As Phoenix begins to walk down the dark path, a black dog approaches her from a patch of weeds near a ditch. As he comes toward her, Phoenix is startled and compelled to defend herself: "she only hit him a little with her cane. Over she went in the ditch, like a little puff of milk-weed" (55). Here, the author contrasts the main character's strong will with her small, frail physique. As Phoenix is lying in the ditch, "A dream visited her, and she reached her hand up, but nothing reached down and gave her a pull." (55). Phoenix may be reaching for divine intervention but receives no such assistance. She then begins to talk to herself, which she does quite frequently throughout her journey. Eudora is trying to show the reader just how lonely and frightened Phoenix has become. While she lay in the ditch talking to herself, Phoenix refers to herself as "old woman." At a number of points throughout the story, Phoenix refers to herself as old. Although we are reminded regularly of her old age, it is clear that Phoenix still has many years ahead of her. The author brings realism into the story by frequently describing the realities of old age. After a short while, Phoenix is rescued: "A white man finally came along and found her-a hunter, a young man with his dog on a chain" (56). When the white man approaches her, Phoenix is still laying on her back in the ditch. When Welty tells the reader that the white man has "found" her, she is implying that Phoenix is lost, but she very clearly is not. The white man asks Phoenix what she is doing in the ditch, and she replies "Lying on my back like a June-bug waiting to be turned over, mister" (56) as she reaches out her hand. When Phoenix refers to herself as June-bug on its back, she is letting the hunter know how helpless she is. The hunter then lifts her up and makes sure she is okay. The hunter and Phoenix begin to chat and the hunter asks her if she is on her way home.
A Worn Path Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" is a fantastic journey through an elderly woman's daily struggles. ... At first, the reader almost seems to be able to walk with Phoenix on her path because the description of her surroundings is so well stated. ... This brief description of the plot of "A Worn Path" is minimal in comparison to how interesting the story really was. ...
Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" tells the story of Phoenix Jackson, an elderly black woman living in the early to mid twentieth century. ... The significance of the title of "A Worn Path," however, lies in its complexity and in its many interpretations. ... Within the context of this particular interpretation, the keyword "worn" in "A Worn Path" implies that this path has been traveled many times before by Phoenix. ... Indeed the "path" is "worn" as a result of Phoenix's repeated trips to the town for her grandson's well being, and driven by her love for him, she will most lik...
One of her most well-known short stories is "A Worn Path," which she wrote in 1940. ... The setting of "A Worn Path" began in rural southern Mississippi along the Natchez Trail. ... The advantage of being a native of Mississippi has helped Eudora set the setting of "A Worn Path." As a person reads "A Worn Path," it can't go un-noticed that Phoenix Jackson is a unique name. ... Eudora's life in Mississippi and her familiarity with the Natchez Trail greatly influenced the setting and the main character's name in the short story "A Worn Path." ...
"A Worn Path" is a story of an old woman whose human spirit is full of devotion, dignity and high drive that helps her overcome tremendous impediments of life in the name of love for her grandson. ... Phoenix Jackson, as a woman who possesses both qualities, teaches us life lessons to hold onto and experience for ourselves, as we journey down our own "worn path". ... In the story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson, despite the racial injustice which she was forced to endure in her lifetime, lives up to her name by using her inner strength and wisdom throughout her journey to reach ...
A Worn Path "A Worn Path" is a short story that was written by Eudora Weltey. This story was about a little old black lady named Phoenix Jackson who lived way back in the piney woods with her grandson. And every time he ran out of his medication, she would walk a long journey to the nearest town...
A Worn Path "A Worn Path" is a short story that was written by Eudora Weltey. This story was about a little old black lady named Phoenix Jackson who lived way back in the piney woods with her grandson. And every time he ran out of his medication, she would walk a long journey to the nearest town...
Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" begins as a simple story of an old woman walking through the woods to town. ... In "A Worn Path," Phoenix Jackson seems like a silly, old woman. ... In "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, the exposition is found near the end of the story. ...
A Worn Path / The Lottery Both "A Worn Path," by Eudora Welty, and "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, deal with routine and the impact following a routine can have on people. In "A Worn Path", Old Phoenix shows how as you get older, your capability of doing things become limited which leads you to doing things over and over again following a set of routine. ... In " A Worn Path," as Old Phoenix walked through the woods and got to the top of the hill and gave a full, severe look behind her where she had come and said "Up through pines," then "N...
In her short story, "A Worn Path," Eudora Welty uses many different symbols that convey an underlying meaning that death is lurking around every corner and around every bend in the road. Some of these symbols include the title itself, "A Worn Path," the rustling in the bushes, Phoenix Jackson's dress catching in the bush, and the scarecrow and the black dog. ... The first symbol is the title of the story and how it brings Phoenix Jackson to her journey of "A Worn Path." ... The path Phoenix takes is the path of her life. ... Phoenix Jackson walks a path through the long journey of life. ...