A Worn Path

A Worn Path

"A Worn Path" (1940) by Eudora Welty is a short story that outlines an African-American woman named Phoenix who is walking through the woods into town. On her way she encounters many deterrents, including a dog, heavy brush, and a man who tells her to go home. When she arrives in the town, the reader learns that she made the journey to get medicine for her sick grandchild, but it becomes unclear whether or not he is even still alive.

Plot introduction

The author tells the story from a third-person’s point of view, from which the information is limited, so that the readers can think more themselves. Moreover, readers can look at Phoenix for other people’s angle, from which her thoughts and actions are clearly exposed. The author uses symbolism on the name of Phoenix. Phoenix is a bird that rises from the ashes every 500 years.


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  • path — W2S2 [pa:θ US pæθ] n plural paths [pa:ðz US pæðz] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(track)¦ 2¦(way through something)¦ 3¦(direction)¦ 4¦(plan)¦ 5 somebody s paths cross ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [: Old English; Origin: pAth] 1.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • path — noun 1 way across land ADJECTIVE ▪ long ▪ narrow ▪ steep ▪ winding ▪ cobblestone (esp. AmE), dirt …   Collocations dictionary

  • path — /path, pahth/, n., pl. paths /padhz, pahdhz, paths, pahths/. 1. a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals. 2. a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden; a bicycle path. 3. a route, course, or track along which… …   Universalium

  • path — path1 [path, päth] n. [ME < OE pæth, akin to Ger pfad, Du pad, prob. early Gmc loanword < Iran (as in Avestan path ) < IE base * pent(h) , to step, go > FIND, L pons, bridge] 1. a track or way worn by footsteps; trail 2. a walk or way …   English World dictionary

  • path — [[t]pɑ͟ːθ, pæ̱θ[/t]] ♦♦♦ paths 1) N COUNT A path is a long strip of ground which people walk along to get from one place to another. We followed the path along the clifftops... Feet had worn a path in the rock... He went up the garden path to… …   English dictionary

  • path — noun plural paths, (C) 1 TRACK a track that people walk along over an area of ground: I walked nervously up the path towards the front door. | A path had been worn across the grass. 2 WAY THROUGH STH a way through something, that is made by… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • path — noun /pæθ,pɑːθ,pæθ/ a) a trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians. Just before Warwick reached Liberty Point, a young woman came down Front Street from the direction of the market house. When their paths converged, Warwick kept on down Front …   Wiktionary

  • path — A trail. A way worn by many footsteps. A course taken in traveling. A course of conduct. See bicycle paths …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • well-worn — adjective used many times: a well worn path well worn clothing a well worn phrase/excuse/defense …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Old Loggers Path — The Old Loggers Path north of Masten in McNett Township, Lycoming County Length 27.1 mi; 43.6 km Location Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, USA Trailheads …   Wikipedia

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