A Worn Path

Question #6: In regards to why the student would ask if the grandson was really dead, my answer is this. Most people read the story without looking deeper. In real life, whether or not the grandson is alive would matter. There would be repurcussions to her having a dead body. The way she was viewed by her townspeople would change. But if you look further, in a literary way, whether or not the grandson is dead does not hold much weight. The author's response to the question, "Phoenix is alive", shows this theory. Phoenix's character, her mannerisms, and the reactions of others to her presence are more important. The only way to find the true meaning of a work is to look under the surface.