Writing allowed Anne to maintain her sanity and spirit while in hiding. It also gives people the opportunity to re-live her story today. Anne Frank “ hoped to confide everything” (to her diary) and hoped it would be “a great source of comfort and support”. Not only was Anne’s diary extraordinary because of the remarkable events she described, but she was also an excellent storyteller. She would let her imagination run wild and this kept her spirit alive.
The New Historicism is a criticism where a reader must link historical moments that occurred during a time where the text was written to fully understand the text. “A Worn Path” was written in the 1940’s by Eudora Welty where she displays rhetorical silence as well as the New Historicism criticism technique. The 1940’s were a time of crucial racism and the period when World War II was in progress. The author incorporates current events in the story and how they affected the life of Phoenix Jackson as she pursues her grandson’s medicine. Phoenix is an elderly black woman who is attempting to retrieve well needed medicine for her suffering grandson.
However, despite the pain and struggle Bechdel has had facing her father's life and death, the book is neither morose nor depressing. The author has found peace with herself in regard to her father, her childhood, and who she is today. As she says in the dedication (to her mother and brothers) " We did have a lot of fun, in spite of everything." FUN HOME is a wonderful graphic memoir that is engaging, heartrending, funny, and thoughtful. Readers will definitely want to stop by the Fun Home for this
Running Head: THE WORN PATH 1 The Worn Path Donita M. Lake English Literature 125 Professor Annemarie Hamlin April 10, 2011 THE WORN PATH 2 The Worn Path, by Eudora Wetly The Story “The Worn Path” by Eudora Wetly is a true depiction of its symbolic title and is a written portrayal of how and why a little “Old Negro Women”, named Phoenix Jackson would take an arduous life threatening journey on foot, through the woods of Mississippi during World War II, at a time of racial prejudice, gender and age discrimination, in the dead of winter, on an old so familiar road of distress, dread and self-discovery. During this era, as with most parts of the Deep South, Mississippi was consumed with racial division, segregation, pure racism, and poverty. This led to killings and lynching that dominated life for Blacks during this time at the turn of the twentieth century. Perhaps, the setting’s descriptive imagery used by the author could be considered a symbolic representation of the cold brassy way in which blacks were treated during this time as describe here, “It was December–a bright frozen day in the early morning”. As the author describes the main character’s disposition, “She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grand-father clock”.
In many cultures and mythologies, a phoenix is a long-living bird that closely relates to the sun. It represents the sun dying every night but is always restored life/reborn the next morning. Hints of Phoenix Jackson’s age are suggested throughout the story. Phoenix’s eyes are said to be “blue with age” (Welty). 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).
Angela Brown Professor Amber Brooks Hybrid English 1102 October 07, 2011 In the story by Eudora Welty, “The Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson is a complex character who defies a stereotype in a symbolic way. Welty's story describes Phoenix as the old 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 loved her grandson, determined throughout her errand, and persistent to accomplish her goal. These traits helped her to overcome being stereotyped and ultimately her overcoming these stereotypes made her symbolic in her journey to the doctor’s office.
This story truly shows the value of love and determination in accomplishing your goals. "-Caroline WhiteNew York Times"Such a motivating book! An example of faith, family and friends persevering over tragedy. Bethany's love for all three, and her passion for surfing, makes this a fascinating story.
Gwen Harwood’s unique poetic style explores the universal themes and exploits intensified emotions that the human race can relate to by some means; the nature of Harwood’s work has unity and the ability to transcend time whilst staying true to herself and the very fundamentals that have inspired her writing. Harwood’s poetry is a product of her own historical, social, cultural and personal context which has added value and insight to her poetry and furthermore developed the era in which they were fashioned, resulting in appreciation by many; including feminists and philosophers, the academic world, the all-encompassing contemporary audience and yet still, future generations. Gwen Harwood successfully utilises her life experiences
Chirp little birdie, keep flying” don’t stop, she says smiling. Phoenix crosses the log she had cross before. She sees the same bush she got stuck in early, but ignores it this time.” Pretty bush you can’t fool me this time, “she said fearlessly. Mr. Scarecrow it’s you gain, I can’t dance I’m worn out, but let’s shake hands. The scarecrow is speechless, but hand stuck out.
Squer’ls she’ll tame to come an’ feed right out o’ her hands, and all sorts o’birds” said Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia’s grandmother. She had an admiration for nature. She knew the woods by her home like the back of her hand. She could travel through the darkest woods and still find her way home without a problem. She was also ambitious.