The Theme of “A Worn Path” - 1225 Words

The Theme of â€Å"A Worn Path† Charlotte Schroeder Ashford University 03/04/2013 ENG 125 Instructor Abby Forster In the short story â€Å"A Worn Path†, the author Eudora Welty, created a strong theme of undying love with an old woman and her grandson. The main character in this story is called Phoenix; she is an old woman that is narrated from the author trying to make a long journey down a worn path to bring her sick grandson medicine. She will not let anything get in her way from completing her mission and will not give up even though she is not a young puppy anymore. She is the last living relative to her young grandson and she keeps strong to fulfill his needs and keep him happy. The author uses great symbolism†¦show more content†¦The hunter helps her out of a ditch that she has fallen in, however irony is used since he puts a gun in her face that also resembles racism. She compares her bones to weeds springy enough not to have been broken by the fall into the ditch. The hunter speaks down to her since he thinks she is a crazy old black woman trying to go see Santa Clause f or presents. She finds a nickel in her pocket, â€Å"God watching me the whole time. I come to stealing,† she knows that she must keep going with god’s help. However, she does not let this get her down since religion played a big role in her life and she has encountered much worse. Next, the author tells how Phoenix is feeling, â€Å"Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far†, this symbolizes chains are like a struggle for her. (Cited in Clugston, 2010, â€Å"A Worn Path† para. 10) She is faced with buzzards that symbolize death for her and oak trees that symbolize strength and wisdom since she was strong with life still. â€Å"She passed through the old cotton and went into a field of dead corn†, this showed how devoted her love was to pass through death defying places. (Cited in Clugston, 2010) Also, when she drank water, â€Å"In a ravine she went where a spring was silently flowing through a hollow log. Old Phoenix bent back and drank†, it symbolized a source of life and regeneration. (Cited in Clugston, 2010, â€Å"A Worn Path† para.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Theme of Determination in A Worn Path 637 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path† is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in â€Å"A Worn Path† is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determinedRead MoreThe Theme of Determination in â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty Essay examples655 Words   |  3 Pagesthe short story â€Å"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 â€Å"A Worn Path† is the sheer determinationRead More Comparing A Worn Path by Eudora Welty and A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner811 Words   |  4 PagesComparing A Worn Path by Eudora Welty and A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner In the pages of the short stories, A Worn Path and A Rose For Emily we are able to see a similar side and connection between the two. As we look at the theme, tone, and morals we are able to better grasp the conflict in these two stories, while detecting whether the two protagonists, Miss Emily and Phoenix Jackson are mentally crazy. The main moral in A Worn Path is the love, and life of Phoenix JacksonRead MoreSymbolic Source In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty1287 Words   |  6 Pagesexample the colors white, red and blue symbolize freedom in the United States, it also represents the United States flag. Symbols are also used in movies like the hunger games catching fire; their symbol is a mocking bird with an arrow on it. A Worn Path is about a long walk through the woods an old lady named Phoenix Jackson has to go through every time her grandson runs out of medicine. A long time ago her grandson swallowed lye that ruined his throat, the medicine is the only thing that relivesRead MoreAn Evaluation of ‚Äà ºA Worn Path‚Äà ¹932 Words   |  4 PagesAn Evaluation of â€Å"A Worn Path† ENG125 07/22/12 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. The worn path theme is the love and dedicationRead MoreEssay about A Worn Path by Eudora Welty 21212 Words   |  5 PagesA Worn Path In the story by Eudora Welty, â€Å"The Worn Path† Phoenix Jackson is a complex character who defies a stereotype in a symbolic way. Weltys story describe Phoenix as the o;d lady who had to travel miles a day in order to prove to the other characters that her grandson was not dead. Having to prove that her grandson was not dead Phoenix had three traits of characteristics. She was loving, determined, and persistent. These traits help her to overcome being stereotyped and ultimately herRead Morecompare contrast1165 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿A Rose for Emily Vs. A Worn Path In the pages of the short stories, â€Å"A Worn Path† and â€Å"A Rose for Emily† we are able to see a similar side and connection between the two. As we look at the theme, tone, and morals we are able to better grasp the conflict in these two stories, while detecting whether the two protagonists, Miss Emily and Phoenix Jackson are psychologically splintered. The main moral in â€Å"A Worn Path† is the love, and life of Phoenix Jackson. â€Å"Though quite old and suffering fromRead MoreA Comparison Of A Worn Path And A Rose For Emily709 Words   |  3 PagesThe two stories, A Worn Path and A Rose for Emily are very similar in some ways but yet different in their own unique way. When you look at the characters, their theme and tone, you can clearly see the difference in these two stories. Miss Emily and Phoenix both have mental problems. In A Worn Path the story deals with Phoenix’s life and the love she has. When Phoenix was walking and traveling through the Natchez Trace she was face with problems. Phoenix love for grandson shows her determinationRead MoreA Worn Path Analysis944 Words   |  4 PagesThe short story A Worn Path, is around an old African American woman named Phoenix Jackson who makes an arduous trip into town needing prescription for her sick grandson. Amid her outing she talks resoundingly to herself in a n urging way to bear the troublesome trek. She has made this trek commonly some time recently, yet this one appears to be essentially harder to oversee. After her daring endeavors and love for her lone grandson, she is effective at recovering the solution. Shockingly, the creatorRead MoreA Worn Path By Eudora Welty1005 Words   |  5 Pagesracism because the path represents the slavery path when black folks escaped from their owners and most of all their hiding place so they wont find them . Also the woods represents they same symbols as the path because they ran through there in order to lose their own owners. In this story of â€Å"A Worn Path† is about a grown up woman who goes into town to get her grandson some medication. Phoenix risks her life by walking in the empty woods through path she already knows