...we once had, a relationship, a decision we had to make, or countless other topics these experiences make up the most amazing journey of “life” that we all make from birth to death. And many of the journeys in life can be a struggle. Eudora Welty’s short story “A Worn Path” is the story of an old woman experiencing a journey in her life with countless struggles along the way. Eudora Welty’s short story “A Warn Path” gives us the journey that an old woman makes out of love for her family and the strong will and determination she has to complete the journey. Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is a poem about having to make a hard decision during his journey of life. Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” gives us the journey on a man who has to make a decision and choose what path he wants to spend the rest of his life down. Both “A Warn Path” and “The Road Not Taken” have one particular theme which is “Journey,” but both pieces of literature have different content, form and style. While the journey is the theme of each of these pieces of literature, each author gives a different perspective of the journey through different meaning. In the poem “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost portrays the journey as the choices people take in their life and the impact of these choices to their future. Frost shows how a choice today has long term effects on what they will become tomorrow. Frost gives the reader the scenario of choosing the path that many others choose, or choosing the path...
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...THE RAIN CAME Theme: The theme is about sacrifice someone for the better of others. In this story, the chief is a perfect example of what a leader must go through in order to save his people. Although he loves his only daughter, he is willing to sacrifice her for the rains to come and save his people from drought. His people come first, even before his precious family. This is a great quality that a leader must have in order to truly serve. Characters: Oganda: The main character of the story. She is the only daughter of Labong’o out of 20 children with the fifth wife, Minya. She is fair skinned, thin, tall, beautiful and brave. She has been raised to believe in god/ancestors. Labong’o He is the chief of the village and the loving father of Oganda. He belives in god/ancestors and is worried about pester. Osinda He belongs to another neighboring village and he was the one who gave Oganda the chain on her waist. He’s brave and willing to sacrifice for love. Minya One of the minor characters. The mother of Oganda. She loves her daughter. Ndithi One of the minor characters. The medicine man. Ndithi is a superstitious medicine man for the Labong’o tribe. He is a man that is said to have the ability to communicate with their god/ancestor. http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/The-Rain-Came-By-Grace-Ogot-348677.html http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/The-Rain-Came-Notes-447018.html http://www.education.com/study-help/article/theme/ http://www...
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...1. Discuss your overall impression of the book As painful and tragic as the story of Lia is, this is a beautiful illustration of how culture can clash with American medicine. In the beginning, the reader can see, relate, and even side with the doctors at MCMC. You feel the Lee family is being ignorant and even selfish because they seem to be more interested in doing things their way instead of saving Lia’s life above all. However, later in the book the author is able to present the Lee’s point of view. How they and the Hmong community interpret certain things and the impact that their beliefs have on treating illnesses. Each side with the best of intentions in mind for Lia. Unfortunately, the cultural differences between the Lee’s and the doctors’ were stronger than those well intentions. 2. Identify and discuss three major themes evident in the book 2.1-The importance of cultural understanding and tolerance The most important and obvious theme of this story is the importance of understanding and accepting that there are many different cultures out there. Equally important is learning what these differences are so that both cultures can work together towards one common goal in a respectful manner. In Lia’s case the many misunderstandings due to religious differences and language barrier led to the Lee’s noncompliance of Lia’s medications. At the same time , the doctors’ unwillingness to even consider the Hmong’s beliefs or incorporate any of it in Lia’s...
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...There are several themes within the language of poetry; from love to divorce, to death and life, to war and worship. The themes of a variety of poems depend on the time and date the poem is written and published as well as what the poet likes and if there are any significant political or societal events happening. Sometimes, themes are easy to analyze and other poems are written in a way that the poet hides the message by using different languages. Death was important to poetry from the medieval times to the 20th century. Poets write about death resulting from being in love, young, and in war. The poems that strongly portray the themes of death over different centuries and cultures that will be analyzed throughout this paper are “Lord Randal”,...
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...In “A Worn Path”, Eudora Welty uses a narrator as a non-participating character to reveal hidden characteristics of the protagonist, Phoenix Jackson, in order to convey the theme of perseverance and unconditional love to the reader. The narrator impartially suggests that Phoenix is an “old negro woman” with “eyes blue with age”. Although these characteristics are basic, they blossom into complex traits of the protagonist that shadow her astounding tenacity. As the audience, we know Phoenix’s age, since the narrator mentioned her elderliness multiple times. Considering that the narrator objectively shares this information, the reader knows how the difficulties she faced on her trek, from having “to go through a barbed-wire fence” to falling into a ditch “like a little puff of milkweed”, add into a critical characterization of the protagonist that, in the end, alludes to the theme. Despite her elderly age, Phoenix’s refusal to end the...
