The story "A Worn Path" begins and ends with a journey by Phoenix Jackson. It tells a story of sheer purpose as Phoenix Jackson makes a long journey into town to get medicine for her chronically ill grandson. She begins her voyage to town on "a bright frozen day in the early morning" in December. This is a journey in which she has taken before, and now the time has come where she must travel it again.

As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson. She is described as a small old Negro woman. I believe that the name the author gives the main character is given for a reason. The legend of the Phoenix is about a mythical sacred bird of the ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from it's young and beautiful.

Phoenix, the old woman in the story, represents the myth of this bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Her skin is described as old and wri

Although Phoenix suffers from many handicaps, she starts her journey mentally prepared for the obstacles awaiting her. Phoenix uses her inner strengths and prevails over every barrier. She relies on her trustworthy feet to make up for her impaired vision. Her determination makes up for her aged memory. But most of all, her love for her grandson keeps her going. Clearly show in this story is how this frail, forgetful, and loving old woman can overcome any type of journey.

nkly, but yet with a golden color running beneath it. "Her skin had a pattern all of it's own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden color ran underneath". Her skin tone represents the golden feathers of the Phoenix and her grandson represents the next Phoenix that will be given life when she dies. The trip to the city to get medicine represents the mythological trip that the Phoenix takes to the sun to do die. Most likely this journey along a worn path through the woods, will be one of her last.

Another important

Some common words found in the essay are:
Phoenix Jackson, Worn Path, worn path, phoenix jackson, life journey, journey worn path, journey worn, main character, golden color,
Approximate Word count = 724
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)