A Worn Path

By Eudora Welty

Warm Up Activity

 Based on the title, what do you think the story is going to be about?

 Reminder: 1-2 sentence answer is not acceptable.

Author Biography

 Born in 1909, Mississippi  Graduated from college with a Master degree in English Literature and Advertising  Became a journalist and a photographer  Never married  Winner of the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for her novel, The Optimist’s Daughter

Annotation

 Summarize  Ask questions  Make comments  predict

Give a summary of the story

Mythological Allusions

 Phoenix - the bird in ancient mythology that rose from its own ashes every 500 years to begin a new life cycle. Phoenix’s ritual journey into town symbolizes the continual rising up of the old woman, like the bird she is allied with.

 “her head tied in a red rage” (P1, p1)  “chirping of a solitary little bird” (P1, p1)  “a golden color ran underneath” (P2, p1)

Instructions for Discussion Questions

 Write your response and find at least two examples/quotations to support your response.

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Discussion Questions

In this story, Phoenix Jackson takes a journey. Explain what you think might be significant about that journey.

Even though Phoenix is elderly, the white man treats her condescendingly, as if she were a child. Why do you think Welty does not give the man a name? What does he represent? What point is Welty making?

What is the significance of Phoenix’s stealing the nickel from the hunter (and the hunter’s claiming that he had no money)?

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Discussion Questions

Define the treatment Phoenix experiences in the clinic. Provide some rationale for it. Are there any thematic similarities between the incident with the attendant and the encounter with the scarecrow?

What does the grandson represent? Why is it significant that he cannot speak? What is symbolic about her journey back?