What is the test in A Worn Path?
On a cold December day, an elderly woman named Phoenix Jackson makes her way along a remote path, narrating the journey to herself as she goes. She traverses different kinds of terrain—hills, forests, swamps, and fields—that test the strength and endurance of her old body.
What does Phoenix Jackson steal?
Jackson encounters various obstacles on the way, some physical (dense forest and a creek crossing), some psychological (an unpleasant encounter with a white man on the road, from whom she steals a dropped nickel); the story’s overarching theme is its protagonist’s persistence in making this repeated journey through the …
How much money does Phoenix have at the end of the story?
How much money does Phoenix have at the end of the story? Ten cents (two nickels), derived from her cunning and no-nonsense approach to life.
Why does Phoenix make her journey?
The old lady Phoenix Jackson’s purpose of her trip to the town was to get some medicine for her grandson who is suffering from throat pain. Her grandson had swallowed lye and his throat stops working.
Is Phoenix’s grandson alive?
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 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.
What does the marble cake represent in A Worn Path?
In Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path”, the marble cake symbolizes a representation of her grandson and her desire for companionship on…
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.
Is Phoenix Jackson senile?
Phoenix is an old, frail woman who attempts to proceed on a long and treacherous journey through the woods to Natchez. Phoenix strives forward despite frequent obstacles in her way that include her own failing health and her grandchild’s slim chance of survival.
What does Natchez represent in A Worn Path?
The town of Natchez Trace was an overland trail between Nashville, Tennessee, and Natchez, Mississippi. In the early 1800s, it was a “worn path”, which promoted progress for the African American slaves. Her journey was along a “worn path,” this means that she had walked this trip many times.
What is the significance of Phoenix’s encounter with the Scarecrow?
At first, Phoenix misidentifies the scarecrow as a black man or a dancing ghost. Both initial reactions reflect a longstanding and very local history of violence against black people, particularly black males.
What is wrong with Phoenix’s grandson in A Worn Path?
The nurse and Phoenix discuss what is wrong with the boy: He has a painful throat from swallowing lye approximately two or three years ago. Phoenix says the symptoms flare up regularly. The nurse gives Phoenix the medicine as a charity case.