The Fish Questions and Answers
The Fish
The theme of nature in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop
The theme of nature in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop is explored through the detailed and respectful observation of a fish the speaker catches. Bishop highlights the fish's resilience and the...
The Fish
Imagery and symbolism in Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish"
Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish" employs vivid imagery and symbolism to convey themes of struggle and survival. The detailed descriptions of the fish's physical appearance evoke its battle-scarred...
The Fish
What is the main theme of "The Fish" and how does it function in the poem?
The main theme of "The Fish" is discovering unexpected beauty and value, as the speaker's initial perception of the fish evolves into admiration. Initially, the fish appears unremarkable, but closer...
The Fish
What are two metaphors in "The Fish" that help explain the poem?
Two metaphors in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop that help explain the poem are "tarnished tinfoil" and "scratched isinglass" for the fish's eyes, symbolizing natural phenomena and the speaker's...
The Fish
What does "rainbow, rainbow, rainbow" mean in Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish"?
In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish," the phrase "rainbow, rainbow, rainbow" symbolizes the inner beauty, perseverance, and character of the fish, despite its battered exterior. The rainbow, initially a...
The Fish
Why does the speaker let the fish go at the end of Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish"?
The speaker lets the fish go because they recognize its perseverance and survival. Examining the fish's aged body and battle scars from previous escapes, the speaker sees the fish as a symbol of...
The Fish
What literary devices does Elizabeth Bishop use in lines 34 to 44 of "The Fish"?
In lines 34-44 of "The Fish," Elizabeth Bishop uses metaphors to describe the fish's eyes, comparing them to tarnished tinfoil and scratched isinglass, which suggests a lack of clarity. Sound devices...
The Fish
What issues are raised in Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish"?
Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish" raises issues of admiration, respect, and the humane treatment of animals. The speaker transitions from pitying the fish to admiring its survival scars and...
The Fish
In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish," is "everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!" abstract or concrete?
In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish," the phrase "everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!" is both abstract and concrete. It is concrete in its vivid imagery of a rainbow seen on the fish and in the...
The Fish
In "The Fish," how does the poet's attitude towards the fish change throughout the poem?
In "The Fish," the poet's attitude evolves from disinterest to admiration. Initially, the speaker describes the fish without emotion, noting it did not fight. As the speaker observes the fish's...
The Fish
What metaphors in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop convey the speaker's feelings about animal death?
In "The Fish," Elizabeth Bishop uses metaphors to convey the speaker's feelings about animal death. The fish's struggle is depicted through vivid imagery, such as "ancient wallpaper" and "dramatic...
The Fish
What's the most effective simile in Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish"?
In Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish," the simile "like medals with their ribbons" is considered the most effective. This simile vividly compares the fish's battle-worn appearance to a soldier's...
The Fish
In "The Fish", what clues suggest a symbolic meaning for the fish and the ending rainbow?
In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish," the fish symbolizes resilience and survival, as evidenced by the hooks in its mouth, likened to medals, signifying past victories over fishermen. The rainbow at the...
The Fish
Does the poem "The Fish" have an underlying meaning related to Bishop's life?
"The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop can be interpreted as an allegory for Bishop's life and the experiences of women. On the surface, it celebrates the resilience and survival of a fish. However, on a...
The Fish
How do the tone, voice, form, figurative language, symbols, and themes in "The Fish" by Mary Oliver and Elizabeth...
Mary Oliver and Elizabeth Bishop's poems about catching a fish differ significantly in tone and outcome. Oliver's poem emphasizes the fish's sacrifice and the shared pain between the fish and the...
The Fish
Why does the speaker release the fish?
The speaker releases the fish due to a mix of admiration and respect after observing its age and past survival against fishermen. The fish's "medals"—old hooks in its mouth—symbolize its resilience,...
The Fish
Compare Bishop's "The Fish" and Rilke's "The Panther."
Both Bishop's "The Fish" and Rilke's "The Panther" explore the plight of animals captured by humans. They avoid rhyme for a conversational tone and depict mighty creatures worn down over time. The...
The Fish
What could be a three-point thesis for "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop, focusing on the fish as a symbol of nature's...
A three-point thesis for "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop could focus on the fish as a symbol of nature's resilience against mankind. First, the fish, adorned with natural imagery, symbolizes nature...
The Fish
Where does the poem "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop shift its focus?
The poem moves from a straightforward description of the fish to admiration for its resilience. The epiphany comes when the speaker realizes that the fish has been through many battles and has...
The Fish
Which three lines from Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish" indicate the fish has stopped struggling for survival?
In Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish," the lines "He didn't fight / He hadn't fought at all / He hung a grunting weight" indicate the fish has stopped struggling for survival. These lines suggest the fish...
The Fish
How does the speaker in "The Fish" hold the fish she caught?
In the poem "The Fish," the speaker is probably holding the fish by means of the line attached to the hook in its mouth. She has pulled the fish out of the water to observe it before letting it go.
The Fish
What attitude do the images in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop convey, and do they contribute to the fisherman...
In "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop, the images convey a sense of beauty and reflection. The speaker sees everything as "rainbow, rainbow," noticing beauty in decay, like the "rusted engine" and...
The Fish
In "The Fish," how does the speaker regard the caught fish?
In "The Fish," the speaker initially regards the caught fish with a sense of pity and respect. The fish is described as "battered," "venerable," and "homely," with skin hanging "like ancient...
The Fish
Does "...until everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!" suggest an epiphany in "The Fish"?
The speaker's epiphany is caused by the realization that she sees herself in the fish after she has identified with it and seen its struggles to triumph over nature, much as she has struggled to...
The Fish
Is the narrator sympathetic to the fish from the start in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop?
In "The Fish," the narrator is not initially sympathetic to the fish, as she is fishing for either sport or food, which involves causing harm or death to the fish. However, upon noticing the hooks in...
The Fish
How does the fishing line on the fish's jaw affect the speaker's view in "The Fish"?
The fishing line on the fish's jaw transforms the speaker's perception of the fish from a mere catch to a venerable figure deserving respect. The fish's survival of multiple encounters with fishermen...
The Fish
How do the speakers' attitudes towards life contrast in "The Fish" and "A Study of Reading Habits"?
In Philip Larkin’s “A Study of Reading Habits,” the speaker’s attitude toward life is initially one of fantasy and avoidance. The speaker would rather live in the dreamworld of books than in the...
The Fish
What's a good topic to describe the poem "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop?
The speaker's experience of the fish is transformed by the lines, hooks, and entrails which give it a more powerful appearance. The speaker sees that from his lower lip,"if you could call it a lip,"...