Elizabeth Bishop's Poem 'The Fish'

Elizabeth Bishop was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1911. Bishop endured a tough childhood, with the death of her farther and the commitment of her mother to a mental asylum, where she was forced to move with her grandparents. As Bishop grew older she became independently wealthy and traveled the world writing poetry along the way. During this time, Bishop wrote the poem, “The Fish,” one of her most famous poems. This poem describes the actions that a speaker takes after catching a big fish, which includes letting it go in the end. During the time of the catch the speaker studies the fish and gains a respect for the fish that eventually led to its release.
This poem exemplifies the theme of expectation and outcome, which is shown through