Courage

Courage

Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,

A daring deed in a moment’s flash;

It isn’t an instantaneous thing Born of despair with a sudden spring

It isn’t a creature of flickered hope

Or the final tug at a slipping rope;

But it’s something deep in the soul of man

That is working always to serve some plan.

Courage isn’t the last resort

In the work of life or the game of sport;

It isn’t a thing that a man can call

At some future time when he’s apt to fall;

If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not

When the strain is great and the pace is hot.

For who would strive for a distant goal

Must always have courage within his soul.

Courage isn’t a dazzling light

That flashes and passes away from sight;

It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait

With the patience to work and the strength to wait.

It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,

It’s part of him when he has work to do.

The brave man never is freed of it.

He has it when there is no need of it.

Courage was never designed for show;

It isn’t a thing that can come and go;

It’s written in victory and defeat

And every trial a man may meet.

It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,

Back of his smiles and behind his tears.

Courage is more than a daring deed:

It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.

- Edgar Albert Guest

Edgar Albert Guest (1881–1959) was a prolific England-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People’s Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life.

Glossary

instantaneous - happening or done immediately

flickered - shone unsteadily

strive - make great effort

ingrained - firmly established and hard to change

Answer the following questions.

1. Can courage be developed suddenly? Why?

Ans: No, courage cannot be developed suddenly. It is something deep in the soul of man.

2. When should we have courage?

Ans: Courage persists in man always. It is an ingrained trait.

3. Give an example for dazzling light.

Ans: Lightening on a rainy day is an example for dazzling light.

4. Can a courageous man be defeated? Why?

Ans: Yes. A courageous man also meets many defeats, as courage is not designed as a show. It is like a common thing.

5. What is the ‘breath of life’?

Ans: Courage is the breath of life.

6. What are the characteristics of a courageous man?

Ans: Strength, patience, hard work, doing daring deeds, striving for distant goals.

Read the following lines and answer the questions.

1. It isn’t an instantaneous thing

Born of despair with a sudden spring

a. What does ‘it’ refer to?

Ans: “It” refers to the courage.

b. What does ‘born of despair mean’?

Ans: A moment of despair cannot bring out courage in a person. Because courage is a quality that is deep in the soul of man.

2. I t’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait

With the patience to work and the strength to wait.

a. What is an ‘ingrained trait’?

Ans: Courage is an ingrained trait.

b. Why does a courageous man need patience?

Ans: The courageous man strive hard for their distant goal with patience and hardwork.

3. It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,

Back of his smiles and behind his tears.

a. What does ‘tears’ mean?

Ans: Here tears means hardships and difficulties faced by the courageous man.

Answer the following.

1. Pick out the alliterated words.

Ans: sudden – spring, daring – deed, serve – some

2. Pick out the rhyming words.

Ans: dash – flash, thing – spring, hope – rope, man – plan, resort – sport, call – fall, not – hot, goal – soul, light – sight, trait – wait, blue – do, freed – need, show – go, defeat – meet, years – tears, deed – creed.

3. Write the rhyme scheme of the poem.

Ans: ab ab ab ab – scheme for four stanza