How do writers use the interaction between elements like characterization and setting to create meaning? Readers of "A Worn Path" create a series of comic book-style graphics of Eudora Welty's short story and reflect on how Welty uses these elements to develop her theme.

Concepts

characterization, characters, setting, plot elements, plot, literary elements, short stories, the great depression

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Additional Tags

setting, characterization, short story, eudora welty, the great depression, english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Create a model or save samples from year to year to provide examples of framing graphics
• Ask class members to consider how changing a single detail of the setting or the characterization would effect the story
• Change the setting from Christmas time to summer 
• Change Phoenix's name 
• Change Phoenix's age 
• Change the title to "A Hard Road"

Classroom Considerations

• The complete text of the short story, originally published in the February 1941 edition of The Atlantic Monthly, is readily available online.
• Also available is a recording of the author reading the story

Pros

• All the materials for this carefully detailed lesson are included in the resource packet

Cons

• Some class members may be reluctant to create framing graphics; therefore, consider modeling the process or saving samples from year to year to show that the assignment is more about the framing than the artistry

Common Core

RL.11-12.3 RI.11-12.3 W.11-12.3.a