1a. When does Phoenix begin her journey?
2a. Through which areas does Phoenix walk?
3a. Why is the woman who ties Phoenix's shoes carrying presents?
4a. Identify the obstacles that Phoenix runs into during her journey and describe how she overcomes each one.
5a. When a work of literature is ambiguous, it can be interpreted in more than one way. Is Phoenix's grandson dead or alive? Cite examples from the text to support your viewpoint.
1b. How old is Phoenix? How do you know?
2b. Which obstacle in Phoenix's journey poses the greatest threat to her?
3b. What associations with the Christmas story can you make to Phoenix's journey?
4b. Why does Welty wait until the end of the story to reveal why the journey was made?
5b. Think of a historic or literary journey with which you are familiar. Compare and contrast the motives of the historic or literary character for making the journey with those of Phoenix for making her journey to Natchez. Whose journey was more selfless? more difficult?
Archetype. What human emotion makes it possible for Phoenix to surmount the obstacles of her journey?
Character. Fill out the chart below with details about Phoenix's character.
long dark striped dress; long, neat, tidy apron of bleached sugar sacks; untied shoes
What do you learn about Phoenix's character from her encounters with the bramblebush, the imaginary boy who offers her marble cake, the scarecrow, the hunter, and the woman who ties her shoe? What character trait does Phoenix demonstrate by getting the medicine and a paper windmill for her grandson?
1. Imagine you are Phoenix Jackson's grandson. Write a thank-you note to your grandmother for the medicine and gift she brought you.
2. Imagine you are the young white hunter in the story. Write a letter to a friend describing your inter-actions with the old African-American woman you met. Be sure to explain why you helped her and then pointed your gun at her. Why were your feelings and behavior toward her ambivalent?
3. Imagine you are Phoenix Jackson, having returned home with the medicine and the paper windmill. Write a journal entry describing your adventures, how you feel now that the journey is over, and telling your grandson's reactions to the gifts you brought him. You might choose to use Phoenix's dialect in the journal entry.
Using Dictionaries. Define the following words.
1. journey
2. pilgrimage
3. expedition
4. odyssey
5. trek
6. trip
Describe a journey that you have made, giving its purpose, duration, difficulties, and lessons learned. Be sure to identify it correctly as one of the terms you just defined.
Decide which of the terms you defined best describes Phoenix's journey. Explain your decision, citing examples from the selection.
Researching on the Internet. Use the Internet to locate news items about Eudora Welty. One site you will find useful is http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/welty_eudora/index.html. Then lay out a page of a newsletter dedicated to Welty, including articles on the topics you find most interesting.
Research Eudora Welty:
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