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...Robert Frost’s “A Road Not Taken” and Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” both focus upon one set theme within each of their writings, that of journey. While these two writers have displayed the same theme there are two different viewpoints that the readers must clearly establish between Frost and Welty. Both of the authors have shown that the particular journey within their writings is one of which that life can have hurdles and hardships that must be dealt with and come to peace with. Both pieces of literature have different characters, context within historical means and symbolism to show each journey in their full light. Journey has a different meaning to each person that experiences it within their life. Many view a journey as a mode to travel to a destination forgets the meaning beyond each step that they have taken. While the focus is upon the destination, people neglect to recognize the whole process that they have undergone. The joy and thrill of voyage allows people to learn both negative and positive things of other cultures and people that one will meet. This allows the person upon the voyage to learn new experiences within life that will be useful throughout the whole of their lifetime. Going upon a journey allows one to broaden their thinking, concepts along with their ideals that can ultimately change whole individual. The theme of journey within literature was and is very well described by many authors and poets that have shown the different aspects of traveling...
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...The value of romance and mortality resembles the theme of obsession, and is shown throughout the plots, and the characters in, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “The Birth Mark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Firstly, Faulkner illustrates obsession of romance through mortality. In addition, Emily’s obsessive illness of love over death it often seen throughout the plot. Lastly, Hawthorne demonstrates the obsession of mortality thorough romance, through the main protagonist, Aylmer in “The Birth Mark.” To compare, Emily and Aylmer believe their obsessive consequences was from the heart, despite their obsessive disorders. In “A Rose for Emily,” the protagonist, Emily displays the obsession through her isolation. Equally important, the theme of obsession works as a preeminent role through the protagonist. Emily was never allowed to be autonomous growing up, and she goes beyond the lines on maintaining a strong intimacy through her isolating lifestyle. In essence, Emily develops a mental illness from severe isolation due to the actions of her father. To compare, Faulkner shares a slice of evidence as to why Emily has an...
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...the story” (Woods, 2010). Both stories use symbolism to show the hardship of life the characters endure along their journey and that how life can change along the way. The readers’ perceptions about the events are changed by the symbolism surrounding the characters and the conflicts that are presented. When it comes to literary works there’s always a deeper implication hidden behind the piece, and it’s up to the reader to dig around to find it. Both forms share a similar theme with different point of views along with several literary devices. Both of these literary pieces focus on one particular theme that is “Life’s Journey”. A theme of a story should give the reader its point of view and a reader should be able to understand the theme from the story through the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. Both show how the decisions we make in life can change our journey. Both have different characters, symbolism, and historical context although the theme is common. The common theme is about life’s journey, but with different point of views, different meanings and different destinations. Eudora Welty‘s short story “A Worn Path” tells a story about an elderly African American woman, Phoenix Jackson picks a cold December day to...
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...Are They the Same or Are They Different Marissa Rodriguez Ashford University Introduction to Literature ENG 125 Danielle Slaughter October 21, 2013 Are They the Same or Are They Different Have you ever read the title of a poem or a short story and think that they were both about the same thing? Well that is not the case most of the time. You cannot judge a book by its cover. Or believe all that you see at first glance. There are many of times that a poem or a short story can carry the same message or make the same point or so we think. Just because they may fall under the same category does not mean that the carry the same meaning. For example “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost and “A Worn Road” by Welty are both about the directions that can be taken in life. We all at one or another are faced with having to make a choice that will affect us for the rest of our life. Some paths may lead us down the right road to happiness and wealth. While other paths, may lead us down heartache and sorrow. At the end it is up to us on how we live the life that we choose for your self’s. The two reading that I choose to compare and contrast are “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost and “A Worn Road” by Welty. As it looks at first glance they might be about the same thing, but in reality they are not. One is a poem and the other written as a short story. They both talk about the paths, roads and choice in life. “The Road Not Taken” is about a journey and choice and decision on what...
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...The Last of The Mohicans: Theme Analysis Theme Analysis Culture Clash In the wilderness of upper New York, two cultures clash—white Eurocentric culture and native Indian culture. Ample evidence is given in the novel of the destruction caused to the Indians by the coming of the whites—Hawkeye himself acknowledges that this is so. The reason that Magua was driven from the Hurons, for example, was because the whites introduced the Indians to alcohol, and he fell victim to it. The savagery of the conflict between whites and Indians is apparent in numerous incidents. The two races do not understand each other’s ways, even though they make many alliances with each other according to what they believe is in their best interest. Generally speaking, Hawkeye, Heyward, and David Gamut, each in his different way, represent the values of white civilization. Heyward represents the military ideal; David represents the sect of Protestantism known as Calvinism. Hawkeye is a more complex case because he in a sense lives in both worlds, Indian and white, and has great respect for some of the Indian ways. Although he thinks Indians other than Delawares and Mohicans are liars and “varlets,” he acknowledges the validity of their religion and respects many of their customs. However, Hawkeye still sees a wide gulf between the ways of the “Mingo” and those of the white man. He believes that whites have a more enlightened set of values, inspired by Christianity, although he is not an especially...
