“Courage” by Anne Sexton first appeared in her 1975 collection, “The Awful Rowing Towards God,” published posthumously. The poem exemplifies Sexton’s signature confessional mode, employing personal experience to illuminate the multifaceted nature of human emotion. Notably, “Courage” redefines the concept, demonstrating its presence not only in grand acts of heroism but also in the quiet strength of daily life.
Text: “Courage” by Anne Sexton
It is in the small things we see it. The child’s first step, as awesome as an earthquake. The first time you rode a bike, wallowing up the sidewalk. The first spanking when your heart went on a journey all alone. When they called you crybaby or poor or fatty or crazy and made you into an alien, you drank their acid and concealed it.
Later, if you faced the death of bombs and bullets you did not do it with a banner, you did it with only a hat to comver your heart. You did not fondle the weakness inside you though it was there. Your courage was a small coal that you kept swallowing. If your buddy saved you and died himself in so doing, then his courage was not courage, it was love; love as simple as shaving soap.
Later, if you have endured a great despair, then you did it alone, getting a transfusion from the fire, picking the scabs off your heart, then wringing it out like a sock. Next, my kinsman, you powdered your sorrow, you gave it a back rub and then you covered it with a blanket and after it had slept a while it woke to the wings of the roses and was transformed.
Later, when you face old age and its natural conclusion your courage will still be shown in the little ways, each spring will be a sword you’ll sharpen, those you love will live in a fever of love, and you’ll bargain with the calendar and at the last moment when death opens the back door you’ll put on your carpet slippers and stride out.
“you’ll put on your carpet slippers / and stride out”
Themes: “Courage” by Anne Sexton
The Power of Facing Small Challenges: The poem opens by showing courage in everyday moments. The child’s first step, the first bike ride, and even enduring insults are all presented as acts of bravery. (Example: “The child’s first step, / as awesome as an earthquake.”)
Quiet Strength in Difficult Situations: During war, Sexton suggests true courage isn’t about outward displays. Soldiers protect their vulnerability and find strength within, like a “small coal / that you kept swallowing.” (Example: “you did not do it with a banner, / you did it with only a hat to / comver your heart.”)
Overcoming Personal Despair: The poem acknowledges the solitary nature of battling deep sorrow. The image of “picking the scabs off your heart, / then wringing it out like a sock” portrays the internal struggle and eventual transformation through self-care. (Example: “picking the scabs off your heart, / then wringing it out like a sock.”)
Finding Courage in Facing Mortality: Sexton ends by showing courage in old age. Everyday acts like enjoying spring and cherishing loved ones become ways to confront death. The final image of putting on slippers and striding out to meet death portrays a dignified acceptance of the inevitable. (Example: “you’ll put on your carpet slippers / and stride out.”)
Analyzes the poem’s structure and form to understand its meaning.
* Structure: The poem is divided into four sections, each introduced by “Later,” emphasizing the continuous nature of courage throughout life.
* Imagery: Vivid comparisons like a child’s first step being an “earthquake” highlight the significance of small acts of bravery. “Picking the scabs off your heart” powerfully depicts the process of healing from despair.
Examines how the poem portrays gender and challenges traditional notions of heroism.
* Focus on Everyday Bravery: The poem emphasizes courage in everyday experiences, often associated with the feminine sphere (childhood, emotional resilience).
* Emotional Strength: Sexton highlights the courage it takes to endure emotional pain and personal struggles, experiences not celebrated in war narratives dominated by masculinity.
* * “A small coal / that you kept swallowing” implies holding onto fear or despair.
* Transformation: The poem highlights the transformative power of facing inner struggles (e.g., “picking the scabs off your heart” leads to healing).
Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements: “Courage” by Anne Sexton
Topic
Question
Thesis Statement
Nature of Courage
What does the poem suggest about what true courage is?
“Courage” by Anne Sexton challenges traditional notions of heroism by portraying bravery in everyday acts, quiet strength in hardship, and the resilience to face emotional pain and mortality.
Gender and Courage
How does the poem portray gender roles in relation to courage?
Sexton’s “Courage” dismantles stereotypical masculinity, emphasizing that courage is found not just in wartime valor but also in the emotional strength and perseverance traditionally associated with femininity.
Imagery and Meaning
How does Sexton’s use of imagery contribute to the poem’s meaning?
“Courage” by Anne Sexton utilizes powerful metaphors and similes to depict the challenges and triumphs of human experience, highlighting the significance of seemingly small acts of bravery and the internal struggles associated with overcoming hardship.
Structure and Meaning
How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?
The repetitive use of “Later” in “Courage” by Anne Sexton underscores the ongoing nature of courage, emphasizing that bravery is a quality required throughout life’s various stages.
Short Questions/Answers about “Courage” by Anne Sexton
How does the poem redefine heroism?
“Courage” by Anne Sexton breaks away from traditional war narratives of heroism. Instead, it focuses on the bravery found in everyday moments. The child’s first step, compared to an “earthquake,” highlights the significance of seemingly small acts. Similarly, enduring insults (“called you crybaby / or poor or fatty or crazy”) becomes an act of courage.
What is the role of vulnerability in the poem’s portrayal of courage?
