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Eudora Welty

Eudora Welty. (1909 – 2001). Vocabulary Development. Copy the Vocabulary Development words from page 759. Early Life. Born in Jackson, Mississippi Lived there her entire life Father was an insurance man Mother was a schoolteacher. Education. Attended Mississippi State College for Women

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Eudora Welty

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  1. Eudora Welty (1909 – 2001)

  2. Vocabulary Development Copy the Vocabulary Development words from page 759.

  3. Early Life • Born in Jackson, Mississippi • Lived there her entire life • Father was an insurance man • Mother was a schoolteacher

  4. Education • Attended Mississippi State College for Women • Graduated from the University of Wisconsin • Did graduate work at Columbia University

  5. Terms • Archetype – a very old imaginative pattern that appears in literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages; can be a character, a plot, an image or a setting • Theme – the insight about human life that is revealed in literary work

  6. “A Worn Path” • Takes place during the Depression • One fourth to one third of the workers in America were unemployed • Many people were forced to rely on charity for food, medicine, and even housing

  7. Metaphors – journeys are often seen as metaphors for life • How is Phoenix Jackson’s journey symbolic?

  8. Imagery – details which appeal to the senses • Notice the sensory details throughout the story

  9. What is Phoenix doing as the story open?What does this opening imply about her journey? • She is walking along a path early one December morning. • The opening implies that her journey will be long and hard. She has been traveling for some time.

  10. What details show that Phoenix has traveled this path before? • At a certain point she always feels worn out. She knows where the pines stop and the oaks begin.

  11. What do you think the thorny bush might represent? • It might represent the unexpected obstacles which one must overcome on the path of life.

  12. Why does Phoenix talk to herself and to objects? • She may do this to give herself courage. • She is elderly and may not care what others think about her.

  13. What can you infer about Phoenix from her actions and words when she steals the nickel? • She is sly. • She feels guilty about stealing. • She is poor and needs the nickel enough to go against her conscience.

  14. How does Phoenix overcome the possible obstacle that the hunter represents? • She talks to him respectfully. • She stands up to him when he points the gun at her.

  15. What does Phoenix’s determination to continue her journey imply thematically? • Her journey in life requires persistence and courage.

  16. What impression does “tower of steps” produce? • It gives the impression of a difficult climb for an elderly person.

  17. Why doesn’t Welty reveal the reason behind Phoenix’s journey earlier in the story? • Not knowing the reason makes the reader wonder why Phoenix goes on. • Not knowing helps us to see her journey as the universal struggle through life. • Not knowing adds suspense.

  18. Why is Phoenix’s grandson’s situation so desperate? • Her grandson’s throat has been so badly damaged by the lye that there are times when he can hardly breathe.

  19. Phoenix buys her grandson a windmill. How does her gift for him contribute to the theme? • She is a woman who finds her way through all types of obstacles, time after time, because of her love.

  20. How well does the metaphor of a “worn path” work in this story? • Let’s discuss what YOU think of this!

  21. READING QUIZ • When does this story take place? • What does Phoenix often do as she walks along? • What does Phoenix do to distract the hunter as she steals the nickel? • What is Phoenix’s destination? • From what ailment does Phoenix’s grandson suffer?

  22. ANSWERS • The story takes place in December. • Phoenix often talks to herself. • She turns his attention to a stray dog. • Her destination is a doctor’s office. • He swallowed lye and damaged his throat.

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