Overcoming Obstacles: A Literary Analysis of “A Worn Path” Thesis: “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is one of the best short stories to incorporate different symbolic representations of determination and the will to live. I. Introduction II. Phoenix A. Definition B. Characteristics III. Natural symbolism A. Steep hill B. Thorns of bush IV. Perceived Racism A. Imagined cake B. White hunter V. Arrival in Natchez A. Nurses’ comments B. Point of view changed VI. Conclusion Jordan Wilemon C. Smith - Instructor English 101 Online 1 Dec. 2014 Literary Analysis Rough Draft Overcoming Obstacles: A Literary Analysis of “A Worn Path” “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty is one of the best short stories to illustrate the topic of symbolism. It provides wonderful examples of symbolic representations. The journey of one old black woman provides enough realism to portray the backdrop of poor black people in the rural south after the Civil War. The words of the story tell only of a woman’s lonely journey to the town of Natchez, Mississippi for medicine. However, the underlying sense of the woman’s responsibility to a sick grandson gives way to the major prejudices forced upon her. While the tone of tone of the story is simple, its message is quite powerful. The obstacles that the old woman must overcome provide a symbolic backdrop of determination and the will to live. The Britannica Academic dictionary states that the
Eudora Welty’s a Worn Path is a powerful, compelling and inspiring story if one can see through the text into the true meaning the author was trying to convey. I have seen this story as a metaphor for people who take the “worn path” instead of the easy one- with no struggle. It is those people who prosper through the struggle life hands them and figure out how to make them lemonade, that achieve their goal and destination in
Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” is a story about an elderly woman name Phoenix Jackson walking on a path to Natchez to get some medicine for her ill grandson that swallowed some lye that affected him severely. The story portrayed a vivid idea of her personalities and the readers realize how unique Phoenix Jackson is. Phoenix faced many trials and tribulations while on her journey but she continued to move forward. Phoenix character is like none other some may call her crazy and misunderstood, but she is a fearless character. Phoenix Jackson completes her mission because she is determined, brave, and a true Godly figure
"Phoenix Jackson: Mind Over Matter" Novelist Eudora Welty is often studied and adored by many readers; her much deserved recognition comes from her brilliant, deeply compassionate, and lively stories and novels (Ford 36). Like many of her stories, Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" is set in Mississippi. In "A Worn Path," Welty focuses on an old woman's journey to Natchez and on the many obstacles that she encounters along the way. Phoenix is going to town to get medication for her beloved grandson. But he trip is difficult because nature and her handicaps are making it hard for her to reach her destination. Nevertheless, the old woman boldly continues along the equally old path, struggling every step of the way. Even
In her short story “A Worn Path”, Eudora Welty incorporates many instances of biblical allusions and racism both within the plot and the main character herself. These aspects of the story, while periodically difficult to recognize, are parts of what make the story and Eudora Welty’s writing so eccentric. At first glance, readers may simply believe they are witnessing the journey of an elderly black woman fetching medicine for her ill-stricken grandson. However, as they dig deeper within the text, they find that Welty’s writing contains much deeper messages and aspects that mimic those found within modern society.
In the story “A Worn Path”, Eudora Welty shows an old woman living in a time period where racial prejudice is very high and out of control. Phoenix Jackson is a grandmother whose motivation for living seems to be 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 overcome many life threatening obstacles. This 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.
In 1941 Eudora Welty put pen to paper and created a short story titled “The Worn Path”. At this point in history African Americans had been free from slavery, but they still lived their lives around incredible hardship and racism. Welty portrays a character by the name of Pheonix Jackson, beneath her old eyes and wrinkled skin is a woman that is irrepressible, humble, and confident. Pheonix begins her journey from her home in the woods to town, her final destination will be getting back home to her sick grandchild with the medicine he needs. Almost all odds are against Jackson, being a black woman is hard enough, but an old lady walking so far from home leaves her vulnerable to the elements of nature and the evil in another’s heart.
Everyday people encounter challenges that stand in their way of achieving their goals, but with sheer determination most accomplish their mission. In the short story “A Worn Path” written by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson, the main character, has a mission to complete while confronting many challenges. One way to convey this idea is with the literary use of theme. The theme of a literary work is defined as the central idea, concern or message about life that an author wishes to convey to his/her readers. There can be more than one theme in a literary work. One of the major themes in Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” is the sheer determination that Phoenix Jackson conveys via her actions. This short story centers on the
The short story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, is a descriptive story of a grandmother's difficult journey, for a grandson she loves. Her devotion to her grandson and wanting to provide him with a better lifestyle, was her motivation to overcome these trials. On this trip, Phoenix Jackson, the grandmother, struggles against old age, nature, and reality.
In a world that is so diverse, social discrimination is an issue that many have to face everyday. Discrimination can be used by an individual's: race, age, religion, and even one's class. A Worn Path, written by Eudora Welty is about a woman by the name of Phoenix who goes on a long journey to get medication for her grandson. On her journey she comes in contact with a hunter, and many other complications. In the short story, an overall theme of social discrimination is shown through the use of Racism, Ageism and Classism.
The worn path written by Eudora Welty (1941) is a great short story about Phoenix Jackson, an old African American woman who beats all odds to make a trip into town for medicine for her grandson, she overcomes many challenges that test her courage and will. Because of her loyalty and love, Phoenix has sacrificed her own well-being on this dangerous path for the well-being of her grandson.
2011080257 尹珠英 Book Review---- “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty The author, Eudora Welty was an award winning American author who wrote short stories and novels about the American South. Her first short story appeared in 1936, and gradually she began to e published in small, then regional and general circulation magazines. She published collections of her short stories and began publishing novels as well.
The theme for the passage and the poem is that they are starving and they make soup out of items that are not usually used for food, like a stone and a nail.
In the short story “A Worn Path” there is this old lady that walks a long distance and faces plenty obstacles in her journey. Like her dress getting stuck on thorns in the woods, which she precisely untangles her dress very calmly and very precautiously because she doesn 't want to mess it up. She encounters a scare from dogs which ultimately ends her falling into a well and a huntsman guy helped her out and held a gun to her face which she didn 't really phase from it since she told him that she 's had other guns pointed at her more closer than that. Her purpose of walking that long was for her sick nephews medicine. Once she got to the doctors office, they questioned her why she walked that long and she didn 't reply at
The story, "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty is a standout amongst the most significant and oftentimes examined works of short fiction. This story is taken place in the South. This locale is frequently characterized by their discourse and habits. Eudora Welty's adroit utilization of tone and decent variety in the story adds action to make it appear to be all the more real. The imagery in "A Worn Path" demonstrates Phoenix Jackson experiencing a progression of obstacles that speak to her battles to achieve her goal.
The author of “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a symbolic passage in which the elderly protagonist is challenged by the path’s inhabitants and various prejudices. Throughout the story, Phoenix encounters various dangers, and mysterious occurrences in the forest as she walks on a path. Welty uses symbolism to connect many subjects, such as birds and a windmill, to reveal multiple truths in modern life. The author elaborates on life’s countless tribulations, and how they affect the main character. Throughout the short story, the author challenges the reader “both to unlearn and to relearn” the points of which was perceived as regular and to rethink what the reader thought was true. (Orr “Unsettling Every Definition of Otherness”)