Courage - Anne Sexton's. -assignment 3

1. Choose several lines from Anne Sexton's poem "Courage" explain them in detail. Examine the lines for meaning, figurative language and appeal.

Anne Sexton's peom has many complex lines but if you can understand them they have lots of meaning.
The childs first step,
as awesome as an earthquake- Anne uses a simile to make her writing more interesting. She is saying any child who takes their very first step is going to get lots of attention. Taking the first few steps in life is a very momentous occasion in time that will be remembered.

The first spanking when your heart
went on a journey all alone- As a child you feel loved and like you can do nothing to disappoint those around you, but when you get a spanking you feel that you are unloved and all alone, that nobody understands you.

when they called you cry baby
or poor or fatty or crazy
and made you into an alien,
you drank their acid
and concealed it.- For all those kids who are bullied and constantly getting cut down by people, who take all that poisen and unkind words or actions from people who believe they have the right to make you feel unwanted because of their insecurities.

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.- You take on the healing process after you have been hurt badly. You went through hardship and you were all by yourself. You changed yourself and found the courage inside of yourself to dispose of all the bad wounds, injuries, and memories. You stopped the pain and suffering.

you'll put on your carpet slippers
and stride out. -You will know when it is your time and it will be informal. You will be sure of where you are going and leave with confidence.

This poem says lots, it is just the different ways you interpret each line and your own understanding of Anne's writing.

If.....assignment.

1)Yes i do agree with Rudyard Kipling and his statements in the poem If. I agree because every point Rudyard makes is about growing up and the things that makes a person more mature. I really like the statement "and lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss". This statement really makes me think about life. If I mess up I can always start over. Yes this advice is good for everyone to listen to. It teaches a good lesson you could live your life by.

2)I think Kipling chooses to use these words man and son because if his son follows the advice his father gives him in this poem he will become a better man. When he uses the term "man" he is immplying that anyone can take this advice. He is not choosing any gender over the other. I think it is personal as he refers to his son but it can apply to anyone.

3) The poem is four stanzas each containing eight lines. The beginning always starts with If and the rhyme patter is AB, AB; CD, CD.

English 10 assignment

November 9, 2009

2. Who do you think is the main hero of this story?

The main hero of the story is Mrs. Brown. I beleive this because doctors and even her own family were against Mrs. Brown's beliefs. They truly beleived her own son would only be a disappointment to her. Despite what everyone tells her she doesn't take their advice. She believes that her son is not what eveyone thinks but very capable in his own way. It would take a lot of courage to go up against everyone on something they have never seen before, but she does it and suceeds. It takes a true hero to pursue what they beleive.