Final answer:
Anne Sexton's "Courage" illustrates the evolution of bravery throughout a person's life, emphasizing that all acts of courage, big or small, carry significant weight, eventually leading to the ultimate form of courage in accepting one's mortality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of the poem "Courage" by Anne Sexton revolves around the different manifestations of bravery throughout the various stages of life. From the first steps as a child to the complexities of adulthood and the final confrontation with death, Sexton's poem presents courage in a multifaceted light. For example, line numbers 1-2 talk about the courage it takes for a child to take their first steps, showcasing that every act of bravery, no matter how small, is significant. Advance to the last stanza, where courage is depicted in the acceptance of one's own mortality, as demonstrated in lines such as "The courage to see your dead (line 55)" highlights that there is bravery not only in life's adventures but also in facing the inevitability of death.