolism.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path By Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    602 Words  | 2 Pages

    The character of Phoenix is the protagonist in the “A Worn Path,” written by Eudora Welty. She is proud, loving, and determined. You see Phoenix Jackson on her long and difficult journey to get medicine for her sick grandson. The story is told from the third-person point of view. Though she was faced with many obstacles on her journey to the city, through the devotion and love she had for her grandson we see what type of person she really is.

    Read More

  • Essay on Hidden Conflict in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" the conflict was not apparent at the very beginning. What was a poor, elderly sick woman doing gallivanting in the forest during the dead of winter? The reason became clear towards the conclusion of the story as the action revealed that the conflict was obtaining the necessary medicine for her grandson. When this conflict became obvious, another question came to mind. What kind of society did this woman live in that she had to go all the way from her home in the countryside to the city by herself to get the medicine? The conflict being illustrated is that of an individual versus society and the four problems that Phoenix faces as a result of this was her old age, her health, her grandson's health and her state of poverty.

    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

  • Literary Analysis: "A Worn Path"

    1647 Words  | 4 Pages

    Welty tells the story with “some dreams and harassments and a small triumph or two, some jolts to [Phoenix’s] pride, some flights of fancy to console her, one or two encounters to scare her, a moment that gave her cause to be ashamed, a moment to dance and preen…” (quoted in Moberly, 109). The early harassments evoke symbols of slavery such as coming through the “dark pine shadows” in slave garb, “dark striped dress…an equally long apron of bleached sugar sacks…all neat and tidy” (Roberts, 95). The “chains about my feet” and the uphill climb is descriptive of literally being a slave in chains. Being caught in the “pretty green bush” (Rogers, 96) that turns out to be a thorn bush is a figurative hard worn path to equal rights, with unseen snags and pitfalls. “Purple stalks” (Rogers, 96) and the buzzard and through the “old cotton” (Rogers, 96) represents the mourning of the African American people,...

    Read More

  • A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    Noelle M. “Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’” Study mode N.P., Oct 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

    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

  • 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 recurring 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 work.

    Read More

  • A Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    In "A Worn Path", a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a "worn path" through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics have speculated that this short story represents the love a grandmother shows for her grandson. Others say this story represents life and death, where Phoenix represents an immortal figure. Dennis J. Sykes disagrees with the other critics by saying, "A parallel exists between the journey described and the plight of the Southern blacks after the Civil War" (Sykes). Ultimately, Eudora Welty demonstrates how blacks have been persecuted in a white world.

    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

  • A Worn Path Analysis Essay

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” is based on a time period of racism and white supremacy. Welty was inspired to write this story when she saw an old African American woman crossing a landscape with a purpose and wanted to write about the possible motive for the trip. Phoenix Jackson is an old African- American woman who endures many struggles along a journey to obtain medicine for her ill grandson. Although, the odds were against Phoenix throughout the story and she was constantly tempted to just go back home, she was determined to complete the journey. In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty uses the characterization and symbolism of Phoenix to illustrate her overcoming of many struggles in order to fulfill her obligation

    Read More

More about Symbolism in “a worn path”

Open Document