'Courage' by Anne Sexton

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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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Courage to Live and Die: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Anne Sexton's "Courage"

Anne Sexton is a poet known for her confessional style and intense exploration of themes such as mental illness, suicide, and sexuality. Her poem "Courage" is no exception. In this poem, Sexton delves into the complexity of the human condition with her signature rawness and honesty. Through her use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, Sexton presents a powerful meditation on the courage it takes to live and die.

Analysis of Form and Structure

"Courage" is a free-verse poem consisting of six stanzas, each with four to five lines. The poem follows a loose, stream-of-consciousness structure, with no set rhyme scheme or meter. This form allows Sexton to capture the fragmented and erratic nature of the speaker's thoughts and emotions.

The poem opens with the line, "It is in the small things we see it." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Sexton suggests that courage is not something grandiose or heroic, but rather something found in the everyday moments of life. Throughout the poem, Sexton employs a series of images and metaphors to illustrate the different forms courage can take. For example, in the second stanza, she writes, "it is the earth itself that requires courage," comparing the act of living to the bravery required by the natural world.

Sexton also uses repetition to emphasize the theme of courage. The phrase "it is" is repeated throughout the poem, reinforcing the idea that courage is an inherent aspect of existence. Additionally, the final stanza repeats the phrase "I am" three times, underscoring the speaker's self-awareness and sense of identity.

Analysis of Content and Themes

At its core, "Courage" is a meditation on the fragility and resilience of the human spirit. Sexton explores the dual nature of courage, both as a strength and a vulnerability. The poem suggests that the act of living, with all its joys and sorrows, requires an immense amount of courage. Sexton writes, "to be alive is to stay alive," acknowledging the difficulty of simply existing in the face of adversity.

However, the poem also suggests that courage can be a double-edged sword. In the third stanza, Sexton writes, "it is dangerous to let the psyche be." Here, she acknowledges the dangers of facing one's own inner demons, and the bravery required to do so. The poem also touches on the theme of mortality, as the speaker reflects on the courage required to face death. Sexton writes, "It takes the sky to embrace you and fly with you." Here, she suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that requires courage and acceptance.

Ultimately, the poem suggests that courage is an inherent aspect of the human experience. Sexton writes, "It is in the small things we see it," suggesting that courage is not something that can be sought out or achieved, but rather something that is found within oneself. The poem is a powerful reflection on the human condition, and the courage required to navigate the complexities of life.

Interpretation and Analysis of Literary Devices

Sexton employs several literary devices throughout the poem, including metaphor, imagery, and repetition. One of the most striking metaphors used in the poem is the comparison of living to the bravery required by the natural world. In the second stanza, Sexton writes, "it is the earth itself that requires courage." This metaphor underscores the idea that living is a natural and necessary act, but one that requires immense bravery.

Sexton also uses imagery to evoke the emotional landscape of the poem. In the third stanza, she writes, "it is dangerous to let the psyche be." Here, the image of the psyche as a dangerous and unpredictable force creates a sense of unease and anxiety. Similarly, the image of the sky embracing and flying with the speaker in the final stanza creates a sense of freedom and transcendence.

Repetition is also a key literary device in the poem. The repetition of the phrase "it is" throughout the poem reinforces the idea that courage is an inherent aspect of existence. Additionally, the repetition of the phrase "I am" in the final stanza emphasizes the speaker's self-awareness and sense of identity.

Conclusion

In "Courage," Anne Sexton presents a powerful reflection on the human experience. Through her use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, Sexton explores the complexity of courage, both as a strength and a vulnerability. The poem is a powerful reminder that courage is an inherent aspect of existence, and that the act of living requires immense bravery. Ultimately, "Courage" is a profound and moving work of poetry, one that captures the rawness and honesty that defines Sexton's oeuvre.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Courage: A Poem by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton was a renowned American poet who is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poetry often dealt with themes of mental illness, death, and personal struggles. One of her most famous poems is "Courage," which was published in her 1974 collection, "The Awful Rowing Toward God." In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem "Courage" in detail.

The Poem

Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a look at the poem itself:

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

cover 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.

Analysis

The poem "Courage" is a celebration of the small acts of bravery that we perform in our everyday lives. Sexton begins the poem by stating that courage is not just found in grand gestures, but in the small things that we do. She uses the metaphor of a small coal that we keep swallowing to represent the courage that we possess. This coal may be small, but it is powerful and keeps us going.

Sexton then goes on to describe some of these small acts of courage. She mentions a child's first step, which is as awesome as an earthquake. This is a powerful image that shows how even the smallest things can have a huge impact. She also talks about the first time we rode a bike, which may seem insignificant, but is actually a moment of great courage as we learn to balance and control the bike.

The poem then takes a darker turn as Sexton talks about the times when we are called names and made to feel like aliens. She uses the metaphor of drinking acid to describe how we internalize the hurtful things that are said to us. This is a powerful image that shows how much pain we can carry inside us.

Sexton then talks about the courage that is required in times of war and conflict. She notes that those who face death do not do it with a banner, but with only a hat to cover their hearts. This is a powerful image that shows how even in the face of death, we can find the courage to keep going.

The poem then returns to the theme of small acts of courage. Sexton notes that if we have endured great despair, we have done it alone. We have picked the scabs off our hearts and wrung them out like socks. This is a powerful image that shows how much strength it takes to face our pain and move forward.

Sexton then talks about how our courage will still be shown in the little ways as we age. Each spring will be a sword that we sharpen, and those we love will live in a fever of love. This is a beautiful image that shows how even as we age, we can still find joy and love in the world.

The poem ends with a powerful image of putting on our carpet slippers and striding out when death opens the back door. This is a beautiful image that shows how even in the face of death, we can find the courage to keep going.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Courage" is a powerful poem that celebrates the small acts of bravery that we perform in our everyday lives. Sexton uses powerful metaphors and images to show how even the smallest things can have a huge impact. She also shows how much strength it takes to face our pain and move forward. This is a beautiful poem that reminds us of the power of courage and the importance of finding it in our everyday lives.

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