# L’audace explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The chapter is a poetic ode to Audacity, personified as a divine daughter of God, distinguishing true audacity from mere presumption. The speaker struggles to adequately praise this virtue, acknowledging his own inadequacy and calling for a stronger voice to do it justice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Criticism

The poem reflects on the challenge of artistic expression, the inadequacy of the poet's skill, and the demand for a 'stronger voice' to properly celebrate audacity.

## Key lines

> Daughter of God! Audacity divine— Of clowns the terror and of brains the sign—

Audacity is portrayed as a divine force that frightens fools and marks intelligence.

_Establishes audacity as a noble, godly trait opposed to foolishness._

> Thy bastard sister of the brow of brass, Presumption, actuates the charging ass.

Presumption, a false version of audacity, drives the reckless and stupid.

_Distinguishes true audacity from mere presumption._

> The minstrel’s tender fingers and his thumbs Are torn to rags upon the lyre he strums.

The poet's efforts to sing of audacity result in self-inflicted artistic failure.

_Highlights the difficulty of capturing such a lofty theme._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/l-audace
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters