In the following essay, Welty talks about her inspiration to write "A Worn Path" and answers those who have asked her if Phoenix's grandson is really dead at the time of her trek in to town.

A story writer is more than happy to be read by students; the fact that these serious readers think and feel something in response to his work he finds life-giving. At the same time, he may not always be able to reply to their specific questions in kind. I wondered if it might clarify something, for both the questioners and myself, if I set down a general reply to the question that comes to me most often in the mail, from both students and their teachers, after some classroom discussion. The unrivaled favorite is this: "Is Phoenix Jackson's grandson really deadT'

It refers to a short story I wrote years ago...