The Fish

by Elizabeth Bishop

Have a question? eNotes editors are standing by to help you.

What is the crisis, in the poem "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop?

xoosusyoox

Student

College - Junior

crisis as it relates to American crisis poems. Examples: Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life" the cirisis there was self individualization or Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" in which the crisis is faith.

Posted by xoosusyoox on November 10, 2010 at 8:38 AM and tagged with body of water, crisis, elizabeth bishop, the fish

Rate this question:

» Flag as inappropriate
Message xoosusyoox

Share this question:

2 Answers | add yours

tresvivace

Teacher

College - Junior

Assistant Editor

That is an interesting question.  You will find extensive analysis of "The Fish" online, including an excellent e-notes analysis (see link below), but these sites do not directly answer your...

(The entire answer is 146 words.)

This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes editor. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.

Posted by tresvivace on November 10, 2010 at 8:47 AM

Rate this answer:

» Flag as inappropriate
Message tresvivace

epollock

Valedictorian, Teaching Assistant, Debater, Expert, Tutor, Educator, Prefect

The development of the rainbow colors in the boat represent the crisis, and the release of the fish is the climax of the narrative poem. The images are both ordinary and unusual, since it is the internal motion (the growth of the sense of victory) which pulls the reader into the poem’s movement and excitement. The rainbow, which is a floating oil stain, represents the shimmering excitement of victory to the speaker. and in a metaphor of Noah-ic proportions, the symbolism of God's power and strength of not producing another epic flood is contained in the speaker's release of the fish itself. The speaker has gained conscious awareness of humanity by releasing the fish.

Posted by epollock on November 10, 2010 at 8:53 AM

Rate this answer:

» Flag as inappropriate
Message epollock

Join for free to answer this question

Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.

Already a member? Sign in » JOIN eNOTES

Top Tags in The Fish

See all »

Following The Fish

See all »

epollock

Valedictorian, Teaching Assistant, Debater, Expert, Tutor, Educator, Prefect

68,308 points

mwestwood

Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Scribe, Whitman, Poe, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill

239,679 points

auntlori

Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Scribe, Dickens, The Bard

84,091 points

accessteacher

Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Whitman, Poe, Dickens, The Bard

359,264 points

booboosmoosh

Editor Emeritus, Scholar, Debater, Expert, Educator, Scribe, Whitman, Poe, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill

139,212 points