Where is Phoenix Jackson’s going in a worn path?
See, not only is Jackson the capital of Mississippi, it is the city in which Welty was born and died and lived much of her life. It makes sense then that a story set in Mississippi that’s so concerned with the issues people in the state face would use the state’s capital as the main character’s last name.
Where is Phoenix Jackson going?
The story describes a journey by an elderly black woman named Phoenix Jackson, who must walk a long way into Natchez from her home in rural Mississippi to retrieve medicine for her grandson.
What happened to Phoenix grandson in A Worn Path?
Phoenix’s belief that he is still alive could be the result of old age and losing her memory, making it hard to remember and easier to move on with life and feel she has a purpose. In conclusion, Eudora Welty hides clues throughout the story to inform you that Phoenix Jackson’s grandson is unfortunately dead.
What did Phoenix Jackson fear?
She has a few fears and is wary of what she might encounter, but she pushes on. Confidently she states, “Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!
What is the setting of the story A Worn Path?
Plot. “A Worn Path” is told in the third person point of view. “A Worn Path” follows an elderly African American woman named Phoenix Jackson as she ventures toward a town. The story is set in Natchez, Mississippi during the Great Depression era.
Why is Phoenix going on a walk?
Phoenix Jackson makes a journey to get medicine for her grandson. What does this journey do for her? This is a familiar and arduous trip for Phoenix, but she perseveres and there is satisfaction for her in making this journey.
Why was Phoenix’s journey so remarkable?
Why was Phoenix’s journey so remarkable? She traveled a long distance for a woman so old and infirm and forgetful. How does the author present Phoenix? As a brave determined person able to meet a challenge despite obstacles.
How does Phoenix describe her grandson?
Like Phoenix, the grandson is strong and determined, with a touch of immortality to him. He doesn’t let his pain “put him back at all,” and Phoenix is convinced that “He going to last” (91).
Why was Phoenix Jackson’s grandson sick?
For Phoenix, her grandson represents the future of her family, and perhaps, for black people in general. Though we never get to see him, we do know that he suffers greatly after having swallowed lye a few years earlier as a young boy.
What did Phoenix learn in A Worn Path?
“A Worn Path” deals with many of the big -isms: racism, sexism, ageism, and classism. Phoenix is black during a time when it is considered better to be white.
What does the nickel symbolize in A Worn Path?
In addition, the nurse gives Phoenix a nickel for Christmas spirit. Phoenix is going to use her ten cents to buy her nephew a paper windmill. The windmill represents the circle of life, and Phoenix will live on for many more years.
What does the Scarecrow represent in A Worn Path?
The scarecrow represents all the potential of black lives that had been lost through the constraining shackles of slavery, lynchings, and general poverty and legal repression.
Is there irony in A Worn Path?
The overarching irony “A Worn Path” is the allusion to mythic quests and heroism in the story of a simple, uneducated, old black woman just walking to get her grandson’s medicine. Undercutting the irony is the story’s sincere affirmation that anyone can be a hero in the right circumstances.
Is there foreshadowing in A Worn Path?
Author Eudora Welty uses foreshadowing, imagery, and symbolism in “A Warn Path” to depict the main character’s obstacles and adversities to achieve her goal. The title of the short story, “A Worn Path,” is foreshadowing something coming to an end. In Phoenix’s case, it would be her life.
What are the symbols in A Worn Path?
They are often symbols for death, decay, and destruction, though they can sometimes also be used to symbolize regeneration. Death always hangs in the background of “A Worn Path.” Phoenix’s grandson is very ill, and Phoenix herself is so old that death may come for her soon as well.
Does Phoenix Jackson have dementia?
There are many different obstacles Phoenix faces, and many objects within her trip that symbolize her journey of life. … A contributor to this never-ending cycle is the fact the Old Phoenix has dementia. She is often forgetful and does not remember very much.
What does a Phoenix symbolize?
The phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection and life after death, and in ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology it is associated with the sun god.
What does the thorn bush symbolize in A Worn Path?
The thorn bush symbolizes how life contains obstacles that are difficult, tedious, and sometimes hidden or masked. Jackson talks to the bush mentioning how she did not even see the thorns, and that is what makes them such an obstacle.
What does the paper windmill symbolize in A Worn Path?
The paper windmill symbolizes how enjoy and happiness can overcome any obstacle in life that Jackson has to overcome. In spite of a extended journey for Jackson, the happiness that it would in the end give for her grandson created A Worn Path worth traveling.
What is the main theme of A Worn Path?
The main themes of “A Worn Path” include race and racism, duty and responsibility, and guilt. Race and racism: The white Southerners, such as the hunter, whom Phoenix Jackson meets on her journey treat her with disrespect and condescension.
What is the main conflict of A Worn Path?
The main conflict in “A Worn Path” is of man vs. nature. Phoenix Jackson must travel this worn path, a path not necessarily fit for an old woman to be traveling.
What is the climax in A Worn Path?
The climax of any story occurs at the turning point, at the highest point of action. After all of her struggles, Phoenix finally makes it into the clinic, and it is clear that she will be able to get the medicine that her grandson needs.
What are some conflicts that Phoenix encounters on her journey?
Throughout the story, Phoenix is faced with many different conflicts like old age, racism, and memory loss that nearly stop her from completing what she has started. To begin, one of the biggest conflicts that Jackson is faced with is her old age.