By Eudora Welty

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A Worn Path

• By Eudora Welty

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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.

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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 Optimists Daughter

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Annotation

• Summarize
• Ask questions
• Make comments
• predict

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Give a summary of the story
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Mythological Allusions

• Phoenix - the bird in ancient mythology that
  rose from its own ashes every 500 years to begin
  a new life cycle. Phoenixs 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)

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Instructions for Discussion Questions

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

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Discussion Questions

1. In this story, Phoenix Jackson takes a journey.
   Explain what you think might be significant about
   that journey.
2. 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?
3. What is the significance of Phoenixs stealing
   the nickel from the hunter (and the hunters
   claiming that he had no money)?

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Discussion Questions

1. 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?
2. What does the grandson represent? Why is it
   significant that he cannot speak?
3. What is symbolic about her journey back?