A Worn Path

By Eudora Welty

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

SYMBOLISM
the most prominent symbol is that related to the
mythological phoenix.
Phoenix Jackson's name refers to the phoenix myth in
Egyptian mythology. It was a bird that lived 500 years then
died in fire and rose from the ashes to new life.
old phoenix resembles the mythical bird in appearence.
She is described in terms of red and gold in colors the colors
of the phoenix.
" a golden color ran underneath,and the two knobs of her
cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the
dark.Under the red rag her hair came down on her neck."

 Phoenix's age refers to the 500 years

that the phoenix lived before it rose
again from fire.
The trip to the city to get medicine
represents the mythological trip that
the Phoenix takes to the sun to die.

 The journey of protagonist along the

worn path is a symbol of the path of
life.
The uphill and downhill phases of
the path corresponds with beginning
of life towards its prime and decline
towards death.
The obstacles that Phoenix meets
throughout the trip are equivalent to
the trials and tribulations of life.

 The thorny bush is a symbol of the

deceptive dangers or unjustified
physiological fears that hinder our
advance.
The slice of cake on the plate is a
symbol of the unfulfilled joys of
life.The marble cake can also be
symbolic of the blending of blacks
and whites that was not fulfilled.

 The maze in the corn field is a

symbol of the confusion, uncertainty,
and loss of direction in life in which
can happen to people.
The snake can be a symbol of
temptation.
The windmill can be a symbol of
the cycle of life that is repeated.

 Point of View
"A Worn Path" is told from a third-person limited point of
view. This allows us to empathize with Phoenix, because her
thoughts and actions are shown. Yet, in third-person, we are
allowed to view Phoenix from a distance, and thereby see
her as others see her

LITERARY DEVICES
Alliteration (repetition of consonants)
where the wind rocked
Lifting her skirt, leveling her cane fiercely before her like
a festival figure in some parade, she began to march
across.

Metaphor
The comparison of one thing to another without the use of
like or as:

A bird flew by. Her lips moved. "God watching me

the whole time. I come to stealing."
Comparison of a bird to the watchfulness of God

At last there came a flicker and then a

flame of comprehension across her face,
and she spoke.
Comparison of comprehension to a flicker and a flame

SIMILE
This (tapping of the cane) made a grave and
persistent noise in the still air that seemed
meditative, like the chirping of a solitary little
bird. (1;1;5)
(Comparison of the noise made by the cane to the chirping of
a bird)

Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless

branching wrinkles and as though a whole little
tree stood in the middle of her forehead. . . .
(Comparison of the branching wrinkles to the branching limbs
of a tree)

THANK YOU