What is the central idea of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "The Courage That My Mother Had"?

The narrator admires her mother's beauty and courage.

The narrator learns how to be courageous from her mother.

The narrator recalls memories of her mother's courageous behavior.

The narrator wishes she could have inherited her mother's courage.

Question

Lilliana Douglas

English

24 July, 15:17

What is the central idea of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "The Courage That My Mother Had"?

The narrator admires her mother's beauty and courage.

The narrator learns how to be courageous from her mother.

The narrator recalls memories of her mother's courageous behavior.

The narrator wishes she could have inherited her mother's courage.

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Kylie Herring · Answer 1

The central idea of "The Courage that My Mother Had" is the final option, The narrator wishes she could have inherited her mother's courage. This is indicated in the poem when the narrator discusses how her mother's brooch she left behind is not something she needs, but she wishes that she could have had some of the courage that her mother had through death.