A Worn Path

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A Detailed Look At “A Worn Path” By Eudora Welty "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty is a story of devotion and responsibility. It emphasizes an older lady doing whatever it takes to fulfill her grandsons needs. The characters, tone, and symbolism play a major role in relating the story to the theme, but the most important factor is the point of view in which the story is told. The story is told in third person, which allows the readers to understand the text from the main characters perspective. The point of view also sets the tone and mood of the whole story. The plot structure as well is very unique, it keeps the readers full of suspense and wanting more. The story is well told in chronological order, although the reader does not find out the reason of the the lady’s journey till the end. The protagonist in “A Worn Path,” is an old lady who goes by the name Phoenix. Phoenix is a v round character aged anywhere from 80-100 years old. She is fearless, confident and wise, but she also has an wild imagination, and poor vision. Phoenix herself is a symbol in the story. She shows traits related to the phoenix bird who rose from its ashes. In the story, Phoenix's physical appearance is very similar to the bird itself. Both the bird and lady symbolize immortality, meaning endless life or existence. The remaining characters are the nurse, the grandson, the hunter, and the attendant. These characters are not as round as Phoenix. Each character plays a part in revealing new information or traits regarding Phoenix. Phoenix first encounters the hunter on her journey across town. She trips in a ditch and the hunter comes to her rescue. The hunter comes across nice at first but as the story goes on hints of racism are thrown at the readers. He constantly calls the old lady “Granny,” which in slave days, the white people often referred to as old women out of

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