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Class 11 | The Magic of Words

A WORN PATH

Writer: Eudora Welty

‘A Worn Path’ is a story about an old black woman named Phoenix, who is courageous and endangers her life to get the medicine for her grandson, who is suffering from extreme throat pain. Literally speaking, the story is the story of the journey of an old woman who walks towards the city on the cold winter day. She is taking a long trip to the city to visit the hospital and bring some medicine for her grandson. This is not the first time she is going to the city. She goes there frequently for medicine. She loves her grandson so much that she faces many trouble and obstacle on the long trip.

This story is the live description of the journey of the old Negro woman. The writer presents the live description of the real character so that the events of that story seem convincing. Phoenix comes up against several troubles between the valley and wagon tracks. She has to walk across thorny bushes and deep woods. She has to cross a river and even climb a steep hill. Her dress is caught and scratched by thorns. But, she frees herself with hard struggle. She has to creep and crawl under the barbed wire. She is even disturbed by the scarecrow, which she thinks to be a ghost. Later, she falls into a ditch when she tries to protect from the black dog. In spite of all these difficulties, she is successful to reach her destination.

It is quite strange to the reader that she keeps talking to herself because she is alone on the way. Also, she is very old and talking alone has because of her habit. By talking to herself, she tries to forget hardships and troubles that come on her way. Monologues add a lot to the total portrait of her habits, nature and attitude. Through the monologue, we can read her mind. From her monologue, she seems weak, kind-hearted and loving woman. She is the woman who is afraid of even small things. But, she finds a way to remove her obstacles. She is uneducated and knows very little about the outside world. She has lots of love for her grandson but despite her weakness, she is a determined woman who frees all the challenges of life. Her monologues add a lot to the total portrait of her.

Phoenix can be compared to the bird Phoenix in Egyptian mythology, which burns itself, changes into ashes and again recreates new life. In every obstacle, Phoenix seems to be losing hope such as burning of Phoenix bird into ashes. Later, when she gets the victory over the obstacles, she seems to be regaining her hope such as recreation of the life of Phoenix from ashes.

She is a very poor woman. When she sees the nickel dropped from a white man, she thinks she can do something with that money. Her poverty drives her to pick up that nickel. She does this theft jus for good reason. She wants to buy paper windmill for her grandson as a surprise gift on the occasion of Christmas Day. At last, she is able to get success in her aim. In spite of her old age, she proves herself to be a courageous and determined woman. Being simple and uneducated lady also, she overpowers all the obstacles on her way due to her deep love for her grandson.

Important Questions and Answers:

1. Explain Phoenix Jackson and the journey she makes to the town of Natchez.
Ans: Phoenix Jackson is an old lady. She makes her journey to get medicine for her grandson. It was cold early December morning. She had a cane to walk. She has a wrinkled face and unlaced shoes. Once she was caught in a thorny bush and freed herself. Then she comes across a small river and barbed wire fence. She found herself in the cotton field and saw the scarecrow. After this, she comes across a dog, which barks at her. She hits the dog with her cane and she herself falls in the ditch. A Whiteman comes and helps her by lifting and she ran after the dog. Then she found a shining nickel and put it into her pocket. The Whiteman returned and wanted to give her a dime but he hadn’t she saw a church and talks with a lady there. Finally, she reached a stone building and climbed stairs. The receptionist asked her a lot of questions. Then comes a nurse and asks questions to Phoenix. Phoenix replied that her grandson had a throat problem. The doctor asked the nurse to give Phoenix medicine freely. The receptionist gave her a nickel and she said that she would buy a paper windmill for grandson.

2. What was the purpose of Phoenix Jackson’s trip to town? What obstacles did she face in her way?
Ans: The old lady Phoenix Jackson’s purpose of her trip to the town was to get some medicine for her grandson who is suffering from throat pain. Her grandson had swallowed lye and his throat stops working. She faced many obstacles on the way to the town. She was caught in a thorny bush and freed herself. Later on, she came across a dog. She hits the dog but she fell down herself into the ditch. The Whiteman helps her. She walks through the jungle.

3. What does Phoenix keep talking to herself? What do her monologues add to the total portrait of her?
Ans: Phoenix often talks herself on the way to the town. Mentally she is disturbed because of her grandson’s throat problem. When she was on the bank of the river, she saw a boy coming towards her with cake in her imagination. When she found Whiteman’s nickel, she realized herself as if she was doing something bad. From her monologues, we know about her poor condition of old age, greed for money, love for grandson, courage, etc.

4. ‘A worn path’ is a story of unconscious heroism of Phoenix Jackson.
Ans: Phoenix Jackson went to town for medicine for her grandson who had swallowed lye. Her grandson’s throat was not working. Nobody is there except Phoenix Jackson and her sick grandson. On the way to town, she speaks to herself on the way. She faces problems one after another. Once she was caught in a thorny bush. She freed herself. Then she kicked the dog in spite of her old age when she kicked the dog, she fell into the ditch. She comes across a log and goes ahead. Finally, she brings medicine and returns back home. So this story is a story of unconscious heroism. Her monologues make this factor clear.

5. Describe two obstacles old Phoenix comes up against on her way to the hospital and how she deals with them.
Ans: Phoenix Jackson is an old lady. She makes her journey to get medicine for her grandson. It was cold early December morning. She had a cane to walk. She has a wrinkled face and unlaced shoes. Once she was caught in a thorny bush and freed herself. Then she comes across a small river and barbed wire fence. She found herself in the cotton field and saw the scarecrow. After this, she comes across a dog which barks at her. She hits the dog with her cane and she herself falls in the ditch. A Whiteman comes and helps her by lifting and she ran after the dog. Then she found a shining nickel fallen out of the man’s pocket. The Whiteman returned and wanted to give her a dime but he hadn’t. She saw a church and talks with a lady there. Finally, she reached a stone building and climbed stairs. The receptionist asked her a lot of questions. Then comes a nurse and asks questions to Phoenix. Phoenix replied that her grandson had a throat problem. The doctor asked the nurse to give Phoenix medicine freely. The receptionist gave her a nickel and she said that she would buy a paper windmill for grandson.

Questions for Practice:

1. Phoenix Jackson sees a nickel fall out of the man’s pocket. Rather than tell him about it, she, later on, hides it. How does this act fit in with her character and with the purpose of her journey?
2. What does Old Phoenix plan to do with the money she has got during the day? Why?
3. Why did Phoenix steal the nickel? 28
4. What examples do you find in “A Worn Path” that show Phoenix Jackson’s concern for her grandchild?

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