Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" begins as a simple story of an old woman walking through the woods to town. Phoenix Jackson, the main character, faces many challenges and obstacles while walking to Natchez. Suspense and wonder is aroused in the reader as to why Phoenix would go through so much trouble to get to Natchez. The introduction of the detail about her invalid grandson at the end of the story creates power as well as respect for the poor, old woman. Because the detail of the grandson is introduced at the end of the story, the reader is forced to reevaluate their thoughts and feelings toward Phoenix. If the detail of the invalid grandson were introduced before Phoenix begins her walk to Natchez the story would not be as powerful because it would not allow the reader to wonder why an old woman would go through so much trouble just to get to town.
In "A Worn Path," Phoenix Jackson seems like a silly, old woman. The environment she is in creates many obstacles in which her actions against seem unnecessary for such an old woman to take just to get to town. The way the author describes Phoenix's actions leads the reader to think of her as a funny and somewhat crazy old lady, as the following scene shows: .
Putting her right foot out, she mounted the log and shut her eyes. Lifting her skirt, leveling her cane fiercely before her, like a festival figure in some parade, she began to march across. (paragraph 13).
Since the reader is lead to think of Phoenix as funny and fairly senile they do not have much respect for her. The emergence of the detail of the grandson at the end of the story forces the reader to reevaluate Phoenix. This forceful reevaluation creates power because the reader can no longer think of Phoenix as silly but as a respectable woman on an important mission. .
In most genres of literature the exposition is expected at the beginning of a work. In "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, the exposition is found near the end of the story.
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...
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. ...
