A Worn Path Discussion Questions

1. The title of the short story A Worn Path, is significant to the whole story. The title signifies love and determination that Phoenix Jackson feels for her grandson. She travels, by foot long and far for her beloved grandsons medication. She has walked the path many times before, and knows them so well she closes her eyes sometimes and her feet just know where to take her. Each time she travels the worn path, she won't let anything turn her back home. She is determined each and every time to get the medicine that her grandson needs.

2. Phoenix is the name of the protagonist of the story for many reasons. A Phoenix is brave, promising, fierce and is a fascinating gentle beast. A Phoenix is part lion part eagle. Both of these animals are noble and majestic creatures. These are all characteristics of Phoenix Jackson. Another reason Phoenix is a fitting name for the character of this story is because a Phoenix never dies. Phoenix's regenerate and live on, their heroic spirit never dies. And that's how Phoenix acts throughout her journey along the path.

3. A recurring symbol throughout the story is birds. In the beginning of the story, Phoenix's can tapping on the frozen ground sounds like a little birds persistent chirping. I think the birds represent many things in the story. One of the birds represented God watching over Phoenix as she stole the nickel from the hunter she met in the woods. Then later on, the birds represent Phoenix and her grandson. When she described her grandson as a little bird  peeping out from nude his patch quilt and she was the protective mother bird who loved her baby very much.

4. Another symbol that I saw was the main character, Phoenix herself. In the beginning it said that Phoenix had a  gold color running underneath her skin and her cheeks  were illuminated by a yellow light. Also she had a red rag tied around her head. These are all colors of a Phoenix's plumage. Phoenix's will fly great distances to heal people with their tears; just like Phoenix did for her grandson.

5. Phoenix's journey back home symbolizes the rebirth of a Phoenix. After the Phoenix travels its long journey, it turns into ashes only to be reborn again.  I feel that when Phoenix froze up in the nurses office, that symbolized the death of the Phoenix. Then when she unfroze it was the birth of the Phoenix.