The Fish
ELIZABETH BISHOP 'S "THE FISH"
Elizabeth Bishop is a poet that is often admired for her vivid descriptive poetry. Her interest in reading and writing came early in life as she suffered from several illnesses that caused her to spend many hours alone. (Gale) Many critics admire Bishop 's objectivity "because she was interested in viewing details spontaneously, without imposed rationalizations, in the manner of a naturalist" (Gale). Bishop is also known for writing poems about ordinary experiences that "convey subtle revelations" (Gale). One excellent example of this can be seen in her poem, "The Fish." The poet 's observation in this poem not only creates an image of the fish for the reader, but it also expands the scope of the poet 's appreciation for the fish.
"The Fish" is a narrative poem in which the poet discovers the beauty in nature. The poem displays Bishop 's use of rhetorical and …show more content…
(36-40)
These lines illustrate the poet 's ability to capture details about the simplest and smallest of things. The poet utilizes the technique of hyperbole here by stating that the fish 's eyes were bigger than her own were. Her intention is to make us sense the life she became aware of when she looked into the fish 's eyes, which ultimately makes her feel sympathy for the fish. The action of looking into the fish 's eyes is also powerful in that it allows the poet to personify the fish. We also discover the poet 's use of an apostrophe here, which is emphasized by the poet 's looking into the fish 's eyes.
She begins to see the fish as more and more of an equal individual. She tells us that she "admired his sullen face" (47). One of the most striking images in the poem is when she looks at the fish 's lip, which was:
grim, wet, and weaponlike,
hung five old pieces of fishing line,
or four and a wire leader
with the swivel still
Elizabeth Bishop is a poet that is often admired for her vivid descriptive poetry. Her interest in reading and writing came early in life as she suffered from several illnesses that caused her to spend many hours alone. (Gale) Many critics admire Bishop 's objectivity "because she was interested in viewing details spontaneously, without imposed rationalizations, in the manner of a naturalist" (Gale). Bishop is also known for writing poems about ordinary experiences that "convey subtle revelations" (Gale). One excellent example of this can be seen in her poem, "The Fish." The poet 's observation in this poem not only creates an image of the fish for the reader, but it also expands the scope of the poet 's appreciation for the fish.
"The Fish" is a narrative poem in which the poet discovers the beauty in nature. The poem displays Bishop 's use of rhetorical and …show more content…
(36-40)
These lines illustrate the poet 's ability to capture details about the simplest and smallest of things. The poet utilizes the technique of hyperbole here by stating that the fish 's eyes were bigger than her own were. Her intention is to make us sense the life she became aware of when she looked into the fish 's eyes, which ultimately makes her feel sympathy for the fish. The action of looking into the fish 's eyes is also powerful in that it allows the poet to personify the fish. We also discover the poet 's use of an apostrophe here, which is emphasized by the poet 's looking into the fish 's eyes.
She begins to see the fish as more and more of an equal individual. She tells us that she "admired his sullen face" (47). One of the most striking images in the poem is when she looks at the fish 's lip, which was:
grim, wet, and weaponlike,
hung five old pieces of fishing line,
or four and a wire leader
with the swivel still