Symbolism in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

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In the story “A Worn Path” uses a continuous number of literary techniques and there is an overflow of symbolism. In the story everything symbolizes an object symbolism is when an object in the story can relate to something. Symbolism is a literary technique that adds meaning to a story by using an event or object as a symbol to represent something else. Phoenix Jackson represents the most important thing in the story the ancient Egyptian bird the Phoenix. The story “A Worn Path” takes place in December 1941. It’s about an old lady named Phoenix Jackson that goes to town in Natchez, Mississippi to get some medicine for her grandson who had swallowed lye many years back. Phoenix faces some obstacles on her way to town that try to keep her from going to town, obstacles like the long path she has to walk, the wild animals bridges and people. She really does not receive that much respect because of her old age and her color. But Phoenix being the person she is continues on without letting anything get in her way of what she has to accomplish.

The main character in this story is Phoenix Jackson she symbolizes the phoenix bird which symbolizes strength. In an article Roberts, Edgar V. and Henry E. Jacobs point out that Phoenix Jackson symbolizes strength “she falls, gets back up and keeps on toward the goal of getting her grandson’s medicine. She has many obstacles in her way such as her old age, the cold weather, ditches and hills, thorns, wild animals and a hunter with a gun.” Phoenix keeps on pushing through her journey even though the way she is, she will not give up on her grandson because he is the only person he has left in life. (yahoo) According to Eudora Welty in the story “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson states “We is the onl...

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...to get through all the difficulties.

Works Cited

123helpmeEditors. “symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’.” 123helpme. N.P., N.D. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

Beller, Michelle. “ ‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty: Symbols and Themes.” Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo, inc., 29 Nov 2008. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

Cummings, Michael J. “ ‘A Worn Path’ Study Guide.” Cummingsstudyguides. N.P., 2011. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

Garcia, Abu. “Symbolism in ‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty.” Scribd. Garcia, Abu. N.D. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

Roberts, Edgar V. and Henry E. Jacobs, ed. “ ‘A Worn Path’ Analysis.” Yahoo Contributor Network. 6 Nov 2008. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path.” Heritage of American Literature. Ed. James E. Miller. Vol 2. Austin: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1991. 1274. Print.

Word Press Editors. “An Analysis of Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path’.” Wordpress. N.P. 12 Apr 2013. Web. 17 Mar 2014.

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