The poem suggests true courage involves acknowledging and dealing with vulnerability. Soldiers facing war don’t fight with “a banner” but with a “hat to / cover your heart.” This implies a necessary vulnerability alongside the strength to endure. Similarly, overcoming “a great despair” requires confronting the pain (“picking the scabs off your heart”) instead of suppressing it.
How does the poem depict the experience of overcoming emotional pain?
Sexton portrays overcoming emotional pain as a solitary battle. The image of “picking the scabs off your heart, / then wringing it out like a sock” suggests a raw and painful process of self-healing. However, the act of “powdering your sorrow” and eventually finding solace in the “wings of the roses” signifies transformation and a renewed capacity for joy.
How does the poem approach the inevitability of death?
The final section of “Courage” presents facing death as another opportunity to demonstrate courage. Everyday acts like enjoying spring and cherishing loved ones become ways to confront mortality. The final image of putting on slippers and “striding out” to meet death portrays a dignified acceptance of the inevitable, a quiet courage in the face of the unknown.
Literary Works Similar to “Courage” by Anne Sexton
“The Journey” by Mary Oliver: This poem explores themes of courage and self-discovery as the speaker embarks on a metaphorical journey through life, facing challenges and obstacles along the way.
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou: Angelou’s iconic poem celebrates resilience and the indomitable human spirit in the face of oppression and adversity. It echoes the themes of empowerment and courage found in Sexton’s work.
“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley: This poem, with its famous lines “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul,” reflects the theme of courage in the face of adversity and the triumph of the human spirit over challenges.
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver: Another poem by Mary Oliver, “Wild Geese” speaks to the courage it takes to accept oneself and find belonging in the world, despite feelings of loneliness or inadequacy.
“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas: Thomas’s poem wrestles with the theme of courage in the face of mortality, urging readers to resist passively accepting death and to fight against its inevitability with vigor and defiance.
Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “Courage” by Anne Sexton
Books:
George, Diana Hume. Oedipus Anne: The Poetry of Anne Sexton. University of Illinois Press, 1987. This book delves into the psychoanalytic themes prevalent in Sexton’s work. It can be particularly insightful for understanding the poem’s exploration of defense mechanisms and the internal struggles associated with emotional pain.
Hall, Caroline King Barnard.Anne Sexton. Twayne Publishers, 1989. This biographical resource provides valuable context about Sexton’s life experiences, which may illuminate the personal themes woven into “Courage.”
Articles:
Coates, Jacqueline S. “I wouldn’t tell them anything personal”: women’s experiences of psychiatric intervention.” (1997).
McClatchy, J. D. “ANNE SEXTON: SOMEHOW TO ENDURE.” The Centennial Review, vol. 19, no. 2, 1975, pp. 1–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23738229
Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Gill, Jo. “Anne Sexton and Confessional Poetics.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 55, no. 220, 2004, pp. 425–45. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3661307 Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Websites:
Poetry Foundation. “Anne Sexton.” Poetry Foundation, poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-sexton. This reputable website offers a rich resource, including a biography of Sexton, critical essays, and the poem “Courage” itself.
Modern American Poetry. “Anne Sexton.” Modern American Poetry, modpo.cua.edu/sexton/. This website by the City University of New York offers resources on Sexton’s work, including links to critical essays and reviews that can provide further analysis of “Courage.”
Representative Quotes from “Courage” by Anne Sexton
Quote
Context
Theorization
“It is in the small things we see it. The child’s first step, as awesome as an earthquake.”
Sexton emphasizes the significance of seemingly mundane events, such as a child’s first step, highlighting their profound impact and symbolism.
This quote suggests that courage is found in everyday occurrences and implies that resilience to face even small challenges with determination is a form of courage.
“When they called you crybaby or poor or fatty or crazy and made you into an alien, you drank their acid and concealed it.”
Sexton reflects on the pain of being bullied or marginalized, where individuals internalize insults and conceal their vulnerability.
This quote explores the theme of internalized suffering and resilience in the face of emotional wounds inflicted by others. It suggests that true courage lies in enduring such pain while maintaining composure.
“Your courage was a small coal that you kept swallowing.”
Sexton compares courage to a “small coal,” suggesting it is an internalized, enduring strength.
This quote emphasizes that courage is an internal flame that must be nurtured and sustained, even in the darkest times. It implies deliberate effort in maintaining courage despite adversity.
“If your buddy saved you and died himself in so doing, then his courage was not courage, it was love; love as simple as shaving soap.”
Sexton explores the distinction between courage and selfless acts of love, highlighting the power of sacrificial love.
This quote challenges conventional notions of courage by suggesting that acts of selflessness and love can be equally, if not more, powerful than acts of bravery.
“Later, when you face old age and its natural conclusion your courage will still be shown in the little ways, each spring will be a sword you’ll sharpen, those you love will live in a fever of love, and you’ll bargain with the calendar and at the last moment when death opens the back door you’ll put on your carpet slippers and stride out.”
Sexton depicts courage in the face of aging and mortality, emphasizing its manifestation in everyday moments and defiance towards death.
This quote presents courage as an enduring quality that persists throughout life’s stages, enabling individuals to confront aging and death with dignity and resolve.
