"A Worn Path" questions

 This story was written about 1930's - the Depression years, only 65 years since the Civil War.  Phoenix may be 90 years or so here, so she could have been about 25 during the Civil War. 

 Eudora Welty wrote this story in 1940 and won the Pulitzer Prize.  She always wrote about characters with clarity and sympathy.  The theme transcends race and region.

 Two quotations about Perseverance:

  "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins--not through strength but by perseverance." H. Jackson Brown

•  "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." Newt Gingrich
• "At the First Battle of the Marne during World War I, French lieutenant general Ferdinand Foch sent out this communique': 'My center is giving way, my right is retreating.  Situation excellent.  I am attacking.'  His willingness to see hope in a tough situation eventually led to victory for his troops."

 

•  In Britain during World War II, Winston Churchill spoke to the students when he visited Harrow School. It was after the Blitz and things were looking up a bit for Britain. Here is the relevant part of the speech: "But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period--I am addressing myself to the School--surely from this period of ten months, this is the lesson: Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

 

1. How does the first paragraph set the scene for the rest of the story?  How does it foreshadow the events that will take place later on?

2. Traditionally, a quest is a journey in which a knight overcomes a series of obstacles in order to perform a prescribed feat.  In what way is Phoenix’s journey a      quest?  What obstacles does she face?  What feat must she perform?

3. Because Phoenix is old, she has trouble seeing.  What things does she have difficulty seeing?  How do her mistakes shed  light on her character?  How do they contribute to the impact of the story?

4. What is the major theme of this story?  What other themes are expressed?

5. A phoenix is a mythical bird that would live for five hundred years, be consumed by fire, and then rise from its own ashes.  In what way is the name of the creature appropriate for the main character of this story?  How does it apply to someone you know?

6. Phoenix is not intimidated by the man with the gun and has no difficulty asking a white woman to tie her shoe.  In spite of her pride and her strength of character, however, Phoenix has no qualms about stealing a nickel or taking charity from the doctor.  How do you account for this apparent contradiction?

7. How do the various people Phoenix encounters react to her?  Do they treat her with respect?  With disdain?  Why do you think they react the way they do?

8. In paragraph 90, Phoenix says that she is an old woman without an education.  Does she nevertheless seem to have any knowledge that the other characters lack?

 Please type these (do not have to type the question, just the answer, in paragraph form:  The eight (8) questions above, which are the end of the story on "A Worn Path" in your book are to be answered, plus these: 

9. When was the Welfare Program instituted in the U.S; what was it meant to do; who was President of the U.S. at the time?

 10.  When was Social Security Program instituted?  What was it meant to do?  Who was President of the U.S. at the time?

 11. When was the Food Stamps Program instituted?  What was it meant to do?  Who was President of the U.S. at the time?

 Therefore, there are 11 questions in all

Have a good day,

Mrs. Fagan