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...African Publishing House. Her stories such as Land Without Thunder (1968), The Other Woman (1976), and The Island of Tears (1980) provides the traditional Luo life. Most of her fiction stories are according with the customs, history and traditions of the Luo tribe in Kenya, which has the second largest ethnic group. The Luo tribe lived for most part near Lake Victoria. Her formal writing reflects the addition of her formal learning with the traditions in her life. All her collections of writings reflect her personal love towards the stories of her culture. Grace Ogot passed away in April 2010. 1. Character and characterizations The main character or the primary character is Oganda which means “beans” due to her very fair skin. She is the chief’s only daughter around at the tender age to married and also the protagonist in this story. She is a very traditional and great woman where she willing to sacrificed herself so that the Luo will have rain. She also loves to imagine her future where she imagined which man should be the best man to married. Oganda is very disappointed on her people which they willing to give her up to sacrifice. Lastly, she also a person who easily to give up where she never fight for her life to run away or hide herself but choose to accept the fact that she is the chosen one and ready to be sacrifice. The supporting character would be Labong’O. He is the chief of Luo. He has 5 wives and 20 children, among all Oganda is his daughter. He is the bravest...
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...O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the reader learns about the journeys of two old ladies. While these journeys are both life journeys they are different in nature. The protagonist in “A Worn Path’s” story is about a journey of race and the obstacles in life that she has had to overcome and still has to face each day of her life, while the protagonist in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is about a spiritual journey that one must take in order to find favor with God and receive His grace and all of His goodness. Both of these stories transcend time and please because the themes in both of these while different can be seen in the world around us today. Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” is a journey about race and the obstacles the old lady has to overcome in order to help her grandson whom swallowed lye a few years back and occasionally gets sick so Phoenix Jackson has to travel through the woods into town to get him medicine. The time of year that this particular journey takes place is significant because it is at Christmas, which in literature is symbolic of rebirth and/or change for the better. This may also represent the idea that slavery is over and while there still may be some obstacles to overcome life is only going to get better from now on for the African American race. The story is suggestive of the poverty that Phoenix Jackson lives...
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...The format of the presentation will be in 3 parts, I will provide you with a brief introduction on our chosen book and the author, Gillian will then focus on some of the key themes identified in the book followed by Jen who outline some of the strengths and weaknesses that we found in the book while also highlighting areas of personal development. The book we chose was Love’s Executioner by Irvin. D Yalom. (first published in 1989) But first a little about the author. Born in Washington DC in 1931 to Russian parents, Irvin D Yalom spent most of his childhood indoors, reading books, avoiding the perils of his the harsh reality of his neighbourhood. After graduating from Boston University School of Medicine in 1956 he went on to complete his internship and his residency in New York and Baltimore. In 1962 Yalom began his academic career at Stanford University. Existential therapy Soon after this period he made some of his most lasting contributions by teaching about group psychotherapy and developing his model of existential psychotherapy. Praised by peers for his accessible and non technical approach in his writing, Yalom believes that the success of his story telling is down to having ‘a stream of brief human vignettes running throughout the text’ (www.yalom.com). “What do you want?” This simple question generates some of the most intimate answers, even between perfect strangers. I want to be loved, I want to live forever, I want the childhood I never had……… ...
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...The theme of Life As We Knew It is a family bond can withstand anything. This is the theme because throughout the novel the relationship models of the characters are getting stronger as they experience more tough times. In Life As We Knew It there is many relationships but the most important relationship in this story is the environment and the characters in the story also the experiences they face impact the theme of the story. The relationships in the story is the environment and the characters in the story. In the story the characters relationships gets stronger and stronger because people aren’t surviving during this time. Miranda, Matt, Jon, and Mom know that they're going through tough times and to survive they must stick together and...
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...Midterm Essay Christopher Riojas Keiser University Introduction Adventure and discovery of land and territories in the early centuries were the order of the day for the majority of the stable nations, armies and organized ethnic groups who searched for food, water, and places of settlement. The adventuring movements of communities across the world brought about acquisition of property, resources and territories that later converted to the states and the countries under currently existing geographical boundaries. This effect culminated in more aggression in the movement and acquisition of territories that later turned out to be colonized. During the pre-colonial era, communities under the leadership of ethnic chiefs controlled tribes and extracted resources that were only within their territories. More land was unoccupied thus attracting other foreign immigrants who, moved in search of better resources and experiences. It is in the spirit of discovery and colonization, this article puts into perspective the development of a new state of Virginia in America. Precisely at Jamestown, as it is told through a film called “The New World”, directed by Terrence Mallick, and a story book called “The General History of Virginia, New England, and The Summer Isles”, by Smith (pg.57-69). This article analyses the two sources, the film and the book as their stories are related by both explaining the discovery and development of Jamestown and Virginia. This region has been captured in...
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