In Mythology there are many heroes, Heroes in which have many different archetypes. Some of those archetypes show up in “A Worn Path”. Phoenix Jackson is the hero of “A Worn Path”. The first way is that Phoenix is full of mysterious and obscure origin, The second is that Phoenix Jackson has a goal, And finally Phoenix Jackson is not the same after emerging from the darkness.
The first way Phoenix is an archetypal hero is because she is full of mysterious and obscure origin. Some ways she is full of mysterious and obscure origin is that it is not clear where she comes from or who her parents are. A second way is that she was a slave. And Finally she has been through hard times and still works through it. In the story when Phoenix is on her
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Phoenix Jackson's grandson needs medicine, and she is willing to walk through a frozen path with many obstacles for him. Phoenix Jackson came face to face with many dangerous situations. Such as falling in a ditch, being attacked by dogs, having a gun pointed at her, etc. “He not able to help himself. So the time came around and i go on another trip for the soothing medicine” (p.53) In this quote she is explaining to the secretaries how sick her grandson is and that she is willing to do anything to help him.
The Third and Final way Phoenix is an archetypal hero is Phoenix is not the same after emerging from the darkness of her descent. Phoenix fell down a ditch which can be represented by “darkness”. When Phoenix fell she turned stronger and more confident because she feels as if nothing can get in her way. “Down there, her senses drifted away. A dream visited her, and - she reached her hand up, but nothing reached down and gave her a pull.” (p.50) The moment Phoenix got up she got a huge feeling of power, she felt unstoppable.
Phoenix Jackson is a great archetypal hero. Phoenix is full of mysterious and obscure origin, she has a goal, and she is not the same after emerging from the darkness of her descent. Not all heroes are
Though each story differed in many ways, these themes still held the essence: a hero goes on a quest to defeat a villain. Archetypes are recurring themes found in essentially all stories written by mankind, including “Momotaro” and “Theseus”. Not all stories are exactly the same, however, because these archetypes are bent in order to create unique, engaging stories with interesting characters with the same essential plot
"The Devil and Tom Walker" is a short story by Washington Irving that many wonder about. It teaches a lesson and has many archetypes in the characters. In literature, an archetype is a typical character, a type of action, or a situation that leads to the representation of such universal patterns of human nature. An archetype may be a character, a theme, a symbol or it can even be a setting. Tom walker is the protagonist of the story he is the main character.
“We meet ourselves time and time again in a thousand disguises on the path of life” (Jung). Writer’s usually have archetypes in their stories to engage the reader's understanding. Throughout the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed, she encounters several archetypes both positive and negative. She was impacted by the people, which made her accomplish her journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone and getting herself back together. There are various archetypes that play a big role in Cheryl's physical and emotional journey. The archetypes make her who she is today and without them she wouldn't be able to transform.
“A Worn Path” told the story of an old woman named Phoenix Jackson. She had to make a long, adventurous journey to town in order to receive medicine for her grandson who had fallen ill. Phoenix Jackson was determined to reach her destination, and she did not let anything stand in her way. Throughout her voyage, she displayed characteristics of being brave, unselfish, and senile.
It’s December when Phoenix starts on her journey to Natchez and it is a journey she has taken many times before. This journey is no journey an elderly and weaken person should have to make by themselves, yet Phoenix does. She does not allow her age or her condition to keep her from it. Deep through the pines, the path takes her, and her first task would be to make it over a hill that seems to take all her energy and strength. “Seems like there is chains around my feet, time I get this far…” (Welty 5), here the reader can tell Phoenix does not have the strength that she really needs to make it up the hill. Yet somewhere she finds the will to keep pushing on and moving forward. This same type of spirit that allows Phoenix to keep pushing forward in society, and not to back down. Showing the younger generation that you have to fight your way through to a brighter day. It is later down the path that Phoenix comes to a creek and the only way to get across, is by walking on a log. Phoenix walks across this log with her eyes close. Once across she opens her eyes and says, “I wasn’t as old as I ...
A archetypal fits into folklore many different ways, it depends on what the folklore is talking about. But you can add an archetypal to folklore.
