The Fish

Elizabeth Bishop

 Close observation and detailed description of her poetic subject culminates in a moment of insight Scrutiny of the fish leads her to a greater understanding of it and of human life Even if you struggle you might escape and continue on

 The poets use of precise adjectives, wellchosen verbs, unusual similes and striking metaphors result in her vivid and realistic portrayal of the fish Sound effects (assonance and alliteration) add to the poems descriptive and musical qualities

 First person narration gives it a sense of immediacy

 Language is simple, direct and conversational tremendous shows her sense of excitement, while the adjectives battered and venerable and homely suggest her sympathy and admiration for the fish

 The poets remarkable eye for detail and effective use of imagery enables her to produce a vivid verbal painting of the fish. Simile: fishs skin to ancient wallpaper comfortable familiarity Assonance: shapes like full-blown roses suggests her sense of awe.

 Also see less pleasant aspects of the fish infested with and the frightening gills

 Poet now imagines insides More similes As the poet looks in the fishs eyes, we sense a development in the relationship between poet and fish. Once again alliteration and assonance are used to good effect.

 The poets respect for the fish is directly stated: I admired his sullen jaw. The personification of the fish reminds us that, like the poet, he too is a character in this drama

 Summarised, the poem is ordinary enough. What makes the poem extraordinary is the way the experience is related: the structure is shaped by the language of the poem. Bishops images appeal to all the senses.

 Bishop adroitly uses other poetic devices to enrich the moment she writes about. Uses rhetorical devices
He didnt fight () and homely

Repetition of rainbow, rainbow, rainbow of oil

 The beauty of the fish and rainbow lie in having survived, and when the speaker realises this victory

 In conclusion, the poem obviously was not written by a professional fisher nor by a person to whom fishing is a favourite sport. If it succeeds, it succeeds because of Elizabeth Bishops powerful use of language to convey a personal experience showing her special sensibility.