“A Worn Path” Eudora Welty

Eudora Welty 1909-2001 Born in Jackson, Mississippi Attended Mississippi State College for Women; transferred to University of Wisconsin; graduated in 1929. Moved to New York City to pursue a career in advertising; enrolled in Columbia University’s School of Business. Was unable to find work because of the Great Depression; returned to Jackson in 1931. Worked as a publicist in Mississippi, but continued writing short stories. 1973, she won a Pulitzer Prize for The Optimist’s Daughter. Considered one of the greatest writers in 20th century American literature.

Archetype (hero’s quest) An archetype is a plot, character, symbol, or idea that recurs in literature or mythology in many different cultures in the world. The hero’s quest is one such archetype.

Hero outline 1.        THE ORDINARY WORLD.  The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma.  The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history.  Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress. 2.        THE CALL TO ADVENTURE.  Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.  3.        REFUSAL OF THE CALL.  The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly.  Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead. 4.        MEETING WITH THE MENTOR.  The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey.  Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.

Hero outline, cont’d 5.        CROSSING THE THRESHOLD.  At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.  6.        TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES.  The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World. 7.        APPROACH.  The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world. 8.        THE ORDEAL.  Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear.  Out of the moment of death comes a new life. 

Hero outline, cont’d 9.        THE REWARD.  The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death.  There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again. 10.      THE ROAD BACK.  About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home.  Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission. 11.     THE RESURRECTION.  At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home.  He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level.  By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. 12.       RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR.  The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.

characters Phoenix Jackson aged and frail but also fierce woman will not allow anything in her path to stop her from getting to her end goal, which is to retrieve medicine in town for her grandson. Hunter appears relatively briefly in the story he exemplifies the racial politics that Phoenix has to deal with in her day-to-day life. his action speaks to how little he actually cares for her as a human expresses his sense of racial superiority. 

Characters, cont’d Grandson never get to see him in the story he suffers greatly after having swallowed lye a few years earlier as a young boy represents the future of her family, and perhaps, for black people in general. Nurse knows Phoenix from her twice annual visits to the doctor’s office. Other minor characters present: Attendant at the doctor’s office and a Woman on the street

“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” Katherine Porter

Katherine Porter 1890-1980 Born in Indian Creek, Texas Direct descendant of Daniel Boone No college education: claimed her true education came from reading American authors T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Henry James. Also Irish writer James Joyce and Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Worked as a journalist in her younger years Lived in Mexico City for eight years while traveling for her journalism job Won a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award in 1965 for her Collected Stories

Characters Granny- protagonist of the story. On her deathbed, wavering in and out of consciousness. Cornelia- daughter of Granny. Caregiver; never loses patience with her mother, who often treats her poorly Doctor Harry- family physician Father Connolley- family priest who is there to give Granny her last rites.

Characters, cont’d Hapsy- daughter of Granny who died in childbirth Jimmy and Lydia- two of Granny’s adult children who show up at the last minute and don’t really contribute to the story. Nurse- appears very briefly at Granny’s bedside. Granny might mistake her for Hapsy in a white cap, standing by her bed.

Literary analysis Stream of consciousness- literary device that includes the following: -present sequences of thought as if they were coming directly from a character’s mind -leave out transitional words and phrases found in ordinary prose -connect details only through a character’s associations Flashback- interruptions in which earlier events are described and might take the form of: - a memory -a story told about a character -a dream or daydream -or a switch by the narrator to a time in the past.

“A rose for Emily” William Faulkner

William faulkner 1897-1962 Born in Oxford, Mississippi Never finished high school but loved writing Moved to New Orleans in 1925, but moved back to Oxford in 1926. Created his own town and country for his novels: Jefferson (town) and Yoknapatawpha County Published several books: Soldier’s Pay (1926),The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), The Unvanquished (1938), The Hamlet (1940), Intruder in the Dust (1948). Won the Nobel Prize for Literature for Intruder in the Dust, where he confronted the issue of racism.

Literary analysis Internal Conflict- occurs within the mind of a character who is torn between different values and needs. External Conflict- occurs between a character and an external force such as another person, society as a whole, nature, or fate. *Internal Conflict is at the heart of much of Faulkner’s fiction.

characters Emily Grierson -  protagonist; a eccentric, reclusive, and mysterious figure; after her father’s death, she is pitied by the townspeople. Homer Barron -  A construction worker from the North. The townspeople view him as a poor, if not scandalous, choice for a mate. Judge Stevens -  A mayor of Jefferson. Eighty years old, Judge Stevens attempts to delicately handle the complaints about Emily Grierson’s property.

Characters, cont’d Mr. Grierson -  Emily’s father. He deliberately kept Emily from finding a husband in order to keep her under his control. Remains a strong influence, even after his death. Tobe -  Emily’s servant; the only lifeline that Emily has to the outside world. For years, he dutifully cares for her and tends to her needs. After Emily’s death, he walks out the back door and never returns. Colonel Sartoris -  A former mayor of Jefferson. Colonel Sartoris absolves Emily of any tax burden after the death of her father.