Courage and Cowardice

The most important theme in "Spunk" is suggested by its title: since the nineteenth century, the word spunk has been slang for feistiness or liveliness. To say of someone, "She's got spunk," is to say that she is spirited, unafraid. Spunk is not only the name of the central character of this story, it is his defining quality, the reason for his name (presumably a nickname). Elijah Mosley praises Spunk's bravery in the opening scene: "But that's one thing Ah likes about Spunk Banks—he ain't skeered of nothin' on God's green footstool—nothin'! He rides that log down at saw-mill jus' like he struts 'round wid another man's wife—jus' don't give a kitty. When Tes Miller got cut to giblets on that circlesaw, Spunk steps right up and starts ridin'. The rest of us was skeered to go near it...