Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
A Long Journey Eudora Alice Welty was an American short story writer and novelist who wrote about the American South. Welty was born on April 19, 1909 in Jackson, Mississippi and wrote the shorty story “A Worn Path” in 1941. Welty was awarded the presidential medal of freedom among numerous awards including the Order of The South. Eudora Welty passed away on July 23, 2001 in Jackson, MS at the age of 92, Welty lived a great life. In the story “A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson’s characterization, symbolism/imagery, and conflict are shown while she is on a journey to get some medicine for her grandson. First of all, Welty represents characterization through Phoenix Jackson’s bravery and determination. The story states that, “She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows”’ (275). As a very old woman it is not safe for Phoenix Jackson to be walking by herself in the dark woods rather should be at home. However this shows how brave Phoenix is going all this way when it is dark and going to go get medicine. Eudora Welty states, “But every time she took a step she might have …show more content…
The story states, “So she left that tree, and had to go through barbed-wire fence.” (276). Showing the difficulty Phoenix went through to get in town symbolizes her that she had to go through barbed-wire. However this symbolizes her couragesness and how much she really cares. Phoenix Jackson simply states, “You scarecrow, she said. Her face lighted. I ought to be shut up for good” (276). Phoenix thought the scarecrow was a ghost so she kind of was getting scared but when she found out it was not she laughed because she knew she was too old for this. However Phoenix kept going on her journey that shows how she symbolizes herself. Phoenix is not going to let some scarecrow and barbed-wire stop her from getting to town and helping her son and this symbolizes how brave Phoenix Jackson
Intergenerational Trauma In The Break
1083 Words | 5 PagesWhen Phoenix notices her uncle's house is filthy, she decides to clean it up because her uncle likes it "when she does girl things like that" (Vermette 25). Phoenix is portrayed in the text as harsh and commanding, but in reality, all she wants is to be liked, which demonstrates how victims of intergenerational trauma desire to be loved. Phoenix is also seen to be jealous and go to extreme lengths when Emily receives affection instead of her. Phoenix has been pregnant for “seven months” with Clayton’s child (Vermette 320) and now is in prison for raping a girl, Emily, who Clayton was hanging out with. Readers understand that Phoenix has never received a lot of affection when she was younger
Analyzing Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'
1116 Words | 5 PagesA phoenix is a bird that can go into the fire and live after it is burned into ashes. Granger says that man is like a phoenix because humans know when they have done wrong. Just like a phoenix, man can rise from their mistakes. Another symbolic figure in the novel is a salamander. The salamander is believed as a creature that can go through the fire and live.
Phoenix Jackson Archetypes
1718 Words | 7 PagesThe death and rebirth archetype comes back in to play when Phoenix descends. The death aspect is her dealing with the absence of her grandson, but being reborn ready to face a new life without him having reached acceptance. The journey was not about her grandson but about Phoenix reaching her deeper self. The death of her grandson, changes the interpretation of the story. Even though her grandson is dead, Jackson makes the journey every year to get his medicine in order to honor him and not forget.
Three Artistic Tools Used In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
488 Words | 2 PagesPhoenix encounters several obstacles in order to achieve her goal. The path she walks in represents her life, with the obstacle she faces new one appears and through her perseverance she slowly conquers each one of them. At the end Phoenix buy a paper windmill for her grandson. The paper windmill represents the nature into the energy that her grandson can use his natural abilities since they are both free, to something
Obstacles In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
539 Words | 3 PagesPhoenix Jackson is a woman who will not give up, despite the odds. Which leads to her being successful and reaching her purpose, in the
Dust Tracks On A Road Analysis
484 Words | 2 PagesHurston’s autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road marks the popularity of her career as a writer in the Harlem Renaissance. It is an autobiography intertwined with reality, mystery, imagination, creation, humor and wisdom, celebrating Hurston’s struggle from an isolated southern child to a recognized black female writer. It is an autobiography contains a controversial work evoking both recognition and discrete criticism. Starting with the history of Eatonville, the founding of the pure Negro town, Hurston in Dust Tracks locates herself as a carefree black girl in a harmless place immune from threats of the racial segregation, then delineates her life as a wander after her mother’s death. Aside from her journey in life, the alienation of the narrator
Pheonix Jackson's Dementia In A Worn Path
