Never Give Up: a Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty's "A Worn Path"
Never Give Up:
A Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s “A Worn Path”
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Outline
Thesis statement: In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, which ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal. I. Personal obstacles A. Body B. Mind II. Physical obstacles A. Nature B. Society
Never Give Up:
A Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s “A Worn Path”
Although Phoenix Jackson is old, tired, dirty, and poor, nothing can stand in her way. In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix jumps off the page as a vibrant protagonist full of surprises as she embarks on a long, arduous journey to procure medicine for her ill grandson. Throughout the story, she displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, and this fortitude ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal.
During the course of her trek, Phoenix shows great determination in spite of many personal obstacles. Her body is described as “very old and small,” making a journey which would be difficult for most people nearly impossible for Phoenix (314; 1). However, in each situation, she uses ingenuity and purpose to persevere. At one point, when the only way over a creek is across a fallen tree trunk, she simply “mounted the log and shut her eyes” (315; 13). With pure faith, she makes her way across by ignoring the dangers in the world around her. She uses a different technique when she encounters what she thinks is a specter. Instead of closing her eyes, she confronts the situation head on, asking, “… who be you the ghost of?” (316; 24). When Phoenix realizes the apparition is actually a scarecrow, she admits to herself, “My senses is gone. I too old, I the oldest people I even know” (316; 27). Not one to let a little thing like her failing mind and eyesight stop her, she continues, undeterred, after telling the scarecrow to keep on dancing
A Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s “A Worn Path”
By
STUDENT NAME
Professor NAME
CLASS NAME
DATE
Outline
Thesis statement: In “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty, Phoenix Jackson displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, which ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal. I. Personal obstacles A. Body B. Mind II. Physical obstacles A. Nature B. Society
Never Give Up:
A Character Analysis of Phoenix from Welty’s “A Worn Path”
Although Phoenix Jackson is old, tired, dirty, and poor, nothing can stand in her way. In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” Phoenix jumps off the page as a vibrant protagonist full of surprises as she embarks on a long, arduous journey to procure medicine for her ill grandson. Throughout the story, she displays extraordinary perseverance in the face of difficulty, and this fortitude ultimately allows her to accomplish her goal.
During the course of her trek, Phoenix shows great determination in spite of many personal obstacles. Her body is described as “very old and small,” making a journey which would be difficult for most people nearly impossible for Phoenix (314; 1). However, in each situation, she uses ingenuity and purpose to persevere. At one point, when the only way over a creek is across a fallen tree trunk, she simply “mounted the log and shut her eyes” (315; 13). With pure faith, she makes her way across by ignoring the dangers in the world around her. She uses a different technique when she encounters what she thinks is a specter. Instead of closing her eyes, she confronts the situation head on, asking, “… who be you the ghost of?” (316; 24). When Phoenix realizes the apparition is actually a scarecrow, she admits to herself, “My senses is gone. I too old, I the oldest people I even know” (316; 27). Not one to let a little thing like her failing mind and eyesight stop her, she continues, undeterred, after telling the scarecrow to keep on dancing
Cited: Roberts, Edgar V., and Robert Zweig, eds. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 10th ed. Boston: Longman, 2012. Print. Welty, Eudora. “A Worn Path.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 10th ed. Boston: Longman, 2012. 314-319. Print.