A Worn Path Literary Analysis
Theme and Narrative Elements
Calvin
Introduction to Literature
Professor Heather Peerboom
31 August 2014
The literary definition of a phoenix is a mythical bird that in its lifetime burns up in flames and regenerates (Lester 2007). This is just one form of symbolism in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path.” In this short story, Phoenix is an old African American grandmother. She embarks on an obstacle filled journey into Natchez to acquire medicine for her ill grandson. I will also be showing you two other literary terms in the story, which are plot and character. When Welty utilizes symbolism, plot and character; I will show you why love is the theme for “A Worn Path.” In Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix Jackson is the main character. Phoenix is a small elderly woman who was nearly blind. Welty made Phoenix an extremely resilient character. “Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far,” (Clugston 2014) which means she was probably a slave at one point. From that quote you can also tell that Phoenix is …show more content…
The beginning of Phoenix’s journey shows her struggling up a hill, extricating herself from a thorn bush, and crossing a log over a creek (Piwinski 2003). Phoenix 's perseverance is soon noticeable, as she pleads with a higher being to "keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don 't let none of those come running in my direction. I got a long way.” (Piwinski 2003) Piwinski stated that in the story, Phoenix faces obstacles but her perseverance is still noticeable. After she arrives in Natchez, Phoenix receives a nickel for Christmas from the nurse. She states she will buy her grandson a windmill because “He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world.” (Clugston 2014) Here, she wants to bring joy to her grandson even though he has an illness. This is why the plot shows why love is the theme in “A Worn
Calvin
Introduction to Literature
Professor Heather Peerboom
31 August 2014
The literary definition of a phoenix is a mythical bird that in its lifetime burns up in flames and regenerates (Lester 2007). This is just one form of symbolism in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path.” In this short story, Phoenix is an old African American grandmother. She embarks on an obstacle filled journey into Natchez to acquire medicine for her ill grandson. I will also be showing you two other literary terms in the story, which are plot and character. When Welty utilizes symbolism, plot and character; I will show you why love is the theme for “A Worn Path.” In Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix Jackson is the main character. Phoenix is a small elderly woman who was nearly blind. Welty made Phoenix an extremely resilient character. “Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far,” (Clugston 2014) which means she was probably a slave at one point. From that quote you can also tell that Phoenix is …show more content…
The beginning of Phoenix’s journey shows her struggling up a hill, extricating herself from a thorn bush, and crossing a log over a creek (Piwinski 2003). Phoenix 's perseverance is soon noticeable, as she pleads with a higher being to "keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don 't let none of those come running in my direction. I got a long way.” (Piwinski 2003) Piwinski stated that in the story, Phoenix faces obstacles but her perseverance is still noticeable. After she arrives in Natchez, Phoenix receives a nickel for Christmas from the nurse. She states she will buy her grandson a windmill because “He going to find it hard to believe there such a thing in the world.” (Clugston 2014) Here, she wants to bring joy to her grandson even though he has an illness. This is why the plot shows why love is the theme in “A Worn