For my first archetype, I'm choosing hero because it's one of my favorite archetypes. Therefore, it makes it easy for me to list examples of it, and there's plenty of films and television shows that display this archetype. So it will be fun and easy to put it down on paper. As history has shown everybody loves a hero. From legends to Bible passages to comic book series, a hero tends to be the pinnacle and center of the story. People root for the hero.
Although I feel as though there are many literary elements throughout this short story such as characterization and theme, I also feel as though symbolism is very important as well. First of all, I believe that the name Phoenix in itself is symbolic for the type of person the old woman truly is. A Phoenix is a mythological creature who dies in fire and rises from ashes only to be stronger. It is as though all of these hardships only make the old woman more determined to complete her journey successfully.
Her trip is full of obstacles, from bushes of thorns that get caught in her dress, to her crossing of a creek. These elements complicate the conflict and increase the readers' curiosity about the plot. Phoenix can't trust her eyes, choosing instead to walk along with her eyes closed and sense her way with the help of her cane. While needed rest forces her to stop for a while, she has a vision of a little boy handing her a slice of marble cake. So many questions arise in the minds of the readers. Who was the little boy? Is she halluci...
Strength is the only reason Phoenix accomplished her journey and Phoenix's love for her only living relative is her greatest strength of all. Although the old Negro woman 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 wit makes up for her frail body. Her determination makes up for her aged memory. But most of all, her love for her grandson her keeps her going. Clearly, the frail, forgetful, and loving old woman can overcome anything.
In literature, Archetypal Criticism is a critical approach where the reader interprets the meaning of a story by looking at the archetypal characters, events, and symbols that it contains. In general, an archetype is a universal, primordial representation of an event or character that is seen as a general blueprint for stories and myths, such as the Hero or Death and Rebirth (Meyer 1587). Archetypes can be very important in identifying and supporting a theme by giving us background and references for aspects throughout the story. Carol Joyce Oates uses a couple vital archetypes in her short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” a tale about Connie, a teenage girl, who goes through an innocence to experience situation, signifying a transition from childhood to adulthood.
An author uses an archetype to mold a character and their decisions, and they derive familiar themes and characters to resonate with the reader. After Harry and his group of loyal friends go to the Department of Mysteries to save Sirius, he discovers that it was all a trap made by the Death Eaters to steal the prophecy. However, in the knick of time, Sirius brings the Order of the Phoenix to save the DA members. Sadly, Harry’s godfather is killed by the latter’s cousin, “And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather’s wasted, once-handsome face as he hell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil” (Rowling 806). After this Harry is then left to grieve over his deceased godfather, who put himself in danger
An archetype in literature is defined as a typical example of a certain type of person. A character in a poem or play can be placed into many different archetype categories. Archetypes help a reader to gain a better understanding of who a character in the work is on the inside. This deeper insight into the character allows the reader to follow the flow of the story easier and more effectively. There are many different archetypes that can help to advance the story. One of the most useful in advancing this story is the typical powerful character. Whether it be supernatural or cunningness this character always comes out on top in the situation and holds the most control over others and their actions. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”,
There are also mental obstacles that obstruct Phoenix’s journey. She has to triumph over her weariness because of her old age and her mental fatigue. As she is walking her mind plays tricks on her, such as the time when she is in the field and mistakes the scarecrow for a dark mysterious figure that she is frightened of. Another time is when she talks to herself and the animals in the woods. She tells them not to get in her way because she has a long trip ahead of her. The love that one person gives to another is never truly appreciated until the recipient realizes what that person has actually done. The grandson may be too ill or even too young to realize what his grandmother is doing for his safety.
Phoenix's precarious journey may seem dangerous, but her determination is what carries her through the obstacles she faces as she makes her way through the woods. Phoenix makes her way across the worn path and discovers many active opponents. She continues forward over barriers that would not even be considered a hindrance for the young. The long hill that she takes tires her, the thornbrush attempts to catch her clothes, the log that Phoenix goes across endangers her balance as she walks across it, and the barbed-wire fence threatens to puncture her skin. All of these impediments that Phoenix endures apparently do not affect her because she is determined that nothing will stop her on her journey. She keeps proceeding onward letting nothing deter her determination. ?The hunter(tm)s attempt to instill fear in Phoenix, a fear she disposed of years ago as she came to terms with her plight in society, fail (Sykes 151). She ?realizes that the importance of the trip far exceeds the possible harm that can be done to her brittle ...