In stories, usually, we think of our traditional hero as a young and strong undefeatable man. In Eudra Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”, it is obviously not the case. Pheonix Jackson, an old shortsighted poor woman may not look as our traditional hero but she goes through a series of events where she displays all the qualities of one. At the start of her journey, we can easily perceive Phoenix’s steadfastness through the woods up a hill. The old lady, despite her age and difficulty to walk, is determined to get to town to get medicine for her sick grandson.
Page 1 Title: A Worn Path Author: Eudora Wetly Setting: The setting of this story begins in 1941 in Southwestern Mississippi countryside in the fields and ends in the town of Natchez medical center. It was very early in the morning on a bright and frozen day in the month of December on Christmas day. Phoenix Jackson is a small and very old lady who started her day walking in the wilderness on her way towards town to pick up medicine for her grandson. She’s has been going back and forth trying to get medicine to sooth her grandson’s sore throat. Plot: The exposition of the story is about Phoenix Jackson an elder negro women with her courage and determination to go against all the odds against her that gives the impact in the story, The rising action of this story begins shortly after Phoenix Jackson went deeper and deeper down the road between high green colored banks.
An example of this is evident when Phoenix Jackson meets the white hunter in the forest. The hunter shows Phoenix little respect after helping her to her feet, calling her “colored” and a “Granny” (Welty). Nearing the end of their conversation, the hunter points his gun at Phoenix and asks if the gun scares her, disrespecting her even further. Again, in the city, Phoenix Jackson experiences troubles with social equality. Realizing her shoes are untied, Jackson stands in the street while people pass her by, waiting for the chance to ask someone to help lace her shoes.
“A Worn Path” Essay Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" is a story about an old black woman who must hunt medicine for her sick nephew. Phoenix Jackson, the protagonist, must travel from the pinewoods where she lives and attempt to fight through the blizzarding cold to reach the hospital at the closest neighboring city of Natchez where she intends to find help. In this story, Welty exemplifies the concept that people can, and do overcome the trials and tribulations of life with the lasting hope and strength provided by loved ones. Here, it is the jeopardizing health issue of her nephew and ultimately her love for him that keeps her going. Welty illustrates this concept with her use of symbolism, dialogue, and conflict of the characters.
Also, the author describes Phoenix’s skin as having “a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead…” (Welty). All of these examples tie back with the long lifespan of a phoenix. Jackson’s whole mission in this story is to receive and deliver medicine for her grandson. “She makes these trips as regular as clockwork” (Welty). Just like the mythological phoenix rising every day, Phoenix Jackson consistently rises up to the challenge of taking a long journey to aid her grandson.
Every morning at exactly 0400 hours he would get dressed and pray for Andy and the men lost in that battle. Today he had a different kind of battle confronting himself and Darcy. They had decided to go together to Cecelia’s house, hoping that this conflict will be resolved peacefully. They stood on a cleanly swept veranda, edging towards the door with their hearts racing. Bob went first, how will she take the news?
One of the first obstacles she runs into is the hill. Every time she comes to climb the hill, Phoenix says it seems like there are "chains about my feet" (Welty, “Path” 1). This hill symbolizes the hard life that Phoenix has had to travel and sacrifice in order to get what she wants. Because she was very old and small and she walked slowly (“Path” 1). After overcoming this first obstacle and on her trip down the hill, "a bush caught her dress" (Welty, “Path” 2).
David Burrell English 9 Mr. Kenrick 19 march 2012 The Poem I selected is” Morning Song”, by Sylvia Plath. I selected three quotes: 1. “ The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry took its place among the elements” 2. “One cry and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and floral in my Victorian nightgown.” 3. “And now you try your handful of notes;” The literal meaning of the first quote, “The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry/took its place among the elements” (Plath 2-3lns.
T**** Ms. H***** 1st Block 28 October 2010 Do Not Judge People by Their Looks To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s by Harper Lee. This story takes place in Maycomb County; where Harper Lee was actually born and raised. In this book Harper Lee shows discrimination, prejudice, and racism. Appearances do not always reflect reality. In the beginning of the book Boo Radley is described scary, to illustrate, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging by his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, this is why his hands were bloodstained…” (Lee 13).
The title 'Crossing Over' has a literal meaning of crossing the road and the other is crossing from life into death we sometimes use this phrase as a euphemism instead of saying someone was dead. In this Mystery story there are 3 main characters, Togo, Mrs Mathews and the girl. In the story Togo is a dog and he is 'huge, half Alsatian and half something else, he is permanently matted and dirty. 'Mrs Mathews is the owner of the dog (Togo), she is quite old, she cares about Togo so much and would be petrified if anything happened to the poor creature' I know this because on the story the girl 'had offered bathe and groom him, but Mrs Mathews had been outraged by the suggestion . She was sure the poor creature would catch a cold' from this quotation picked from the story, it suggests that Mrs. Mathews cares about Togo a lot.