Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”

“A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.”

__ Eudora Welty

1.  Refer to the story often as you consider the possible symbolism of each of the following.

2.  Read about each item in the context of the story: what do you think it means? Why?

3.  Is your interpretation/inference logical? Can you “defend it”?

4.  Example: “Out of my way, all you foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals!...Keep out from under these feet, little bob-whites….Keep the big wild hogs out of my path. Don’t let none of those come running in my direction. I got a long way.” Claiming this quote proves Phoenix is senile or crazy does NOT make sense. Using the same quote to argue that Phoenix knows the journey is long, anticipates difficulty, and is not really afraid of nature is logical. Also, the idea of a journey with many obstacles is in virtually every myth, so Phoenix is a type of hero.

5.  Try to see how many of the symbols have a mythological allusion. To do this, you may “google” a phrase such as “black dog mythology.”

Time of Year
Winter / Interpretation:
1.  On a literal level, the winter season means Phoenix must overcome the additional hardship of cold weather
2.  The myth of Demeter, Goddess of agriculture, relates that the goddess had a daughter named Persephone. Hades, God of the Underworld, snatched the girl away. Distressed by this disappearance, Demeter left all the harvest alone and as a result, mass famine struck. / Quote to support:
Main Character’s First Name
/ Interpretation: / Quote to support:
Buzzard / Interpretation: / Quote to support:
Scarecrow / Interpretation: / Quote to support:
Black Dog / Interpretation: / Quote to support:
The Daydream / Interpretation: / Quote to support:
Hunter and Two Dogs / Interpretation: / Quote to support:

ESSAY QUESTION

Choose one of the following and write a one page response, using textual support to illustrate your point:

A.  A motif, a unifying element in a piece of literature, may be created through recurrent images, symbols, character types, or themes. As you read “A Worn Path,” note words that are associated with time. Why is the TIME MOTIF significant to the development of Welty’s theme?

B.  Sight is another motif. Note places where Welty refers to eyes or sight. How does Phoenix’s inability to see well establish the nature of her journey?

  1. The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization. Welty’s story has definite mythological undertones, and as such Phoenix can be seen as the hero who, during his journey, endures what Campbell calls The Road of Trials. She must overcome a series of obstacles on her journey/quest. Discuss this American short story as a variation of the hero cycle.