A worn path summary. A Worn Path 2022-12-20

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"A Worn Path" is a short story by Eudora Welty that was first published in 1941. The story tells the tale of an elderly African American woman named Phoenix Jackson who travels through the woods to reach a pharmacy in the town of Natchez, Mississippi. Despite the many obstacles she encounters along the way, Phoenix persists in her journey, driven by a love and determination to help her sick grandson.

The story begins with a description of Phoenix's appearance, with her worn and tattered clothing, her "feet dragging a harvest of navel oranges," and her "face so thin there were no cheeks." Despite her obvious poverty and old age, Phoenix is depicted as a strong and determined woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to help those she loves.

As she makes her way through the woods, Phoenix encounters several obstacles, including a thorn bush that snags her dress and a log that she must carefully navigate around. Despite these challenges, she remains focused on her goal and continues on her journey.

Eventually, Phoenix reaches the pharmacy in Natchez and is able to purchase the medicine she needs for her sick grandson. The pharmacist, who recognizes Phoenix as a regular customer, asks her why she makes the long and difficult journey to the pharmacy so often. Phoenix replies that she does it for her "little sick grandson," who is "all the time ailing." The pharmacist, moved by Phoenix's love and devotion, gives her the medicine for free.

As Phoenix begins her journey back home, the story ends with a description of her "feet dragging a harvest of love." The journey may have been difficult and exhausting, but Phoenix's love for her grandson has given her the strength and determination to overcome any obstacle.

In "A Worn Path," Welty explores the themes of love, determination, and the power of the human spirit. Through the character of Phoenix Jackson, she illustrates the lengths that a person will go to in order to help those they love. The story also highlights the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit, as Phoenix refuses to let age, poverty, or physical obstacles stand in the way of her determination to help her grandson. "A Worn Path" is a poignant and moving tribute to the enduring power of love and the human spirit.

Summary Of A Worn Path By Eudora Welty

a worn path summary

Isaacs, 1963 , symbolizing the perseverance of life. Finally, she reached a stone building and climbed stairs. She had to cross it. A Whiteman comes and helps her by lifting and she ran after the dog. The receptionist asked her a lot of questions.

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A Worn Path: Short Summary Essay Example

a worn path summary

The receptionist gave her a nickel and she said that she would buy a paper windmill for grandson. The Phoenix is known for rising from the ashes after being burned. This story describes one of her such journeys to the town. Before entering the building she stops to ask a woman carrying Christmas presents to tie her shoes. There she saw a scarecrow.

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A Worn Path by Eudora Welty Plot Summary

a worn path summary

The story made me think of my own grandmother and how if she was treated the way Phoenix was, I would have to stand up for her. She makes her journey to get medicine for her grandson. This leaves her lying within a ditch for some time until a young white hunter arrives with his chained dog, and stops to assist her. After climbing the hill with great difficulty, now she had to climb down but by then she got caught by thorny bush with great labor she freed herself and again continued her journey. When she realizes it is in fact just a scarecrow she is happy and dances with it for a moment. She had a cane to walk. She again continued her journey but there was another obstacle waiting for her.

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A Worn Path Short Summary

a worn path summary

A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, a story of perseverance, love, courage, and kindness. The woman obliges, though a bit gruffly. Ans: Phoenix Jackson went to town for medicine for her grandson who had swallowed lye. She needs to earn the money herself by working in the fields, since her mother is sick. In short, she does things a woman of her age ought not be doing; yet she does them for the sake of her grandson. But, depending on her senses, she finally reached the medical clinic.

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A Worn Path

a worn path summary

The two different types of obstacles Phoenix faces, one being the physical condition of her body being due to her age, blindness, and the bad state her mind is in. She passes through different types of terrain — forests, swamps, hills, and fields. Which, in this case, is getting her grandma to come to America from Mexico. She lost her balance and fell down in a ditch there. Jackson represents that ancient avian, she makes her pilgrimage to town so that she may be "reborn" through her grandson who will carry on after she passes. It was not an easy job. She just stands there looking at them with an unflinching look on her face.

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Literary Analysis of A Worn Path

a worn path summary

Describe two obstacles old Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital and how she deals with them. Ans: Phoenix Jackson is an old lady. At the time of this story, no one had learned yet to consider others for who they are rather than the color of their skin. She had to cross it through a log. Phoenix replied that her grandson had a throat problem.

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a worn path summary

It speaks about an old black woman embarking on a journey towards a rural place to get medicine for her grandson. Her striped dress, apron made of sugar sacks, her untied, unlaced shoes and her cane made of an old umbrella show how impoverished her life is. Finally, when she knew that it was the scarecrow, she even danced with it. The elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson, is the main character of the story and she overcomes many trials and tribulations to reach her goal. Her journey starts through the hill.

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a worn path summary

The bushes, trees and branches that seem to grab at her to keep her from moving on. After reading the story a few times and then talking about short stories in class, I read A Worn Path out loud. Don't use plagiarized sources. After sometimes, she came by a creek. She found herself in the cotton field and saw scarecrow. The title is very symbolic of the story and has a very good meaning. She comes across a log and goes ahead.

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a worn path summary

Then she kicked the dog in spite of her old age when she kicked the dog, she fell into the ditch. After some time, she reached the town. She found herself in the cotton field and saw scarecrow. She crept and crawled through the wire saving herself and her gown. What do her monologues add to the total portrait of her? Nevertheless, she takes it. Poor vision, unsteady gait, age, and nature are impediments against Phoenix but she unselfishly presses forward for the health of her grandson.


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