328 Words | 2 PagesPheonix Jackson’s grandson is dead because she shows signs of dementia, she hesitates when asked about how the boy is doing, and she says words that imply the boy isn’t changing. The story “ A Worn Path” follows the difficult trip routinely made by Pheonix on foot to a nearby town for her grandson’s medicine which he needs for his swollen throat. Pheonix shows signs of dementia which would affect her perception of reality and her grandson being alive or dead. In the line, “At first she took it as a man,” referring to her encountering a scarecrow, Pheonix shows that her senses are inadequate enough to believe a scarecrow is a man dancing in a field (762). Pheonix is more reliant on her body remembering the trail than her sense of sight
Literary Elements In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
526 Words | 3 PagesThe first literary element that plays a significantly important role in this story is symbolism. The most prominent example is involving Phoenix’s name. The name itself can have many different meanings and shows the reader a great implication of symbolism, “The references at the beginning of the story announce rather clearly that a comparison with the legendary bird is intended.” (Jones 1). Welty depicts Phoenix Jackson to resemble that of the ancient bird in both look
A Literary Analysis Of Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
678 Words | 3 PagesGiven her grandson’s injuries that hope is as fragile as the paper windmill. This reminds us that hope is fragile, and is contingent on historical and civil efforts beyond Phoenix and her grandson. Phoenix Jackson perseveres to achieve a purposeful goal. Phoenix Jackson stayed true to her faith in times of desperation. Against the obstacles, she was willing to reach her destination to provide her grandson with the medicine he is in need of.
The Hero In Joseph Campbell's A Worn Path
549 Words | 3 PagesIt could be defined as a wound, due to the fact that it indirectly harms her, as she’ll be sad if she forgets to get the medicine for his grandson, considering he may die. All of these events in the story may or may not define Phoenix Jackson as a hero, however it does show that she is a very brave, and loving grandmother, which is almost as important as if she were a middle-aged man with superpowers. Phoenix’s adventure throughout the story shows that she is strong and bound to complete her task at hand. The events of the story provide the readers with a sense of suspense while also telling a wonderful story, whether it’s a true story or
Freedom In Eudora Welty's A Worn Path
810 Words | 4 PagesWhile walking up the path, Phoenix has had to overcome obstacles while it seems like death is in the form of chains around her feet. Even so, she continues onward to freedom. The scene continues while Phoenix passes trees and birds and animals, and suddenly she is crawling through a barbed-wire fence. The change in scenery indicates how Phoenix might be somewhat confused, especially because she is old. It also indicates how Phoenix’s journey was not one of peacefulness, rather, it was one of survival.
Phoenix Symbolizes Rebirth In The Phoenix: Granger
60 Words | 1 PagesThe Phoenix: The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth. The Phoenix is known for rising from the ashes after being burned. In the story after the city has been destroyed, Granger compares the destruction to the bird. Both are destroyed and rise from the destruction. So if Granger and the others use their knowledge, they won’t be like the Phoenix and prevent destruction.
Racism In A Worn Path
883 Words | 4 PagesSome references even suggest Phoenix may have once been a slave; such as the chains the old woman feels on her feet as she climbs the path uphill. Racial inequality is unmistakably clear when the old woman falls in the ditch and is confronted by the white hunter. One would believe the hunter calling Phoenix Granny to be a harmless reference to her age; however, Granny is a term coined by southern whites in the thirties and forties and refers to a single elderly black woman: a granny is an old black woman who takes care of the white
A Worn Path Phoenix Jackson Character Analysis
738 Words | 3 PagesIn the story “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson was an old African American women. She takes a small journey that can be an allegory of someone's whole life. The journey had hard and easy parts, beauty, danger, and confusion. But her quest was to get the medicine for her sick grandson who laid at home waiting for her return. Phoenix was a delusional yet heroic, caring grandmother who would stop at nothing to get what she needed.
Phoenix Jackson Obstacles
507 Words | 3 PagesWe see love in Phoenix Jackson by how she takes the long journey to get medicine for her grandson. In the story Eudora Welty enhances the unbeatable love Phoenix Jackson has for her grandson through drawbacks she faces, her health along with age, and taking the journey. Throughout the course of her journey she forgets her purpose, in her heart firm love she has for her grandson always lead her back on her path. Phoenix Jackson faces many obstacles on her journey but, none of them distract her from reaching the medical building for her grandsons sake. The hunter insisted “ Now you go on home, Granny!”
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