¨courage Anne Sexton Analysis

The poem, ¨Courage¨ by Anne Sexton, is telling about a person´s journey in life and their perseverance of courage. The poem leads the reader through a child’s first few steps, riding a bike for the first time, his first spanking, being bullied by other kids, adulthood, fighting in a war, witnessing a close friend’s death, and facing his own death. Each stanza serves as a major stage in a person’s life journey and how courage is constantly being shown through different actions and ways; even during small ordinary events.
The poet uses a collection of imagery and metaphors to develop her thoughts in a meaningful and captivating manner. The child demonstrated courage when he had taken his first steps, he adventured into the new world; his first steps of his life journey, and when he rode his bike for the very first time he was trying something new and different. When the speaker says that the child’s heart “went on a journey all alone”, it shows the astounding amount of courage, of the child when he endured his first spanking (Line 7). As the child became older and started going to school, he showed courage by “drinking the acid,” the acid represents the bullying and name-calling that he went through with the other children (Line 11). The child hid his pain because to him, it burned like acid; he was hurting every day and hated the
At this late stage in the speaker’s life journey, he manages to continue to show courage in many small ways. The “sword you’ll sharpen” embodies bravery, courage, and an object that you can defend yourself with, and use to attack life with (Line 38). The speaker bargains with the calendar over how many days he has left to live. The last element that pays tribute to the speaker’s courage is how the speaker simply slips out the back door wearing his house slippers when his days are up and death comes to greet him; the speaker is relaxed and is not afraid to embrace