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.