Archetype. An archetype is an inherited, often unconscious, ancestral memory or motif that recurs throughout history and literature. The story of the journey, in which someone sets out on a path, experiences adventures, and emerges wiser, is considered archetypal. As you read, decide what human emotion makes it possible for Phoenix to surmount the obstacles of her journey.
Character. A character is a person who figures in the action of a literary work. A one-dimensional character, flat character, or caricature is one who exhibits a single dominant quality or character trait. A three-dimensional, full, or rounded character is one who exhibits the complexity of traits associated with actual human beings. Is Phoenix a one-dimensional character or a three-dimensional character?
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One of Welty’s most popular stories, “A Worn Path” appeared in A Curtain of Green, her first collection, in 1941. Like many of Welty’s stories, “A Worn Path” explores the intricacies of the inner life and the small heroisms of an ordinary character. In the story, Phoenix Jackson makes an archetypal journey in which she demonstrates determination, generosity, and resourcefulness.
What journey have you taken that held personal significance for you?
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